Phenomenon (LL Cool J song)

"Phenomenon"
"Phenomenon"
Single by LL Cool J
from the album Phenomenon
B-side	"Hot Hot Hot"
Released	September 23, 1997
Length	4:12
Label	Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	James Todd Smith; Ron Amen-Ra Lawrence; Sean "Puffy" Combs; Bill Withers; Stanley McKenney;
Producer(s)	Sean "Puffy" Combs; Ron Amen-Ra Lawrence;
LL Cool J singles chronology

"Phenomenon" is the first single by American rapper LL Cool J from his seventh studio album of the same name. It samples the Creative Source cover of "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?" by Bill Withers and interpolates bits of Liquid Liquid's song "Cavern". The lyrics "Something Like a Phenomenon" and the beat are taken from the song "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" by Melle Mel. "Phenomenon" was released on September 23, 1997.^{[citation needed]} The single peaked at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100, reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart, and charted within the top 20 in the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Track listings

US 12-inch single^[1]

A1. "Phenomenon" (radio edit)

A2. "Phenomenon" (LP version)

A3. "Phenomenon" (instrumental)

B1. "Hot Hot Hot" (radio edit)

B2. "Hot Hot Hot" (LP version)

B3. "Hot Hot Hot" (instrumental)

UK and European CD single^[2]

"Phenomenon" (radio edit) – 3:06
"Wanna Get Paid" (featuring the Lost Boyz) – 4:10
"Mama Said Knock You Out" – 4:48
"Phenomenon" (LP version) – 4:12

Australasian CD single^[3]

"Phenomenon" (radio edit) – 3:06
"Phenomenon" (LP version) – 4:12
"Phenomenon" (instrumental) – 4:12
"Phenomenon" (TV) – 4:03

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Phenomenon"
Chart (1997–1998)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[4]	29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5]	31
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[6]	34
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[7]	27
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)^[8]	1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	42
Germany (GfK)^[10]	43
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[11]	25
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	28
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[13]	16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	21
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	11
Scotland (OCC)^[16]	25
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[17]	29
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[18]	22
UK Singles (OCC)^[19]	9
UK Dance (OCC)^[20]	9
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[21]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[22]	55
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[23]	7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[24]	16
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)^[25]	14
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[26]	12

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Phenomenon"
Chart (1997)	Position
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)^[27]	41
UK Singles (OCC)^[28]	198
UK Urban (Music Week)^[29]	31

References

^ Phenomenon (US 12-inch single sleeve). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1997. 314 568 081-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Phenomenon (UK & European CD single liner notes). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1997. 568 117-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Phenomenon (Australasian CD single liner notes). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1997. 568 117-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "LL Cool J – Phenomenon". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3396." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3412." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 47. November 22, 1997. p. 18. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (6.11. – 13.11.1997)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 7, 1997. p. 22. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Phenomenon". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
^ "The Urban Top 40 Tracks of 1997" (PDF). Music Week. January 10, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved August 6, 2023.

[1] Phenomenon (US 12-inch single sleeve). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1997. 314 568 081-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[2] Phenomenon (UK & European CD single liner notes). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1997. 568 117-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[3] Phenomenon (Australasian CD single liner notes). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 1997. 568 117-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Australia_LL_Cool_J-4] "LL Cool J – Phenomenon". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Flanders_LL_Cool_J-5] "LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Wallonia_LL_Cool_J-6] "LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-7] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3396." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Canadadance_-8] "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3412." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[9] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 47. November 22, 1997. p. 18. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Germany_LL_Cool_J-10] "LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[11] "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (6.11. – 13.11.1997)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 7, 1997. p. 22. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Ireland2_-12] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Phenomenon". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Dutch40_-13] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Dutch100_LL_Cool_J-14] "LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_LL_Cool_J-15] "LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Scotland_-16] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Sweden_LL_Cool_J-17] "LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Switzerland_LL_Cool_J-18] "LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_UK_-19] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_UKdance_-20] "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_UKrandb_-21] "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_LL_Cool_J-22] "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Billboarddancesales_LL_Cool_J-23] "LL Cool J Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2021.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_LL_Cool_J-24] "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Billboardrapsongs_LL_Cool_J-25] "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[sc_Billboardrhythmic_LL_Cool_J-26] "LL Cool J Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[27] "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[28] "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2019.

[29] "The Urban Top 40 Tracks of 1997" (PDF). Music Week. January 10, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved August 6, 2023.

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v t e LL Cool J
Discography
Studio albums	Radio Bigger and Deffer Walking with a Panther Mama Said Knock You Out 14 Shots to the Dome Mr. Smith Phenomenon G.O.A.T. 10 The DEFinition Todd Smith Exit 13 Authentic The FORCE
Compilations	All World: Greatest Hits All World 2
Singles	"I Can't Live Without My Radio" "Rock the Bells" "You'll Rock" "I'm Bad" "I Need Love" "Going Back to Cali" "I'm That Type of Guy" "Big Ole Butt" "One Shot at Love" "Jingling Baby" "To da Break of Dawn" "The Boomin' System" "Around the Way Girl" "Mama Said Knock You Out" "6 Minutes of Pleasure" "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" "Strictly Business" "How I'm Comin'" "Back Seat (of My Jeep)" "Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings" "Stand By Your Man" "Hey Lover" "Doin' It" "Loungin" "I Shot Ya" "Ain't Nobody" "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" "Phenomenon" "4, 3, 2, 1" "Hot, Hot, Hot" "Father" "Candy" "Zoom" "Say What" "Deepest Bluest" "Shut 'Em Down "Imagine That" "You and Me" "Put Your Hands Up" "Luv U Better" "Paradise" "All I Have" "Amazin' "Headsprung" "Hush" "Control Myself" "Cry" "Baby" "Murdergram Deux"
Featured singles	"Rampage" "Why Me Baby?" "This Is for the Lover in You" "Incredible" "Fatty Girl" "All I Have" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"
Other songs	"Accidental Racist"