The newly collaborative duo of Sting and Shaggy have given a shout-out to Vampire Weekend in a clip shared online.
The pair recently announced the release of an “island-influenced” joint album. Titled ’44/876′, the record will drop on April 20. They later performed together at the Grammys.
Following the announcement, Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio took to Twitter to express his excitement about the collab.
“Sting & Shaggy have had one of the most iconic album campaigns in music history and the record doesn’t even drop for another two months,” he tweeted in February.
Sting & Shaggy have had one of the most iconic album campaigns in music history and the record doesn't even drop for another two months ???
— Chris Baio (@OIAB) February 9, 2018
Now, Baio has shared a personal video he received from Shaggy and Sting, who thank him for his support before namechecking his band.
“We know you been posting about this collaboration, we know you been supporting us,” Shaggy says in the clip. “We just want to say thank you bro. Big up to you and your band.”
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Sting then chimes in: “We’re gonna have a Vampire Weekend this weekend.” Watch beneath.
Baio wrote in response: “Thank you Sting & Shaggy for making a fan’s dreams come true!!!”
Thank you Sting & Shaggy for making a fan's dreams come true!!! pic.twitter.com/UbRTUIMzNW
— Chris Baio (@OIAB) March 6, 2018
According to a press release, Sting and Shaggy’s album came about after the pair “got together to jam and write music that reflects their mutual love of Jamaica, its music, people and culture”.
Sting and Shaggy were apparently introduced by Martin Kierszenbaum, who is Sting’s manager and a former A&R executive for Shaggy. The album was produced by Sting International – no relation to Sting the performer – who previously worked with Shaggy on his signature hits ‘Boombastic’ and ‘It Wasn’t Me’.
“The most important thing to me in any kind of music is surprise,” Sting told Rolling Stone. “And everybody is surprised by this collaboration – by what they’re hearing. We’re surprising.”
Discussing the single ‘Don’t Make Me Wait’, Shaggy said: “Doesn’t that just sound like something that hundreds of women would get pregnant to?”