Jay R collabs with Lil’ Eddie for Taglish ‘Bakit Pa Ba’

MANILA, Philippines — R&B singer Jay R has released a Taglish version of his hit song “Bakit Pa Ba,” featuring Filipino-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Lil’ Eddie.

The reimagined track blends English and Filipino lyrics while retaining the emotional delivery and R&B sound of the original.

Jay R said they worked with producers before settling on a stripped-down arrangement.

“We actually worked with three different producers before finding the sound we loved. Rather than overproducing the track, we kept the background vocals minimal and let our raw voices, emotions, and signature vocal runs do the heavy lifting,” he said.

Lil’ Eddie also suggested opening the track with acoustic instrumentation and no drums to preserve the original song's feel, Jay R added.

The collaboration came about while the two artists were in the Philippines promoting their duet “Statue (Taglish Version).”

“I’ve wanted to create a Taglish version of ‘Bakit Pa Ba’ for years, and fans have been asking for it too,” Jay R said. “Lil’ Eddie’s talent and musicality made him the perfect collaborator to bring this vision to life.”

The singers spent nearly seven hours writing and recording the new version, refining the English lyrics to ensure they remained faithful to the original composition's sentiment.

Lil’ Eddie has songwriting and production credits for international artists such as Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Paula Abdul, Jessie J, JoJo and Fifth Harmony.

Jay R, meanwhile, is known for several OPM hits spanning three decades. “Bakit Pa Ba” helped establish his career and earn him the title “Prince of R&B.”

“Bakit Pa Ba” (Empty) Taglish Version, featuring Lil’ Eddie, is now available on digital music platforms worldwide.