Wayne Wonder’s No Letting Go – the 2002 hit produced by Steven ‘Lenky’ Marsden on the Diwali riddim – is now certified Platinum in the United Kingdom.
The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) announced the certification on Friday (October 18), recognizing the track’s sales and streaming figures, which have now surpassed 600,000 units. It had been certified Gold (400,000 units) in the country in 2020.
The story of No Letting Go speaks to Wonder’s pioneering spirit and talents as an artist. When his peers had initially rejected the now iconic Diwali riddim, he recognized the unique opportunity at hand and delivered a tune that showcased his impressive vocals, reflected his feelings for his partner, and simultaneously set the Dancehall ablaze.
“The song was just coming from a personal life experience,” Wonder previously told DancehallMag in a 2022 interview. “Coming from a special place and special person in my life, so in writing the lyrics, I just switched into that mode.”
“I wrote the song in New York, and told Lenky that I wanted the song to have chord and bridge and when he put it together and we heard it, we knew it was something special.”
Further shedding light on the song’s creation, Wayne explained that its genesis is rooted in a challenge issued by his then-girlfriend, now wife, Jackie. She wanted the singer to do a song about her – not about his typical escapades with other women. It was ‘Challenge accepted!’ for Wonder, who retired to the basement of his Queens, New York home, and got to work.
“It was like magic. It just came out – “Got somebody…” – cause everything ‘bout, I know – “She is a beauty, very special’… ‘you right by my side… night and day…” And in the verse where we say like Keisha and Aneisha, those are real stories,” Wonder, whose real name is Von Wayne Charles, revealed.
No Letting Go ultimately spent eight weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 3, and enjoyed a 31-week run on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it reached No. 11. The song also achieved Top 40 status in multiple countries, including Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany.
It was certified Gold in the United States (500,000 units) in 2022.
No Letting Go was the lead single to Wonder’s 11th studio album under VP Records, titled No Holding Back (2003). The album, which earned Wayne his only Grammy Award nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2004, included songs such as Bounce Along, Friend Like Me, Glad You Came My Way, Perfect Proposal, Enemies with Supriz, and Saddest Day.
