Shabba Ranks’ ‘Mr. Loverman’ Certified Silver In The UK — His First BPI Award
Shabba Ranks’ 1992 single Mr. Loverman is now certified Silver in the United Kingdom, his first certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
According to the BPI, the track was awarded a BRIT Certified Silver plaque on Friday, October 10, after surpassing 200,000 units (sales and streaming equivalents) in the UK, as measured by the Official Charts Company.
The song first appeared in 1988 as Champion Lover, a lovers rock hit by English singer Deborahe Glasgow. Shabba later reimagined it as Mr. Loverman, initially recording with Glasgow’s vocals for his 1990 album Rappin’ With The Ladies.
Following his international breakthrough with Maxi Priest on the 1991 crossover hit Housecall, Shabba re-recorded Mr. Loverman in 1992 with Jamaican singer Chevelle Franklyn, incorporating a sample of Maxi Priest’s voice toasting the now-famous “Shabba!” refrain. It also sampled the 1973 single Impeach the President by The Honeydrippers.
Produced by Clifton “Specialist” Dillon and Mikey Bennett, this version was released under Epic Records and appeared on his X-tra Naked album and on the soundtrack of the film Deep Cover, starring Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum.
Shabba’s gravel-toned toasting and Franklyn’s soulful vocals sent it to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
He later became the first dancehall artist to win back-to-back Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album, with As Raw As Ever (1992) and X-tra Naked (1993).
The song’s cultural impact was also far-reaching. Its “Shabba!” catchphrase echoed through hip-hop and pop for years, inspiring skits on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and In Living Color, and being sampled or referenced in over 30 songs, according to WhoSampled—including Alanis Morissette’s You Learn (1995) and Meredith Brooks’ B*tch (1997).
The music video, directed by Fab 5 Freddy, added a stylish visual stamp to what would become one of dancehall’s most recognizable anthems.