Pop legend Sting is browsing the racks at Honest Jon's record store on London's Portobello Road when a single catches his attention.

It's a limited edition white vinyl by the late hip-hop producer J Dilla. The title is unprintable here, but it roughly translates as "Forget The Police".

"Now there's a song I should have written," says Sting, repeating the title with a grin.

But while the star's relationship with his first band remains fractious, his latest musical partnership is a veritable 'bromance'.

The 66-year-old has teamed up with dancehall/reggae star Shaggy, of Mr Boombastic fame, to create one of the year's unlikeliest albums.

The duo first hooked up last summer, when Shaggy was recording new material in LA.

Shaggy's producer, Martin Kierszenbaum, also happens to be Sting's manager and sent the British star an unfinished song called Don't Make Me Wait, asking if he'd sing the chorus.

Six weeks later, the pair had finished not only that song but an entire album.

"It's a total accident, but we're very happy," says Sting.

"Everyone who heard about it said 'Oh, what a surprise,' and actually that's the most important element in all music - surprise."

Read the rest of this interview at the BBC website where you can also check out their interview about their favourite reggae records.