- Ali B has taken some time out from his DJing schedule and record label boss duties at Air Recordings to slip back into the production booth. Following on from his Plan B productions, collaborations with the Plump DJs, and remix of Studio B’s “I See Girls”, Ali B has been hanging out with the Jungle Brothers. Ali first met the US hip hop legends in late 2004 when he remixed their last single, Mr On Vs Jungle Brothers “Don’t Stop”. The fruit of their collaborative labour this time around is the party styles hip hop tune “Beats on a String”.
The first thing you hear with this single is the Jungle Brothers hip hop lyrical skills. They’re strong and almost owning this tune! Ali B does his bit though working some funky, floor-filling riffs and hooks around the vocals. For me the action is all in the B-side, Ali’s “Original No New Styles Dub”. The JB vocals are stripped back on this version and there’s a breakbeat kick in there with the beat. Being dub it’s less energetic, but if you were in the dancefloor groove it would definitely keep you fixed there. Add some samples, a build up and a rewind and its hands in the air stuff. Definitely block rockin’ stuff.