Research has tracked the song’s influence as far as the Gold Coast (now Ghana), where it played a role in the development of "Highlife" music during the 1950s as a colonial aesthetic began to change.

Lionel Hampton’s career was defined by hits like "Flying Home" and "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop." These songs allowed him to maintain one of the longest-running and most popular big bands in jazz history. The song remains a staple for choral arrangements and jazz ensembles today.

"Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" is a classic jazz and R&B hit, most famously recorded by in 1945. It is considered a cornerstone of the "jump blues" style that bridged the gap between big band swing and early rock and roll.

The song’s success was pivotal in the mid-1940s, influencing several genres: