Back in the Day (Ahmad song)

"Back in the Day"
Single by Ahmad
from the album Ahmad
Released	March 31, 1994
Format	12" maxi single
Recorded	1993
Genre	West Coast Hip Hop
Length	5:18
Label	Giant/Reprise/Warner Bros. Records 41416
Writer(s)	Ahmad A. Lewis
Producer	Ahmad, Redfoo
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
Ahmad singles chronology
- "'Back in the Day" (1994)

"Back in the Day" is a 1994 West Coast hip hop single by Ahmad. Released when Ahmad was only 18, the song is a nostalgic remembrance of childhood and young teenage years, from a somewhat jaded adult perspective. "Back in the Day" was Ahmad's only major hit single, making it to #26 on The Billboard Hot 100, #19 on the US R&B chart on the strength of its hook - a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song "Love TKO"—and Ahmad's quirky vocal style, reminiscent of Fatlip of the Pharcyde fame, and #3 on the US rap chart. It was the first single of his 1994 self-titled album and was RIAA-certified gold.

A remix of "Back in the Day" is featured on the soundtrack of The Wood, a 1999 motion picture.

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (1994)	Peak Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	26
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	15
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	19
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles	3
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40	13

End of year charts

End of year chart (1994)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	93

Legacy

Mariah Carey's 12th studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, featured an interpolation of "Back in the Day" on the track "Candy Bling." Travie McCoy's debut studio album Lazarus features a song titled "Akidagain" which interpolates "Back in the Day". On J. Cole's mixtape The Come Up, his song "School Daze" also interpolates "Back in the Day".