The much-anticipated collaboration between Reggae/Dancehall star Shatta Wale and Asakaa star Jay Bhad has finally been released.

Jay Bhad, the host, had two-thirds of performance time on the near-four-minute piece titled Gangalia.

'Gangalia' is a Ghanaian colloquial word which was apparently birthed by the mispronunciation of the English phrase 'gang leader'. 

With a playful and uncomplicated groove, the DJ Breezy-produced song sounds like a tribute to Hiplife from the 2000s and sneaks in a tasteful Kpanlogo groove as it unfolds. 

Lyrically, Jay Bhad, a music star from Kumasi, alias Kumerica, defends himself on the song. 

View some of the lines from the first verse, translated from Akan into English, below:

"They say I'm the child of a prostitute. Say what you want to say. The Bible has said, 'Let it be said about you but may it not be true'.

"It's not my fault, it's [the harsh] life in Accra... The system is hard. If we don't use violent tactics, how will we eat? 

"A policeman has been worrying me about my smoking. I smoke to think. 

"Because of the truth I told you, I've now become your enemy..." 

For the chorus, Jay Bhad describes the life of a young man who has chosen hooliganism to survive on the streets on Ghana.

"If something of yours goes missing, I'm not to blame.

"But if I hear it's lying somewhere, and I'm invited along, I'm running to go take it.

"If I notice it will bring nothing of value, I'm excusing myself and sleeping.

"Because I've walked and walked and walked and it's all been in vain."

In the second verse, he explains the title of the song and his dedication to making ends meet on the street.

"No one can live your life for you.

"I cannot sleep while others go out [to look for money].

"When we come out, [we come as] gangalia."

Apart from handling the intro, Shatta Wale, whom Bhad calls "Dancehall king of Africa," comes in at the 2:14 minute time mark.

With his guest verse, the Shatta Movement (SM) boss dares their opponents to "come take it if it's yours. Jay Bhad [and] Shatta Wale, we're strongheaded". In the short verse, he asserts their shared love for money, and borrowing a line from Medikal, noted "everyone [else] is alseep" in that regard.

"It's time for Christmas [fire emojis]," is how Wale announced the release of Gangalia on X, Thursday, December 14, anticipating the song's wide acceptance for the festive season. 

In a video circulating on X also, he did not hide his admiration for the Asakaa rapper, sternly warning "anyone who touches Jay Bhad will see me touch them also".

"He is some f**king street hustler," he exclaimed in praise.  

Meanwhile, Bhad has a "free concert" for his fans on Friday, December 22, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. See the flyer below: