With Germany's Man Recordings officially blowing up after releasing Edu K's crazy popular singles and full-length, we thought it was time to bring you back to the beginning – all the way back to 2005. This was Man's first 12" release, and what better way to kick things off than with the man known to many as the godfather of modern baile funk, DJ Marlboro. (Get it – "D.M. Project"?) "Habibi(1)" flips a sample from (wait for it) Disney's Aladdin, throwing baile drums under a winding middle-eastern flute sample, with a gang of strings popping up now and then to guide the way. Cool thing about this track is the inclusion of some dialogue from the movie – don't worry, it's not too corny – since it's in English, and one of the main complaints from American crowds about this stuff is the language barrier. On the flip, DJs Moreno and Danny give "Habibi" a reworking(2) that would fit snugly in your electro or freestyle set.

reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red