"Headsprung" is a song by American hip hop artist

LL Cool J James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, along ...

. 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

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and number 7 on the

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Keri Hilson Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and actress. She was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia and spent most of her youth working with producer Anthony Dent as a songwriter and background vocalist for ...

did a cover of this song featuring

Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...

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

Critical reception

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'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." 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." Nick Southall of

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said that it was "a hit but not a monster."

Formats and track listing

;Europe CD (Promo) #"Headsprung" (Radio Edit) – 3:55 ;UK CD #"Headsprung" (Album Version) – 4:27 #"Feel the Beat" (Album Version) – 4:17 ;US 12" (Promo) #"Headsprung" (Radio Edit) – 3:55 #"Headsprung" (Instrumental) – 4:27 #"Feel the Beat" (Radio Edit) – 3:48 #"Feel the Beat" (Instrumental) – 4:20 ;US CD (Promo) #"Headsprung" (Radio) – 3:58 #"Headsprung" (Instrumental) – 4:31 #"Call Out" – 0:11

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Certifications

Year-end charts

Release history

References

{{authority control 2004 singles 2004 songs LL Cool J songs Def Jam Recordings singles Song recordings produced by Timbaland Songs written by LL Cool J