ArrDee Covers Ja Rule Hit 'Always On Time' For Like A Version

Fresh off a slew of epic shows at Listen Out 2023, triple j has recruited ArrDee for the latest edition of Like A Version for a cover of the early 2000s hit Always On Time by Ja Rule.

The British rapper stopped by Like A Version studios while on tour for the festival, where he linked up with local muso Larissa Lambert, who did a fabulous job covering Ashanti’s vocals for the LIV cover.

The result was a catchy cover that pays tribute to the original while adding some spice in the form of Arrdee’s UK drill style and hard bars.

"Everyone knows that I take classics and flip them on their head and I always write around what's going on in my life at the moment so I thought the concept of that was pretty fit for my reality,” ArrDee told triple j.

He added, "Ja's a little bit nicer to the girl in the track than I am.”

"I think I'm kind of breaking the harsh realities of what seeing me or being around me is gonna be like — in the second verse anyway. But also it is still a love song, like, it's still dedicated to someone.”

“I dunno, I've just for a different way of showing it."

Always On Time was first released in late 2001 as the second single from Ja’s album Pain Is Love, which was released in the same year.

The song received widespread commercial success and became one of the signature tracks for both Ja Rule and Ashanti. It features Ja Rule rapping about his complicated relationship, while Ashanti provides the smooth hook.

The song's production, courtesy of Irv Gotti and 7 Aurelius, includes a sample of the melody from Stay with Me by DeBarge.

In Australia, the track also achieved success with the track reaching the number-one spot on the ARIA Singles Chart in February 2002.

Check out ArrDee covering Ja Rule’s Always On Time for Like A Version below.