Hush (LL Cool J song)

"Hush"
Single by LL Cool J featuring 7 Aurelius
from the album The DEFinition
B-side"Rub My Back"
ReleasedSeptember 7, 2004 (2004-09-07)
Length3:35
LabelDef Jam
Songwriters
Producer7 Aurelius
LL Cool J singles chronology
"Headsprung"
(2004) 		"Hush"
(2004) 		"It's LL and Santana"
(2006)
Music video
"Hush" on YouTube

"Hush" is the second single from American rapper LL Cool J's tenth studio album, The DEFinition (2004). Produced by 7 Aurelius, who provides additional vocals, the song was released on September 7, 2004, by Def Jam Recordings. "Hush" charted at number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 11 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, and number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single became a top-10 success in the United Kingdom, where it debuted and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart in February 2005.

Background

"Hush" was written by LL Cool J along with 7 Aurelius, Paul Graham, Cornelius Mims, and Paul Bushnell for his tenth studio album, The DEFinition (2004), with Aurelius overseeing its production. In an interview with MTV News, LL Cool J commented on the song: "It's about how we go through problems and pain and drama, but if we stick together, no matter how rough it gets, we gonna get through. That could be a relationship, man and woman, that can be a crew, that can be a team, whatever. However you slice it, at the end of the day, when the drama happens — just hush. Be easy. Be still in the midst of the storm, and we'll figure out what we need to do."[1]

Commercial success

In the United States, "Hush" reached number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[2] It also peaked at number 11 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart and number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[3][4] "Hush" was released to bigger commercial success in the United Kingdom, where it reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming his highest-charting single since "Ain't Nobody" (1996).[5] On October 24, 2025, nearly two decades after its release, the song was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[6] The song also reached the top thiry in Ireland, peaking at number 23 on the Irish Singles Chart,[7] and became a top ten hit in Scotland and on a composite European Hot 100 Singles chart.[8][9]

Music video

A music video for "Hush" was filmed on location in Queens, New York, and directed by Jessy Terrero.[1] Shot in late September 2004,[1] the video depicts LL Cool J returning to his old neighborhood with his partner, played by Dominican actress Dania Ramirez.[1] Throughout the shoot, local residents gathered along Jamaica Avenue to watch and participate, with LL engaging directly with fans and encouraging community involvement.[1] The concept centers on juxtaposing the artist's present success with nostalgic flashbacks, including appearances by his eldest son, Najee, who portrays a 17-year-old version of his father in the video's flashback sequences.[1] LL Cool J elaborated on the video, while filming scenes in Queens: "It's about a guy who's made it, who's very, very successful. He decides to take his girl back to the 'hood where they first met, so they can appreciate and kinda reminisce about where they come from. I think you'll find that with people that make money, sometimes you gotta keep a bus pass in your wallet so you don't act too cute in a Benz. This [video] was my way of doing that. I wanted to bring it back home."[1]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Hush"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

"Hush" release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States September 7, 2004
Def Jam [21]
October 4, 2004 Contemporary hit radio [22]
United Kingdom February 14, 2005
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [23]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Reid, Shaheem (September 24, 2004). "LL Brings It Back To The 'Hood For 'Hush' Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  2. ^ a b "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart on 26/2/2005 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "British single certifications – LL Cool J ft 7 Aurelius – Hush". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 25, 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Hush LL Cool J ft 7 Aurelius in the "Search:" field.
  7. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Hush". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 26/2/2005 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 10. March 5, 2005. p. 53. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  10. ^ Hush (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Def Jam Recordings. 2004. B0003438-11.
  11. ^ Hush (UK CD1 & European CD single liner notes). Def Jam Recordings. 2005. 2103774.
  12. ^ Hush (UK CD2 liner notes). Def Jam Recordings. 2005. 2103773.
  13. ^ Hush (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Def Jam Recordings. 2005. 2103776.
  14. ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1584. December 3, 2004. p. 27. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  15. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 5, saptamina 7.02 – 13.02, 2005" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 23, 2005. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  16. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 26/2/2005 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  17. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  18. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2004". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  19. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 29.
  20. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  21. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1571. September 3, 2004. p. 19. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  22. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1575. October 1, 2004. p. 20. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  23. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 12, 2005. p. 31.
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