Shaggy and Rayvon’s Angel, released in 2001, has officially been certified Platinum in the United Kingdom, with sales and streaming figures surpassing 600,000 units. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) announced the certification on November 1, 2024, marking a significant milestone for the track, which was previously certified Gold (400,000 units) in May 2001.
Appearing on Shaggy’s Hot Shot album, Angel quickly became a chart-topping global success, reaching No. 1 in 12 countries, including the UK, US, and Canada, and ending 2001 as one of the year’s most popular songs in the United States. Known for its smooth, reggae-infused beat, Angel has maintained its status as a go-to track for wedding playlists and nostalgic hits.
Angel samples elements from two classics: Evie Sands’ Angel of the Morning (1967) for its lyrics, and the bassline from Steve Miller Band’s The Joker (1973), which Shaggy has described as having a reggae feel despite its rock origins. Shaggy recounted in a 2021 Billboard interview that the idea for this unique mix came from DJ Paul, a close friend of Shaggy’s longtime producer, Sting International. He explained that the bass riff in The Joker—“doom-doom, do-do-doom-doom”—offered a groove that blended seamlessly with reggae.
The songwriting also saw contributions from Dave Kelly and RikRok, with Shaggy and RikRok completing the second verse and bridge together. They incorporated contemporary slang like “peeps” and “shorty” to give the song a more modern vibe, creating a record Shaggy recognized as special. The song’s official music video continues to resonate with fans, amassing over 500 million views on YouTube.
