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 appears, 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, "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]
