Chase & Status, Bou’s Dancehall-Inspired ‘Baddadan’ Certified Gold In The UK

Chase & Status and Bou’s EDM/Dancehall-inspired track Baddadan, featuring IRAH, Flowdan, Trigga and Takura, is now certified Gold in the United Kingdom, just five months after its release.

According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the song was issued a BRIT Certified Gold award on Friday (December 15) after selling over 400,000 copies in the UK, as measured by The Official Charts Company.

Released on July 27, Baddadan is currently at No. 69 (down from its peak at No. 5) on the UK Singles Chart, where it has spent 20 weeks. The official visualizer has over 2 million views on YouTube, while the track has over 56 million plays on Spotify.

Against a characteristic bass-heavy, up-tempo EDM beat, Baddadan, which translates from Jamaican creole to mean ‘Badder Than’, convincingly delivers on its menacing message via patois.

With hardcore lyrics reminiscent of the typical ‘Bad Man’ anthem, the track also shines as a testament to Chase & Status’ longtime love affair with Dancehall music.

Icons on UK’s Jungle scene, the duo, whose real names are Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status) revealed in an interview last year, that David Rodigan – a master DJ who was nationally recognized for his contributions to the advancement of Jamaican music across the world – is among their top deejaying idols. 

They had shared: “[David Rodigan], he’s a big inspiration. He’s a Reggae DJ who is probably the coolest DJ I have ever seen. He’s an absolute legend and he’s about 45 years old and still killing it.”

Additionally, Chase & Status’ albums, the 2019 RTRN: The Originals, RTRN II Jungle and 2022’s What Came Before, both had nods to their Dancehall influences.

RTRN II Jungle was recorded in Jamaica, and is an experience they recalled fondly to RedBull.com in an earlier interview.

“We worked with a real variety of proper established Jamaican dancehall reggae legends like Buju Banton as well as with a lot of the young fresh hot names like Masicka. The experience of working with those different kinds of artists kept it really interesting for us,” they explained.

Tracks like  Weed and Rum  with Masicka,  Program and Blazer with IRAH, and last year’s  Censor  with Popcaan, document well the duo’s fascination and appreciation for Dancehall music.