Headsprung

"Headsprung"
Single by LL Cool J featuring Timbaland
from the album The DEFinition
B-side	"Feel the Beat"
Released	June 7, 2004
Recorded	2003
Studio	The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL
Genre	Hip-hop
Length	4:27 (Album Version) 3:55 (Radio Mix)
Label	Def Jam
Songwriters	James Todd Smith Timothy Mosley
Producer	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 four on the Hot Rap Songs chart, and number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

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

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 it was "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 feeling 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

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

Weekly charts Chart (2004) Peak position Germany (GfK)[8] 80 Scotland Singles (OCC)[9] 43 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] 20 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[11] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 25 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 16 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] 7 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[15] 4 US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[16] 6 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA)[17] Platinum 1,000,000^‡ ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position UK Urban (Music Week)[18] "Headsprung" / "Feel The Beat" 28 US Billboard Hot 100[19] 67 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] 39 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[21] 22

Release history

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

1. Jeffries, David. "Headsprung - LL Cool J". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
2. Billboard (July 17, 2004). "Billboard Picks - Singles". Billboard. Vol. 116. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 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. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
9. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 24/8/2004 – 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 on 22/8/2004 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
12. "Official Singles Chart on 24/8/2004 – 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 Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
17. "American single certifications – L.L. Cool J – Headsprung". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
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. Archived from the original on January 27, 2015. 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.