"Hey Mama" is a song by American musical group the Black Eyed Peas with additional vocals provided by British reggae singer Tippa Irie. It was released in 2004 as the third single from their third studio album, Elephunk (2003), and became a top-10 hit in 14 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Recording and release "Hey Mama" was recorded from March 7 to 8, 2003, at The Stewchia in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. The single version of the song differs from the album version in that it cuts a verse from the end of the song and replaces it with an entirely new one performed by Black Eyed Peas members Taboo and apl.de.ap (both of whom did not perform on the original album version), changes some of the lyrics by removing references to the Middle East due to the Iraq War at the time and slightly alters the instrumental.
"Hey Mama" reached 3 in Switzerland and No. 4 in Australia, Austria, and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, it peaked No. 6, becoming their third top-ten hit there, and was also a success in Canada and the United States, reaching No. 9 on the Canadian Singles Chart and No. 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Music video
The music video features three main locations, the first shown being a psychedelic limbo, where the Black Eyed Peas do breakdancing and the main verse of the song is sung. The color scheme is mostly yellow, red, brown and off-white. The second is the vertically-black-and-white striped canvas-room. A few parts are sung in here, but the main one is the one featuring Fergie. The third is the club dance scene, which has many background characters dancing.
Two versions of the video were made: one with apl.de.ap's and Taboo's rap verses and one without. Both versions add an instrumental breakdown to the end of the song.
Track listings UK CD1 and Australian CD single "Hey Mama" – 3:48 "Positivity" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 4:58 "Release" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 3:07 "Hey Mama" (video)
UK CD2 and European CD single "Hey Mama" – 3:48 "Positivity" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 4:58
UK 12-inch single A1. "Hey Mama" – 3:46 B1. "Hey Mama" (instrumental) – 3:30 B2. "The Boogie That Be" – 5:12
Personnel Personnel are lifted from the Elephunk album booklet.
The Black Eyed Peas will.i.am – vocals, Moog synthesizer, drum programming, Wurlitzer electric piano, production, engineering Fergie – vocals Taboo – vocals (only on the single/radio version) apl.de.ap – vocals (only on the single/radio version)
Additional musicians Tippa Irie – vocals Dante Santiago – backing vocals
Production personnel Tony Maserati – mixing
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2004)PeakpositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan)9Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)2Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)2Croatia (HRT)3Eurochart Hot 100 (Billboard)8Romania (Romanian Top 100)93
Year-end charts Chart (2004)PositionAustralia (ARIA)42Australian Urban (ARIA)18Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)42Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)44Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)96Germany (Media Control GfK)47Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)95Italy (FIMI)34Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)57Netherlands (Single Top 100)75New Zealand (RIANZ)34Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)27UK Singles (Official Charts)79US Billboard Hot 10095US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)30
Certifications
Release history + Region Date Format(s) Label(s) United States January 12, 2004 Contemporary hit radio United Kingdom March 8, 2004 Polydor Germany March 12, 2004 CD Universal Music Australia March 15, 2004 Maxi CD Germany March 26, 2004 France May 18, 2004 CD Polydor United States May 25, 2004 Digital download
References