Hey Baby (No Doubt song)

"Hey Baby"
Artwork for most non-US commercial releases
Single by No Doubt featuring Bounty Killer
from the album Rock Steady
Released	January 15, 2002 (2002-01-15)
Format	CD
Recorded	2001; Toast Studios (San Francisco, California) The Sidsehack (Los Angeles, California) Geejam Studios (Port Antonio, Jamaica) One Pop Studios (Kingston, Jamaica)
Genre	Dancehall ragga electro
Length	3:27
Label	Interscope
Writer(s)	Gwen Stefani Tony Kanal Tom Dumont Bounty Killer
Producer(s)	Philip Steir Sly & Robbie Mark "Spike" Stent No Doubt
No Doubt featuring Bounty Killer singles chronology
"Bathwater" (2000) "Hey Baby" (2002) "Hella Good" (2002)
Alternative cover France cover

"Hey Baby" is a song written by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, and Bounty Killer for American rock band No Doubt's fifth studio album, Rock Steady (2001). The song is heavily influenced by the Jamaican dancehall music present at No Doubt's post-show parties and tour bus lounges of their Return of Saturn tour. Its lyrics describe the with groupies at these parties.

The song received positive reviews from music critics, although its dancehall influences had a mixed reception. It was released as the album's lead single in January 2002. The single was commercially successful and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. At the 45th Grammy Awards, it won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

"Hey Baby" was one of the first songs written for Rock Steady. The song begins with instrumentals programmed with producer Philip Steir at Toast Studios in San Francisco, California. They experimented with ray gun-like electronic effects and sounds that guitarist Tom Dumont compared to Star Wars music. Notably, the intro is reminiscent of the beginning of the song Jungle Love by the Steve Miller Band. The lyrics and melodies were recorded at a session at Dumont's home studio in Los Angeles weeks later. While the band was working on the album in Kingston, Jamaica during March 2001, producers Sly & Robbie left the percussion and Gwen Stefani's original vocal. The band asked about adding a guest appearance on the song, so Sly & Robbie recommended and added a toast from Bounty Killer.