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]