Baby Mama (Brandy song)

"Baby Mama" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy, featuring rapper Chance the Rapper. It was written by Norwood, Chance, Akil King, and Kimberly "Kaydence" Krysiuk, while production was helmed by Hit Boy and Norwood. It was released as the lead single from Norwood's seventh studio album B7 (2020)[1] The bass-heavy, horn-influenced uptempo R&B track pays homage to single mothers, with Norwood specifically celebrating her love for daughter Sy'rai. "Baby Mama" was released to all digital outlets on May 1, 2020.

"Baby Mama"
Single by Brandy featuring Chance the Rapper
from the album B7
ReleasedMay 1, 2020
GenreR&B
Length3:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Brandy singles chronology
"Freedom Rings"
(2019)		 "Baby Mama"
(2020)		 "Borderline"
(2020)
Chance the Rapper singles chronology
"Hot Shower"
(2019)		 "Baby Mama"
(2020)		 "Holy"
(2020)

Background and promotion

"Baby Mama" was officially announced as the lead single for Norwood's upcoming seventh studio album on American talk show, The Talk in March 2020. The song's release was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The song was officially released digitally on May 1, 2020.

Composition

"Baby Mama", stylistically, combines influences of R&B, Hip-hop and modern trap music Norwood described the track to have been influenced by her relationship with her daughter, serving as a somewhat tribute to hardworking mothers across the world. Furthermore, Norwood revealed: “My new single is about embracing the strength and fortitude needed not only in motherhood, but in life,” the singer said in a press release. “I am thrilled that Chance joined me on this track, and I hope my fans find it as uplifting as I intended it to be!”.[3]

Chart performance

Upon its release, "Baby Mama" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Brandy's first lead single to do so. Despite this, "Baby Mama" managed to find significant success within other Billboard charts, debuting at number 23 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs in the week ending May 9, 2020 and eventually going on to peak at number seven on July 20, 2020.[4] This marked her first list entry as a leading artist since "Wildest Dreams" in 2012.[4] In addition, it reached number 27 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[5] On May 16, 2020, the single entered and peaked on Billboard's R&B Digital Song Sales chart at number 10, making it Norwood's fifth entry on that chart.[6] Elsewhere, on the week ending June 22, 2020, the single peaked at number 44 on the US Urban Airplay chart.[7]

Music video

Background and release

An accompanying music video was directed by Derek Blanks and Frank Gatson Jr., the latter of whom Norwood had frequently collaborated with throughout her career, including videos for "I Wanna Be Down" (1994) and “Put It Down" (2012).[8][9] "Baby Mama" was filmed at the Fat Eye Studios in Los Angeles in the week of January 29, 2020,[10] prior to social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The video premiered on BET outlets on May 4, 2020, and uploaded online soon after.[11]

Synopsis

The video draws inspiration from Fosse-style choreography and the 1969 musical film Sweet Charity, specifically from actor Sammy Davis Jr. performance of the song "The Rhythm of Life". The video opens with Norwood and her dancers in an open warehouse surrounded by classic cars. Donning an array of colorful suits and jackets, Norwood performs a series of dance sequences with the dancers, fusing contemporary jazz and hip-hop stylings.[12] Chance the Rapper appears in the video, interacting with Norwood through an orange two-seater.

Live performances

Norwood first performed the song live on Good Morning America during their 2020 Spring Concert Series. She live streamed her performance from her home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Norwood live-streamed a performance of the song on The Talk on May 12, 2020.[14]

Charts
Chart performance for "Baby Mama"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Germany (Deutsche Black Charts)[15] 9
US R&B Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[6] 10
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[5] 27

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Baby Mama"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various May 1, 2020
[16]

References
  1. "Brandy, Chance the Rapper Celebrate Mother's Day Early with 'Baby Mama'". Rollingstone. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  2. "Brandy Announces New Single 'Baby Mama' Featuring Chance The Rapper". thatgrapejuice.net. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  3. "Brandy Shares New Song "Baby Mama" Featuring Chance The Rapper". Okayplayer. 2020-05-01. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  4. "Brandy | Billboard". Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  5. "Brandy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  6. "Brandy". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  7. "HITS Daily Double". Mediabase. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  8. "Watch Brandy's "Baby Mama" video featuring Chance the Rapper". ABC News. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  9. "Brandy Shows GMA How To 'Put It Down'". thatgrapejuice.net. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  10. "Brandy - Baby Mama (Behind The Scenes)". YouTube. May 3, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  11. "Exclusive: Brandy's New Video "Baby Mama" Celebrates All The Mothers Holding It Down On Their Own". BET. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  12. "NEW VIDEO: BRANDY & CHANCE THE RAPPER- "BABY MAMA"". thisisrnb.com. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  13. Moorwood, Victoria (May 7, 2020). "Brandy announces 'B7' album". revolt.tv. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  14. "Brandy performs Baby Mama".
  15. "Deutsche Black Charts". Trendcharts. Media Control. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  16. "Baby Mama – Single". iTunes (Apple). Retrieved May 8, 2020.
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