A contemporary pop and R&B extended play, Bad Intentions takes influence from various music styles, and includes club, ballads, somber and mid-tempos cuts, with lyrics that touch upon themes of relationships with both partners and family members.

Upon release, Bad Intentions received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who praised Heaton's vocals adding cohesiveness to the project.

Niykee Heaton reached the music industry through covers of contemporary pop, R&B, and hip-hop hits, for which she accompanied herself on acoustic guitar, that she started uploading regularly to YouTube in 2011.

She eventually signed a deal with Steve Rifkind and Russell Simmons's Capitol-affiliate All Def label in 2014, Awesomeness Music, focused on producing "content catering to the YouTube audience, for talent with a following online.

"[6] "Skin Tight," marks an up-beat transition being described by critics as a "classic love song" with its charming quality relying on the simplicity of its lyrics.

[23][24] The lack of a bigger mainstream promotional schedule leading up to the release was said to be a strategy by her label All Def Digital, who opted to rely entirely on "persistent self-promotion on social accounts by Heaton and her manager.

[4] In April 2015, Heaton posted an open letter online expressing frustration with her label adding that she wasn't proud of her Bad Intentions EP that had dropped seven months prior, "They wanted me to change the way that I looked, the way that I acted, the way I sang, the words I wrote, who I was as an artist, but also who I was as a person.

AllMusic editor Andy Kellman stated about the EP: "there's more depth than what's indicated by the presentation and lyrics like "Cristal float like the Riviera"," and that the songs "switch between heavy-lidded grooves and strummy, middle-of-the-road contemporary pop.

"[26] Jasmine White of The Hoya gave Bad Intentions four out of five stars saying "soft and sultry with a hint of gravel, Heaton's voice remains hypnotic throughout the entirety of her debut EP."

"[27] Sean Gavin of The Daily Dose also praising Heaton's vocals and additionally picked the title track and "Rolling Stone" as standouts.

[28] Mike Wass of Idolator called it an "excellent debut" adding that Heaton "effortlessly jumps from the gut-wrenchingly confessional (...) to bass-heavy party jams," also highlighting "Rolling Stone" describing it as a "a folk-tinged, mid-tempo ballad, showcases the depth the teenager's artistry and somehow manages to be both subtle and ridiculously catchy."

"[9][29] Ryan Kristobak of The Huffington Post wrote, "Heaton's EP offers a significant variety for a debut, all held together by her vocals, most ravishing in her lower register.