Hey Baby (After the Club)


"Hey Baby " is a song by Ashanti initially intended as the lead single from her fourth studio album, The Declaration, it is not included on US editions of the album. It was written by Ashanti, Jack Knight, Olliette Quiana Space, Marcus Vest and Mendell Mario Winans and produced by Aurelius and Winans.
The song was released to the iTunes Store on October 16, 2007, and was made available for airplay on rhythmic crossover radio stations the same day. It peaked at number eighty-seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, remaining on it for nine weeks.

Background and critical reception

Initially "Switch" was intended to be the first single. "Switch" featuring her then-boyfriend rapper Nelly was produced by Shy Carter and released digitally in the United States on July 24, 2007. It was later reported that "Switch" will not be included on the album's track listing, and that the first single would be "Hey Baby ".
"Hey Baby " was released to radio and digital outlets on October 16, 2007. It did not receive positive reviews. It was criticized for being too similar to the song "Last Night" of rapper P. Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole. Both songs sampled the song "Erotic City" by Prince. The website That Grape Juice wrote that "though the track is good, it’s still a long way off what she should be putting out if she’s hoping for a successful ‘comeback’". Rap-Up magazine stated: "We’re hoping it will grow on us, but until then, we wish Ashanti would have gone with 'Switch' with Nelly as her first single".
What happened with "Switch" also ended up happening to "Hey Baby ", when a new song "The Way That I Love You", which was released in February 2008, was later referred to as the real "first single" in press releases and media reports. "Hey Baby " does not appear on the US editions of the album. It only appears as a bonus track in select countries internationally, such as the UK.

Track listing

U.S. promo CD single and vinyl
  1. "Hey Baby " Radio version – 3:33
  2. "Hey Baby " Extended radio version – 4:30
  3. "Hey Baby " Extended radio version instrumental – 4:30
  4. "Hey Baby " Extended radio version a cappella – 3:34

    Charts

Radio and release history