You know that feeling when a song starts and you’re immediately transported back to a specific year? For a lot of us, that year was 2003. The track was I'm Still in Love with You, and it featured the unmistakable, gravelly tone of Sean Paul paired with the soulful, longing vocals of Sasha. It wasn't just a hit; it was a vibe that redefined how dancehall could play on the global stage.
But here’s the thing. Most people think it’s just a catchy song about a breakup. Honestly, it’s way more complicated than that.
The track is actually a masterclass in musical recycling—but the good kind. It’s an interpolation of a 1967 rocksteady classic by the legendary Alton Ellis. While Ellis's original was a soulful plea, Sean Paul turned it into a "he-said, she-said" battle of the hearts. It basically created a blueprint for the modern dancehall duet.
The Story Behind the Collaboration
If you’ve ever wondered how two people with such different energies ended up on the same track, you can thank Murray Elias. He was the A&R at VP Records who saw the vision. At the time, Sean Paul was already blowing up with Gimme the Light and Get Busy. He was the face of the "Dutty Rock" era. Sasha, born Karen Chin, was a rising star in her own right.
The recording process wasn't even a face-to-face romantic encounter. Sasha actually flew from New York to Jamaica on a Friday, recorded her vocals at Studio 2000, and flew back for dental technician classes by Monday. Talk about a side hustle.
Sean had already laid down his parts. The magic happened in the edit.
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Why the Lyrics Are Kinda Toxic (In a Good Way)
Let’s look at what they’re actually saying. Sasha is singing her heart out: "I can't get your tenderness / Still I can't get you off my mind." She’s clearly caught feelings.
Then Sean Paul comes in and basically shuts it down. He calls himself a "hustler" and a "player" and straight-up tells her he’s "not a stayer." It’s brutal. It transforms a love song into a narrative about a one-night stand that one person wants to turn into a lifetime, while the other is looking for the exit.
That Iconic "Little X" Music Video
You can't talk about Sean Paul Still in Love without mentioning the video. Directed by Director X (who went by Little X back then), it was visually striking. Those bright orange and yellow backgrounds? Pure early 2000s aesthetic.
It featured:
- Sara Liz Pickett as the lead love interest.
- Tanisha Scott, the legendary choreographer, as the lead dancer.
- A whole lot of synchronized "dutty wine" style movement that had everyone trying to copy it in the club.
The video didn't need a complex plot. The chemistry between the lighting, the dancing, and the rhythm did all the heavy lifting. It helped the song climb to #6 in the UK and #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. For a "one-drop" reggae rhythm to do that in the middle of a hip-hop dominated era was huge.
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Whatever Happened to Sasha?
This is the part that surprises most casual fans. While Sean Paul went on to become a global icon, Sasha took a very different path. After the massive success of the song, she stepped away from the secular "dancehall queen" persona.
In 2008, she underwent a spiritual transformation and became Sister Sasha. She stopped performing her old hits, including the song that made her a household name. She felt the lyrics and the lifestyle didn't align with her new life as a gospel singer. Today, she’s still making music, but it’s for a very different audience. It’s a rare move in an industry that usually clings to every bit of fame.
The Legacy of the Rhythm
The "I'm Still in Love" riddim is one of the most versioned beats in Jamaican history. Before Sean and Sasha, there were versions by Althea & Donna (Uptown Top Ranking) and even Marcia Aitken.
But the 2003 version brought that old-school Studio One sound to a generation of kids who had never heard of Alton Ellis. It bridged the gap between the rocksteady era of the 60s and the digital dancehall age.
Key Facts About the Track
- Album: Dutty Rock (2002)
- Release Date: October 6, 2003
- Producers: Steely & Clevie (The absolute titans of the genre)
- Chart Peak: #14 on US Billboard Hot 100, #6 in the UK
- Certification: Gold in the UK (over 400,000 units)
Why It Still Holds Up
Usually, songs from 2003 sound dated. The synths are too thin or the production feels "tinny." This track avoids that because it’s built on a foundation of live-feeling reggae percussion. It has a warmth to it.
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When you hear that opening bassline, you don't just hear a song; you hear the peak of Jamaican music's influence on global pop. It wasn't trying to be a hip-hop song. It was unapologetically Jamaican, patois and all.
If you're looking to recapture that era, the best thing you can do is go back and listen to the Dutty Rock album in its entirety. It’s a snapshot of a moment when the world was obsessed with the sound of Kingston. You can also check out the original Alton Ellis version to see just how much of the DNA Sean Paul kept intact while adding that 21st-century grit.
To really appreciate the depth of the track, pay attention to the production by Steely & Clevie. They managed to make a decades-old melody feel brand new. That’s not just talent—that’s a deep understanding of musical history.
Next time this comes on at a wedding or a throwback night, remember: it's not just a love song. It's a 40-year-old conversation between generations.