Hey Lover Explained

Hey Lover
Cover:	Hey Lover.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	LL Cool J featuring Boyz II Men
Album:	Mr. Smith
B-Side:	"I Shot Ya" (remix)
Studio:	Stone Creek (Gladwyne, Pennsylvania)
Genre:	Hip hop R&B
Length:	4:46
Label:	Def Jam Island (UK)
Producer:	Trackmasters
Chronology:	LL Cool J
Prev Title:	Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)
Prev Year:	1994
Next Title:	Doin' It
Next Year:	1996

"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" 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.

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]}

1. "Hey Lover" (radio edit)
2. "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]

1. "Hey Lover" (radio edit)
2. "I Shot Ya" (remix)

• UK and European CD single^[9]

1. "Hey Lover" (radio edit)
2. "Hey Lover" (instrumental)
3. "I Shot Ya" (remix)
4. "I Shot Ya" (LP version)

• Australasian CD single^[10]

1. "Hey Lover" (radio edit)
2. "Hey Lover" (instrumental)
3. "I Shot Ya" (remix)
4. "Hey Lover" (LP version)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995–1996)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[11]	43
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[12]	20

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[13]	68
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[14]	98
US Billboard Hot 100^[15]	20
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[16]	28

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	October 31, 1995		Def Jam	^[17]
United Kingdom	January 8, 1996			^[18]
Japan	January 15, 1996	CD	Def Jam	^[19]

See also

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

Notes and References

1. Best-Selling Records of 1995. Billboard. BPI Communications. 108. 3. 56. January 20, 1996. May 5, 2015. 0006-2510.
2. Web site: Grammy Awards Winners & Nominees for Best Rap Solo Performance. Grammy Awards. January 20, 2021.
3. Gil L.. Robertson IV. Urban: Rap Single Reviews. Cash Box. December 9, 1995. 13. November 10, 2022.
4. Web site: J.R. Reynolds. L.L. Cool J Back As 'Mr. Smith'. Billboard. October 21, 1995. August 25, 2023.
5. Hey Lover. LL Cool J. 1995. US cassette single sleeve. Def Jam Recordings. 314 577 494-4.
6. Hey Lover. LL Cool J. 1995. Australian cassette single sleeve. Def Jam Recordings. 577 494-4.
7. Hey Lover. LL Cool J. 1995. US 12-inch single sleeve. Def Jam Recordings. 314 577 495-1.
8. Hey Lover. LL Cool J. 1996. French CD single liner notes. Def Jam Recordings, Island Records. 5778602.
9. Hey Lover. LL Cool J. 1995. UK & European CD single liner notes. Def Jam Recordings, Island Records. DEFCD 14, 577 861-2.
10. Hey Lover. LL Cool J. 1995. Australasian CD single liner notes. Def Jam Recordings. 577 495-2.
11. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 13. 13. 21. March 30, 1996. September 26, 2020.
12. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (20.1. '96 – 26.1. '96). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 38. January 20, 1996. October 2, 2019.
13. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996. Australian Recording Industry Association. Imgur. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151102010347/http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg. November 2, 2015. October 2, 2019.
14. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 1996. Sverigetopplistan. sv. September 26, 2020.
15. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1996. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121523/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996. March 1, 2009. March 27, 2010.
16. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996. Billboard. June 29, 2021.
17. Selected New Releases. Radio & Records. 1118. 35, 41. October 27, 1995. June 28, 2021.
18. LL Cool J Tune Marks a Decade of Def Jam. Music Week. Record Mirror. 2. January 6, 1996. 28 June 2021.
19. Web site: ヘイ・ラバー LL クール J. Hey Lover LL Cool J. Oricon. ja. September 24, 2023.