Hey Lover

Not to be confused with Hey Lover (Freddie Jackson song).

"Hey Lover" is a song by American rapper LL Cool J, released as the first single from his sixth album, Mr. Smith (1995). The song features vocals from American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was released on October 31, 1995, for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by The Trackmasters and LL Cool J. The song samples Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life" from his 1982 hit album Thriller; thus Rod Temperton, the writer of that song, was given credit as a writer of this song. On the B-side is the "I Shot Ya" remix.

"Hey Lover"
Single by LL Cool J featuring Boyz II Men
from the album Mr. Smith
B-side	"I Shot Ya" (remix)
Released	October 31, 1995 (1995-10-31)
Recorded	1995
Studio	Stone Creek (Gladwyne, Pennsylvania)
Genre	Hip hop R&B
Length	4:46
Label	Def Jam Island (UK)
Songwriter(s)	James Todd Smith Rod Temperton
Producer(s)	Trackmasters
LL Cool J singles chronology
"Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)" (1994) "Hey Lover" (1995) "Doin' It" (1996)
Boyz II Men singles chronology
"Brokenhearted" (1995) "Hey Lover" (1995) "One Sweet Day" (1995)
Music video
"Hey Lover" on YouTube

"Hey Lover" would prove to be the most successful single from the album, making it to number three on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B Singles charts. It sold 900,000 copies in 1995 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in January 1996 for selling one million copies.^[1] It also reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, number six in Sweden, and number five in New Zealand.

At the 1997 Grammy Awards, the song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, becoming his second Grammy in that category after 1992's "Mama Said Knock You Out".^[2]

Critical reception

Gil L. Robertson IV from Cash Box wrote, "What can I say? It’s a definite number one single. After a short hiatus from the music industry to embark upon a promising film and television career, LL is back with an R&B based track which teams him with super-quartet Boyz II Men. Can you remember what 'I Need Love', did for the rap culture as a whole? Prior to that single’s success a slow jam rap single was unheard of, yet LL pulled it off with a smooth style that was undeniable. This track brings to mind long days of hanging out at the malls, chasing girls. Thanks, LL, for the smooth reminiscence."^[3]

Music video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams and it was released on October 23, 1995.^[4] It featured television and film actress Gillian Iliana Waters as LL Cool J's love interest.^{[citation needed]}

Track listings

All versions of "Hey Lover" feature Boyz II Men, and all versions of "I Shot Ya" feature Prodigy, Keith Murray, Fat Joe, and Foxy Brown.

US and Australian cassette single[5][6] "Hey Lover" (radio edit) "Hey Lover" (instrumental) US 12-inch single[7] A1. "Hey Lover" (radio edit) A2. "Hey Lover" (instrumental) B1. "Hey Lover" (LP version) B2. "Hey Lover" (a cappella) French CD single[8] "Hey Lover" (radio edit) "I Shot Ya" (remix)

UK and European CD single[9] "Hey Lover" (radio edit) "Hey Lover" (instrumental) "I Shot Ya" (remix) "I Shot Ya" (LP version) Australasian CD single[10] "Hey Lover" (radio edit) "Hey Lover" (instrumental) "I Shot Ya" (remix) "Hey Lover" (LP version)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 11 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 50 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 43 France (SNEP)[14] 27 Germany (GfK)[15] 34 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[16] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 12 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 5 Scotland (OCC)[20] 40 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 17 UK Dance (OCC)[23] 12 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[24] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 3 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[26] 3 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 3 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[28] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[29] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Australia (ARIA)[30] 68 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 98 US Billboard Hot 100[32] 20 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[33] 28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[34]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	October 31, 1995	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio	Def Jam	[35]
United Kingdom	January 8, 1996	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Def Jam Island	[36]
Japan	January 15, 1996	CD	Def Jam	[37]

See also

• List of Billboard number-one rap singles of the 1980s and 1990s

References

1. "Best-Selling Records of 1995". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 3. BPI Communications. January 20, 1996. p. 56. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
2. "Grammy Awards Winners & Nominees for Best Rap Solo Performance". Grammy Awards. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
3. Robertson IV, Gil L. (December 9, 1995). "Urban: Rap Single Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 13. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
4. J.R. Reynolds (October 21, 1995). "L.L. Cool J Back As 'Mr. Smith'". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
5. Hey Lover (US cassette single sleeve). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1995. 314 577 494-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. Hey Lover (Australian cassette single sleeve). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1995. 577 494-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Hey Lover (US 12-inch single sleeve). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1995. 314 577 495-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Hey Lover (French CD single liner notes). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings, Island Records. 1996. 5778602.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Hey Lover (UK & European CD single liner notes). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings, Island Records. 1995. DEFCD 14, 577 861-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Hey Lover (Australasian CD single liner notes). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1995. 577 495-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. "LL Cool J – Hey Lover". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2913." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 13. March 30, 1996. p. 21. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
14. "LL Cool J – Hey Lover" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
15. "LL Cool J – Hey Lover" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
16. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (20.1. '96 – 26.1. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 20, 1996. p. 38. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
18. "LL Cool J – Hey Lover" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
19. "LL Cool J – Hey Lover". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
21. "LL Cool J – Hey Lover". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
23. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
24. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
25. "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
26. "LL Cool J Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
27. "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
28. "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
29. "LL Cool J Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
30. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2019 – via Imgur.
31. "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
32. "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
33. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
34. "American single certifications – L.L. Cool J – Hey Lover". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
35. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1118. October 27, 1995. pp. 35, 41. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
36. "LL Cool J Tune Marks a Decade of Def Jam" (PDF). Music Week. January 6, 1996. p. 2. Retrieved 28 June 2021 – via Record Mirror.
37. "ヘイ・ラバー | LL クール J" [Hey Lover | LL Cool J] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 24, 2023.