The Surprising Musical Origins of Shaggy Hits

Shaggy's massive hit song Angel is actually a clever collage of two classic tracks. The catchy melody relies on samples from a 1968 soft rock ballad and a 1973 rock anthem.

While Shaggy is known for his unique dancehall sound, his biggest track Angel borrowed heavily from the past. He blended the soulful chorus of Merrilee Rush’s Angel of the Morning with the iconic guitar riff from The Steve Miller Band’s The Joker. This mashup proved to be a global phenomenon, helping his album Hot Shot sell millions of copies worldwide. It is a great example of how sampling can breathe new life into vintage music favorites.