# Ayo!

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For other uses, see [Ayo (disambiguation)](/source/Ayo_(disambiguation)).

"**Ayo!**" is a song by [American](/source/United_States) singer [Mýa](/source/M%C3%BDa). It was written and composed by Mýa, [DJ Kool](/source/DJ_Kool) and Christopher “Deep” Henderson and initially recorded for her fourth studio album *[Liberation](/source/Liberation_(M%C3%BDa_album))* (2007). Production on the track was helmed by Henderson, while Kool is having featured vocals. The song is built upon on an of [interpolation](/source/Interpolation_(popular_music)) from the composition "He's the Wizard" by American jazz singer [Thelma Carpenter](/source/Thelma_Carpenter). Due to the inclusion of the sample, [Charlie Smalls](/source/Charlie_Smalls) is also credited as a songwriter.

The song was expected to be released as the first single from Mýa's fourth studio album *[Liberation](/source/Liberation_(M%C3%BDa_album))* (2007). With the singer was going through transitioning from former label [Interscope](/source/Interscope_Records) to her [Universal Motown Records](/source/Universal_Motown_Records) though, "Ayo!" was later demoted and replaced by [Scott Storch](/source/Scott_Storch)-produced "[Lock U Down](/source/Lock_U_Down)," a collaboration with rapper [Lil Wayne](/source/Lil_Wayne), as the album's leading single. [1] Critics compared the song's production favorably to [TLC](/source/TLC_(band))’s 1990s album *[CrazySexyCool](/source/CrazySexyCool)*. On the charts, it "Ayo!" became a minor hit on *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'*s [Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs](/source/Hot_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Songs) chart, peaking at number seventy.

## Background

“Ayo!” was originally recorded by girl group [3LW](/source/3LW), but was then passed to Mýa. The song was [leaked](/source/Music_leak) in July 2006, unbeknownst if Universal Motown had chosen the song as the first single taken from the singer's next studio album *[Liberation](/source/Liberation_(M%C3%BDa_album))*.[2] A few days later, online publication *[Rap-Up](/source/Rap-Up)* confirmed "Ayo!" as the first official single from the album'.[3] Though the song was intended to be the first single from the project, Universal Motown eventually scrapped the single and delayed the album's release. Co-written by Mýa and produced by Chris "Deep" Henderson, the [Go-go](/source/Go-go) inspired track samples an [interpolation](/source/Interpolation_(popular_music)) from "He's the Wizard" by American singer [Thelma Carpenter](/source/Thelma_Carpenter) from the soundtrack to *[The Wiz](/source/The_Wiz_(film))*, an [adaptation](/source/Adaptation) of [L. Frank Baum](/source/L._Frank_Baum)'s *[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz](/source/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz)* which features an entire African American cast. "He's the Wizard" was originally written by [Charlie Smalls](/source/Charlie_Smalls) for the musical and film, so therefore he is credited for the sample recording.[4]

## Critical reception

*[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* magazine gave the song a positive review, writing, "Mýa has become the new captain of sexy, single ladies as she struts her way back into the spotlight. New single, "Ayo!" (pronounced "ee-yo"), featuring hip-hop veteran [DJ Kool](/source/DJ_Kool), is a party anthem that finds the sultry singer just "tryin' to enjoy herself," while hating on the men who can't keep her interest, satisfy or keep it real day-to-da. From the start, the beat takes charge, complemented by loud brassy horns and tight percussion; the hook is fresh, catchy and simplistic. "Ayo!" brings back a bit of old school, reminiscent of [TLC](/source/TLC_(band))'s classic 1990s "*[CrazySexyCool](/source/CrazySexyCool)*," and leads independent women straight to the doors of the party. Look for her fourth full-length set, "*[Liberation](/source/Liberation_(M%C3%BDa_album))*" Nov. 14."[5]

## Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the liner notes of "Ayo!."[6]

- [John Bowman, Jr.](/source/DJ_Kool) – writer
- Ralph Cacciurri – recording engineer
- Rick DeVarona – recording assistance
- Seth Foster – mastering engineer
- Serban Ghenea – mixing engineer
- Suha Gur – mastering engineer

- John Hanes – [Pro Tools](/source/Pro_Tools)
- [Mýa Harrison](/source/M%C3%BDa) – vocalist, writer
- Christopger "Deep" Henderson – producer, writer
- [Charlie Smalls](/source/Charlie_Smalls) – writer (sample)
- Tim Roberts – mixing assistance

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance Chart (2006) Peak position Germany (Deutsche Urban Charts)[7] 17

### Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance Chart (2006) Position Germany (Deutsche Urban Charts)[7] 139

## Release history

Release dates and formats for "Ayo!" Region Date Format Label Ref. United States August 21, 2006 Rhythmic contemporary radio Universal Motown [8][9] September 26, 2006 Digital download [10]

## References

1. ["New Music: Mya - "Ayo""](https://web.archive.org/web/20111020150155/http://randb.about.com/b/2006/08/09/new-music-mya-ayo.htm). *[About.com](/source/About.com)*. Archived from [the original](http://randb.about.com/b/2006/08/09/new-music-mya-ayo.htm) on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2012-04-19.

1. ["New Mya Track Called "Ayo""](https://www.rap-up.com/2006/07/21/new-mya-track-called-ayo/). *[Rap-Up](/source/Rap-Up)*. Retrieved 2019-05-23.

1. ["Mya On Fiya!"](https://www.rap-up.com/2006/07/25/mya-on-fiya/). *Rap-Up*. Retrieved 2019-05-23.

1. ["Creators:Charlie Smalls"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110717043455/http://www.thewizthemusical.com/creators/smalls.php). *thewizthemusical.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.thewizthemusical.com/creators/smalls.php) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-02-24.

1. ["Ayo"](http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/22497160). *[EBSCO Publishing](/source/EBSCO_Publishing)*. Retrieved 2013-01-21.

1. *Ayo!* (booklet). Universal Motown Records. 2006.

1. ["JAHRESCHARTS 2006"](https://archive.today/20200620154622/http://www.djcharts.de//jahrescharts2006/dbc_jc_top200/index.html). *djcharts.de*. Archived from [the original](http://www.djcharts.de//jahrescharts2006/dbc_jc_top200/index.html) on 2020-06-20. Retrieved 2017-06-25.

1. ["Available For Airplay"](http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2006). *[FMQB](/source/FMQB)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110720210133/http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239) 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2011-08-09.

1. ["Going For Adds"](http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4482122-1.html). *[AllBusiness](/source/AllBusiness)*. Retrieved 2011-07-03.

1. ["Ayo (Featuring DJ Kool) - Single"](https://music.apple.com/us/album/ayo-featuring-dj-kool-single/1445288621). *[iTunes](/source/ITunes)*. Retrieved 2011-07-03.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ayo!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayo!) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayo!?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.