"Balla Baby" is a song by American rapper Chingy. It was released as the lead single from his second albumPowerballin'. It garnered a mixed reception from critics, was the only single from the album to be released worldwide, and reached number 20 on the BillboardHot 100 and number 34 on the UK Singles Chart. A music video by Jeremy Rall was made to promote the single that features Chingy inside a pinball machine that's named after the album's title. The remix features Lil Flip & Boozie of G.I.B. and a music video was made for the remix.
Critical reception
The song received mixed reviews from music critics. Soren Baker of the Los Angeles Times called it a "solid braggadocio single." Billboard writer Rashaun Hall described the song's catchy hook delivered in Chingy's technical flow as an "affable attempt" made to bring attention to his sophomore effort. Paul Cantor of RapReviews commended the track's production but said that, "It's the borderline generic nature in which this whole record comes across that makes it less likely to pick up in the way the techno-inspired "Right Thurr" did." Reviewing the album for Rolling Stone, Jon Caramanica put it alongside "We Clubbin'" as examples that showcase Chingy's charm and unique delivery, but found them "amiable, but aimless."
Commercial performance
"Balla Baby" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of October 9, 2004 at number 67. It moved eleven spots to number 56 the week of October 16, 2004. It then moved fifteen spots to number 41 the week of October 23, 2004. It reached the top 40 the week of October 30, 2004 by moving sixteen spots to number 25. It peaked at number 20 the week of November 13, 2004 and held that position for two weeks, remaining on the chart for eighteen weeks. It was the first single released by Chingy to not reach the top 5 in that chart after three consecutive hits off his Jackpot album.
Music video
Directed by Jeremy Rall, the video features Chingy and scantily-clad women inside a pinball machine called "Powerballin'". Inside the machine, Chingy is going to a meeting with a record executive, stunting next to various luxury cars and women, inside a bank vault filled with money and playing at a casino with various people around him. A barn owl is occasionally featured during the video. The video ends with Chingy playing the machine while two women watch. The explicit remix version of the video was released afterwards.
