"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" is a song by American R&B singer Usher. The song is the first single in the United States from Usher's sixth studio album Raymond v. Raymond, following the buzz single "Papers". The song was written by longtime Usher collaborator Rico Love, Usher, Plies and The Runners and it was also produced by the Love and The Runners. The remix version of the song, featuring Plies, was released to radio stations on December 8, 2009, and subsequently available for digital download on December 15, 2009. A second remix was released, featuring Jadakiss, on February 5, 2010 with a different beat that samples the 1997 hit by Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (which in turn samples Steely Dan's "Black Cow").
The song peaked at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100, and at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, giving Usher his third consecutive U.S. R&B top five hit.
Background and composition
The song was leaked onto the internet in later October 2009 with several preliminary tracks from Raymond v. Raymond. "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)", one of the tracks that follows-up Usher's divorce, and the change in content from Here I Stand, back to Confessions-style, was one of six tracks co-written by Rico Love for the album. In an exclusive with Rap-Up, Love said of Usher's return to that style, "I feel like he’s got his mind right and it’s focused. He went through a lot. He had lost his father when he was creating the Here I Stand record, a lot of controversy with his marriage, he had kids, he parted ways with his mother’s management, and there were just a lot of things going on and he kind of lost focus. It’s not like Here I Stand wasn’t a good album. I just feel like he lost touch with his demographic." According to MTV News, the song provides the reasons behind Usher's crumbling marriage as narrated in "Papers". The remix version featuring Plies made its way onto the internet in late November, a few days before the song's radio and digital release.
Critical reception
Mariel Concepcion of Billboard said that the song is "a clear indication that the R&B crooner is bringing sexy back," "atop a silky piano pattern and hand claps." She also said, "Plies makes a nice addition to the already sexified track, as the self-proclaimed goon drops a raunchy verse in his raspy Southern drawl." The review went on to say, "'Hey Daddy' may not be a chart-topper-yet-but it sure will make the naysayers pay attention again." Mark Edward Nero of About.com said that the song was "is not only the album's first official single," but "also a declaration." He goes on to say, "In the song, Usher's basically sending a message to his female fans that the Usher they knew and loved is back in their lives and that they don't need to stray any more: "You know your daddy's home, and it's time to play, so you ain't got to give my lovin' away." Nero calls 'Hey Daddy' "one of more than half a dozen sex songs on the album." Sara D. Anderson of AOL Music said that the song has a "catchy R&B tune" and "the song showcases Usher's role as the ladies' man as he croons: "You know your daddy's home (daddy's home) / And it's time to play (so it's time to play) / So you ain't got to give my loving away." James Reed of The Boston Globe said that the track was one of the album's songs to showcase "Usher's signature loveman moves" however called them "hollow as a chocolate Easter bunny", as he pointed out the whole album had a lack of emotion Andrew Rennie of Now Magazine said that on the song and on "Lil Freak" that Usher shows "he’s unafraid to get lewd".
Chart performance
After its release to digital download, the song debuted at number ninety-four on the Billboard Hot 100. The song fell off the chart its second week, but re-entered the chart four weeks later at number 100. It then dropped out the chart again, before re-entering yet again, this time at eighty. It has since peaked at twenty-four. The song peaked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and was Usher's third consecutive top five R&B hit, and his fourteenth top three R&B title. With the charting, Usher passed Ludacris for the most top three hits. The song also peaked at number sixty-eight on the Austrian Singles Chart.