WHO SHOT SCOTT - 'BAD GIRLS'
Ever had a friendship end over a lunch table seating plan? WHO SHOT SCOTT just turned that exact kind of teenage fallout into one of his most cutting releases yet.
‘BAD GIRLS’, lifted from his debut album HAIRY, out on 5th June, sees the Aotearoa rap-rock artist confront the brutal politics of adolescence without softening a single edge. The track centres on a painfully relatable experience: losing a close friend to the allure of popularity. What begins as subtle distance escalates into something far more deliberate, as acceptance into the “cool crowd” evolves into active participation in bullying. WHO SHOT SCOTT refuses to romanticise the moment. Instead, he dissects it with precision, capturing the confusion, resentment and disbelief that linger long after those school years are supposed to be forgotten.
Lyrically, the song is sharp and delivered like it still hurts. Lines such as “she can flip her personality to drag climb that social ladder but I know the thinking can’t hide that” cut straight to the heart of the track’s frustration, exposing the performative nature of popularity. There is a striking contrast between memory and reality when he reflects, “she’s a nice girl, she’s the sweetest damn thing…thought I really met a queen,” before revealing the disappointment of watching her chase approval. The hook, “don’t you know bad girls do it better,” lands with a biting sense of irony, while “she’s so thirsty for the party” reinforces the desperation for validation that drives the narrative. The lyrics are easy to understand, but that clarity is intentional. He knew exactly what he wanted to say and how to say it. The production follows the same logic. It is catchy, tight and purposeful. Every section feels placed with intention. There is no excess, no unnecessary layering. Every choice feels deliberate, and the result is a track that never loses momentum. There will not be a single second where your attention drifts.
The official video mirrors the precision. The production is minimal but top tier, proving that impact does not require overcomplication. Rather than relying on rapid cuts, the video makes strong use of zoom shots that draw out emotion and tension. Close-ups allow expressions to breathe, making the narrative feel more personal. One of the standout moments comes in the reflective shots through the girl’s sunglasses, where you can see WHO SHOT SCOTT singing directly into the lens of the reflection. It is a clever visual metaphor, placing him quite literally in her line of sight while reinforcing the confrontation at the heart of the track. The restrained editing and controlled framing elevate the emotion instead of distracting from it.
As anticipation builds for HAIRY, a nine-track project rooted in his experiences between the ages of 13 and 18, ‘BAD GIRLS’ stands out as one of its most uncompromising statements. The album title reclaims the bullying he endured as an Arab student in a predominantly white school, targeted for his body hair and his creative ambition. Now, he wears it as armour rather than an insult. With upcoming shows in Bristol, London and Manchester, WHO SHOT SCOTT is ready to bring this cathartic energy to live audiences. ‘BAD GIRLS’ is not about reliving the past for sympathy. It is about confronting it and refusing to let it win.
Words by Dhriti Duggal
