| "Hey Mama" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Kanye West | |
| from the album Late Registration | |
| Released | August 30, 2005 |
| Recorded | 2000–2005 |
| Studio |
|
| Length | 5:05 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
|
"Hey Mama" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his second studio album, Late Registration (2005). The song includes additional vocals from John Legend. West composed the song in 2000, specifically intending for it to be included on the album. The song was produced by West and Jon Brion. A ballad, it contains a sample of Donal Leace's "Today Won't Come Again". In the lyrics of the song, Kanye pays tribute to his mother, Donda West.
"Hey Mama" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who mostly praised its musical style. A few commended the sample of "Today Won't Come Again", though critical commentary towards the concept was somewhat mixed. The song reached numbers 9 and 64 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Hot Canadian Digital Singles charts in 2007 and 2008, respectively. It has since been certified gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Kanye West performed the song in memory of Donda throughout his Glow in the Dark Tour (2008), while he also sang it as a tribute to her at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards that year.