Shaggy’s 2001 hit “Angel,” featuring Rayvon, release by MCA/Geffen Records has now achieved Platinum certification in the U.K., with sales and streams exceeding 600,000 units. This award, officially recognized by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on November 1, 2024, uses data tracked by the Official Charts Company. It marks Shaggy’s third Platinum-certified single in the U.K., following his chart-topping hits “It Wasn’t Me” and “Boombastic,” which reached Platinum status in 2001 and 2016, respectively. For Rayvon, this is his first Platinum certification as a featured artist. “Angel” is also among the catalog of Shaggy’s music rights acquired by Music Bird in 2022.
The timeless hit “Angel,” produced by Shawn “Sting International” Pizzonia, recently surpassed 500 million streams on Spotify. Reflecting on its success, Shaggy shared with World Music Views that the song was carefully crafted to blend familiar sounds in a fresh way. “’Angel’ was written by me, Dave Kelly, and Rik Rok. Sting International had sampled Steve Miller Band’s The Joker, and Dave and I thought the vibe of the beat felt similar to The Fugees’ Killing Me Softly, so we wanted to create a similar atmosphere.”
The chorus, interpolating Angel of the Morning by Chip Taylor, came together almost serendipitously. Shaggy recalls how Rik Rok inspired the final touch: “Rik Rok walked into the studio singing Juice Newton’s Just call me angel of the morning, and Dave and I really liked the melody and decided to use it for the chorus, making a few word changes to give it a more contemporary feel.” This spontaneous yet calculated blend of reggae, R&B, and pop hooks made “Angel” one of Shaggy’s biggest hits, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts across Europe, Australia, and Canada.
The song’s commercial success solidified Shaggy’s presence in the early 2000s music scene, proving that he could cross genre boundaries.
However, due to the dual interpolations from The Joker and Angel of the Morning, Shaggy and his collaborators lost the entire writer’s share, impacting their royalties. “This is why you might not see me, Dave Kelly, or Rik Rok listed in the writing credits,” he explained. Yet, he holds no regret, acknowledging the song’s impact: “That song was one of, if not the driving force behind the Hot Shot album. It’s still one of my most streamed songs, and I am very fortunate to have a classic that remains highly recurrent on radio to this day.”
“Angel” presents a story of gratitude and admiration, where Shaggy expresses his deep appreciation for his partner. The lyrics and warm tone convey themes of loyalty and devotion, a shift from the playful, carefree persona Shaggy embodied in other hits like “It Wasn’t Me.” This track demonstrated his versatility as an artist, capturing listeners who appreciated reggae’s feel-good vibes while also appealing to a mainstream audience with its catchy, melodic chorus
