Headsprung

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"Headsprung"
Single by LL Cool J featuring Timbaland
from the album The DEFinition
B-side"Feel the Beat"
ReleasedJune 7, 2004
Recorded2003
StudioThe Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL
GenreHip hop, Rap
Length4:27 (Album Version)
3:55 (Radio Mix)
LabelDef Jam Recordings
Songwriter(s)James Todd Smith, Timothy Mosley
Producer(s)Timbaland
LL Cool J singles chronology
"Amazin'"
(2003) 		"Headsprung"
(2004) 		"Hush"
(2004)
Timbaland singles chronology
"Deliverance"
(2003) 		"Headsprung"
(2004) 		"Are You Feelin' Me?"
(2005)

"Headsprung" is a song by American hip hop artist LL Cool J. It was released on June 7, 2004 as the lead single from his eleventh album, The DEFinition. The song was a success on the charts, it peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 4 on the Hot Rap Songs and number 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Keri Hilson did a cover of this song featuring Justin Timberlake, the cover was used as a remix with LL Cool J's 1st verse. A version of this song, however without Timberlake, has appeared, renamed, as the title track for Hilson's 2009 compilation album, Ms. Keri.

Critical reception[edit]

AllMusic's David Jeffries praised the song as a change from the slow jams of LL's 10, highlighting the southern production and New York style vocal delivery as a great merger, concluding that, "Simple, club, crunk, and not the kind of revolution Timbaland or LL Cool J can crank out when on fire, but solid enough to put the rapper back on top of the beatbox."[1] Rashaun Hall of Billboard was mixed on the song, commending LL's attempt to adapt to the crunk style but felt the hook was "derivative" and that Timbaland's production overpowered him, concluding that "For better or for worse, "Headsprung" marks LL Cool J's continued evolution as an artist."[2] Nick Southall of Stylus Magazine said that it was "a hit but not a monster."[3]

Formats and track listing[edit]

Europe CD (Promo)[4]
  1. "Headsprung" (Radio Edit) – 3:55
UK CD[5]
  1. "Headsprung" (Album Version) – 4:27
  2. "Feel the Beat" (Album Version) – 4:17
US 12" (Promo)[6]
  1. "Headsprung" (Radio Edit) – 3:55
  2. "Headsprung" (Instrumental) – 4:27
  3. "Feel the Beat" (Radio Edit) – 3:48
  4. "Feel the Beat" (Instrumental) – 4:20
US CD (Promo)[7]
  1. "Headsprung" (Radio) – 3:58
  2. "Headsprung" (Instrumental) – 4:31
  3. "Call Out" – 0:11

Charts and certifications[edit]

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States June 28, 2004 (2004-06-28) Rhythmic contemporary · urban contemporary radio Roc-A-Fella, IDJMG [22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jeffries, David. "Headsprung - LL Cool J". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Billboard (July 17, 2004). "Billboard Picks - Singles". Billboard. 116. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 36. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  3. ^ Southall, Nick (September 14, 2004). "LL Cool J - The DEFinition". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "LL Cool J - Headsprung (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "LL Cool J - Headsprung (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  6. ^ "LL Cool J - Headsprung (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "LL Cool J - Headsprung (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  8. ^ "LL Cool J – Headsprung" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "LL Cool J – Headsprung". Swiss Singles Chart.
  11. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  14. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  15. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  16. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  17. ^ "American single certifications – LL Cool J – Headsprung". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  18. ^ "2004 Urban top 30" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2005. p. 24. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2004". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  20. ^ "2004 Year-End Charts: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  21. ^ "2004 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. December 25, 2004. p. YE-60. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  22. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1561. June 25, 2004. p. 26. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
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