Hey Mama (Black Eyed Peas song)

"Hey Mama" is a song by American musical group the Black Eyed Peas with additional vocals provided by British reggae singer Tippa Irie.^[1] It was released in 2004 as the third single from their 2003 album, Elephunk, and became a top-10 hit in 14 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

"Hey Mama"
Single by the Black Eyed Peas
from the album Elephunk
B-side	"Positivity" (live) "Release" (live) "The Boogie That Be"
Released	January 12, 2004 (2004-01-12)
Recorded	March 7–8, 2003
Studio	The Stewchia (Los Feliz, Los Angeles, US)
Length	3:48
Label	A&M will.i.am Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Will Adams Anthony Henry Allan Pineda Jaime Gomez
Producer(s)	will.i.am
The Black Eyed Peas singles chronology
"Shut Up" (2003) "Hey Mama" (2004) "Let's Get It Started" (2004)
Music video
"Hey Mama" on YouTube

Recording and release

The song was recorded from March 7 to 8, 2003, at The Stewchia in Los Feliz, Los Angeles.^[2] 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 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^[3] and slightly alters the instrumental.

"Hey Mama" reached No. 3 in Switzerland and No. 4 in Australia, Austria, and New Zealand.^[4] In the United Kingdom, it peaked No. 6, becoming their third top-ten hit there,^[5] 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.^[6][7]

Though not included on its soundtrack album, the song was used to promote the 2004 film Garfield: The Movie, which stars Bill Murray voicing the titular role. In the film, Garfield has a dance-off with Odie to the song, which was used in the advertisements for the film.

Music video

The Black Eyed Peas in the psychedelic limbo from the 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^[4][8][9]

1. "Hey Mama" – 3:48
2. "Positivity" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 4:58
3. "Release" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 3:07
4. "Hey Mama" (video)

UK CD2 and European CD single^[4][10][11]

1. "Hey Mama" – 3:48
2. "Positivity" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 4:58

UK 12-inch single^[12]

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.^[2]

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) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 4 Australian Urban (ARIA)[13] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 25 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[6] 9 Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[17] 2 CIS Airplay (TopHit)[18] 106 Croatia (HRT)[19] 3 Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] 8 European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[21] 8 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[22] 14 France (SNEP)[23] 18 Germany (GfK)[24] 5 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[25] 26 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[26] 1 Hungary (Single Top 40)[27] 5 Ireland (IRMA)[28] 5 Italy (FIMI)[29] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 6 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 4 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 6 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[34] 93 Scotland (OCC)[35] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[5] 6 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[37] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 23 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[38] 8 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[39] 27

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position Australia (ARIA)[40] 42 Australian Urban (ARIA)[41] 18 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[42] 42 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[43] 44 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[44] 96 Germany (Official German Charts)[45] 47 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[46] 95 Italy (FIMI)[47] 34 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[48] 57 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[49] 75 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[50] 27 UK Singles (OCC)[51] 79 US Billboard Hot 100[52] 95 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[53] 30

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Hey Mama"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[54]	Gold	35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[55]	Gold	5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[56]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[57]	Gold	500,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Hey Mama"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 12, 2004	Contemporary hit radio	A&M Interscope	[58]
United Kingdom	March 8, 2004	12-inch vinyl CD	Polydor	[59]
Germany	March 12, 2004	CD	Universal Music	[24]
Australia	March 15, 2004	Maxi CD		[60]
Germany	March 26, 2004			[24]
France	May 18, 2004	CD	Polydor	[61]
United States	May 25, 2004	Digital download	A&M Interscope	[57]

References

1. "Elephunk CD Booklet (Encartes Pop)". Retrieved November 13, 2017.
2. Elephunk (US CD album booklet). Black Eyed Peas. A&M Records. 2003. B0000699-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
3. "Black Eyed Peas". uhu.es. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
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7. "The Black Eyed Peas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
8. Hey Mama (UK CD1 liner notes). Black Eyed Peas. A&M Records. 2004. 986 197-5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Hey Mama (Australian CD single liner notes). Black Eyed Peas. A&M Records. 2004. 9861975.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Hey Mama (UK CD2 liner notes). Black Eyed Peas. A&M Records. 2004. 986 197-6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Hey Mama (European CD single liner notes). Black Eyed Peas. A&M Records. 2004. 0602498619766.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Hey Mama (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Black Eyed Peas. A&M Records. 2004. 986 204-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. "Issue 738" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
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33. "The Black Eyed Peas – Hey Mama". VG-lista.
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37. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
38. "The Black Eyed Peas Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
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41. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2004". ARIA. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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53. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 22.
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55. "New Zealand single certifications – Black Eyed Peas – Hey Mama". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
56. "British single certifications – Black Eyed Peas – Hey Mama". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
57. "American single certifications – The Black Eyed Peas – Hey Mama". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
58. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1537. January 9, 2004. p. 24.
59. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 6, 2004. p. 27.
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61. "Hey mama – The Black Eyed Peas – CD single" (in French). France: Fnac. May 18, 2004. Retrieved December 27, 2022.