Happy (Ashanti song)

"Happy" is a song by American singer Ashanti from her self-titled debut album (2002). The track was written by Ashanti, Chink Santana, and Irv Gotti, with production overseen by Santana and Gotti, and contains a sample of Gap Band's "Outstanding" (1982), written by Raymond Calhoun. "Happy" was released as the album's second single on June 17, 2002, reaching number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Elsewhere, the single entered the top 10 in the Netherlands and reached the top 20 in Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

"Happy"
Single by Ashanti featuring Ja Rule
from the album Ashanti
B-side	"I'm So Happy" "Call"
Released	June 17, 2002 (2002-06-17)
Studio	Crackhouse (New York City)
Length	4:22
Label	Murder Inc.
Songwriter(s)	Raymond Calhoun Ashanti Douglas Andre Parker Irv Lorenzo
Producer(s)	Irv Gotti Chink Santana
Ashanti singles chronology
"Down 4 U" (2002) "Happy" (2002) "Baby" (2002)
Music video
"Happy" on YouTube

Remix

The remix of "Happy", titled "I'm So Happy", was produced by Santana and features rapper Charli Baltimore and further integrates a sample of "Outstanding".^[1] This version was later included on the Murder Inc. remix-compilation Irv Gotti Presents: The Remixes.^[2]

Track listings

UK CD single[1] "Happy" (radio edit featuring Ja Rule) – 3:59 "I'm So Happy" (remix featuring Charli Baltimore) – 3:58 "Happy" (explicit remix featuring Ja Rule) – 3:59 "Happy" (DnD vocal mix featuring Ja Rule) – 4:51 "Happy" (video featuring Ja Rule) – 4:00 UK cassette single[3] "Happy" (radio edit featuring Ja Rule) – 3:59 "I'm So Happy" (remix featuring Charli Baltimore) – 3:58

European CD single[4] "Happy" (album version) "Call" (album version) Australian CD single[5] "Happy" (album version) "Call" (album version) "I'm So Happy" (remix featuring Charli Baltimore) "Happy" (video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes.^[1]

Studios

• Recorded at Crackhouse Studios (New York City)
• Mixed at Sound Castle Studios (Los Angeles)
• Mastered at Sony Music Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Raymond Calhoun – writing ("Outstanding")
• Ashanti Douglas – writing, vocals
• Chink Santana – writing (as Andre Parker), all instruments, production
• Irv Gotti – writing (as Irv Lorenzo), production, mixing, video director
• Ja Rule – featured vocals
• Darwin Johnson – bass guitar
• Milwaukee Buck – recording
• Charles "Chee" Heath – assistant recording engineer
• Brian Springer – mixing
• Naweed "Dirty" Ahmed – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2002) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[6] 29 Australian Urban (ARIA)[7] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 49 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 35 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[10] 45 France (SNEP)[11] 40 Germany (GfK)[12] 41 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 19 Scotland (OCC)[17] 24 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 24 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 13 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[20] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 8 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 6 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[23] 12 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[24] 4

Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 80 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 93 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 41 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[28] 40 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 68 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[30] 25

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31]	Gold	15,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	June 17, 2002	Rhythmic contemporary urban radio	Murder Inc.	[32]
Australia	September 30, 2002	CD		[33]
United Kingdom	November 11, 2002	CD cassette		[34]

References

1. Happy (UK CD single liner notes). Ashanti. Murder Inc. Records. 2002. 063 824-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. "Irv Gotti Presents: The Remixes: Irv Gotti". AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
3. Happy (UK cassette single sleeve). Ashanti. Murder Inc. Records. 2002. 063 824-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. Happy (European CD single liner notes). Ashanti. Murder Inc. Records. 2002. 063 927-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. Happy (Australian CD single liner notes). Ashanti. Murder Inc. Records. 2002. 063 928-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. "Ashanti – Happy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
7. "Issue 672" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
8. "Ashanti – Happy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
9. "Ashanti – Happy" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 49. November 30, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
11. "Ashanti – Happy" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
12. "Ashanti – Happy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
13. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ashanti". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
15. "Ashanti – Happy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
16. "Ashanti – Happy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
17. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
18. "Ashanti – Happy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
20. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
21. "Ashanti Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
22. "Ashanti Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
23. "Ashanti Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
24. "Ashanti Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
25. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
26. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
27. "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
28. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2002". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
29. "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 12.
30. "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 22.
31. "New Zealand single certifications – Ashanti – Happy". Radioscope. Retrieved January 11, 2025. Type Happy in the "Search:" field.
32. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1457. June 14, 2002. p. 39. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
33. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 30th September 2002" (PDF). ARIA. September 30, 2002. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
34. "Reviews – For Records Released on 11 November 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 2, 2002. p. 9. Retrieved August 30, 2021.