Fans love Etana and Vybz Kartel collaboration

The lyric video for Etana and Vybz Kartel's new song, O Baby, is exciting both sets of fans.

O Baby is from Etana's soon-to-be-released album Pamoja, a Swahili word which translates to 'together'. Quizzed by THE STAR if she had any qualms about doing a song with Kartel, who has a penchant for risque lyrics and imagery, Etana said serenely, "It's an Etana album and Kartel understands that," adding that with Kartel's level of intelligence, she would expect nothing less.

And clearly, he did understand because O Baby is as clean as a whistle, totally in keeping with the brand of 'The Strong One', who is known for her conscious and hard-hitting lyrics and themes. Etana was confident that the song would surprise fans, not just because they would not necessarily expect her to tap the 'World Boss' for a collaboration, but also because of the song itself. It is a romantic love song on what Etana calls "a sexy, Afro-pop rhythm".

She shared the experience of one of her stylists who, after hearing that she was doing the Kartel collaboration, predicted that "him going to talk about whole heap of things that not supposed to be on an Etana song". However, after getting a sneak preview of O Baby, she was singing a different tune. "She had to listen to it again and again," Etana smiled.

Fans are calling it the collaboration they never knew they needed and Etana is in promotion mode. O Baby officially drops on April 2, and it follows the release of her single Proppa, done with Afrobeat star Stonebwoy. Etana disclosed that Proppa is "one of the fastest growing songs I have ever released, especially in Ghana, Kenya and Senegal".

Etana, who is sporting a new image, readily admits that Pamoja is different from other albums she has done.

"This album is special. I took different steps with it. Times change and people change and with it, there comes changes in the music. But I try to ensure that I always go back to where I started," she explained.