Takeover

Jay-Z

About Takeover

"Takeover" is a track recorded by Jay-Z for his 2001 album The Blueprint. The song is a diss track aimed at rappers Nas and Prodigy of Mobb Deep.


4:56
25 

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Bus' it

We gon' go through a couple of things tonight
We gon' go- we gon' party, of course
Go through some 'motional songs, we gon' take it all the way back for y'all
Then we gon' keep it in the truest essence of hip-hop: the battle
We gotta keep it at the battle, right y'all?
Y'all ready for that?
Alright
Let's do it

Lemme hear y'all

R.O.C., we running this rap sh-
Memphis Bleek, we running this rap sh-
B. Sigel, we running this rap shit
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
Freeway, we runnin' this rap sh-
O and Sparks, we runnin' this rap sh-
Chris and Neef, we runnin' this rap shit

(Watch out, we run New York!)

The takeover, the break's over, homie
God MC, me (Jay-Hova)
Hey lil' soldier, you ain't ready for war
R.O.C. too strong for y'all
It's like bringing a knife to a gunfight, pen to a test
Your chest in the line of fire with your thin-ass vest
You bringing them boys to men, how them boys gon' win?
This is grown man B.I., get you rolled into triage, bi-atch
Your reach ain't long enough, dunny
Your peeps ain't strong enough, uh-uh
Roc-A-Fella is the army, better yet the navy
Sure, we will kidnap your babies, spit at your lady
We bring knife to fistfight, kill your Grandma
We kill you iddy bitty ants with a sledgehammer
Don't let me do it to 'em, dunny, 'cause I overdo it
So he won't confuse it with just rap music

R.O.C., we running this rap sh-
B. Sigel we running this rap sh-
M Easy, running this rap sh-
Get zipped up in plastic when it happens, that's it
Freeway, we running this rap sh-
O and Sparks, we running this rap sh-
Chris and Neef, we running this rap shh
(Watch out! We run New York!)

I don't care if you Mobb Deep, I hold triggers to crews
You little, I got money stacks bigger than you
When I was pushing weight, back in '88
You was a ballerina, I got the pictures, I seen ya
Then you dropped "Shook Ones," switched your demeanor
Well, we don't believe you, you need more people
Roc-A-Fella, students of the game, we passed the class
'Cause nobody can read you dudes like we do
Don't let 'em gas you, like, "Jigga is ass and won't clap you"
Trust me on this one, I'll detach you
Mind from spirit, body from soul
They'll have to hold a mass, put your body in a hole
Oh no, you're not on my level, get your brakes tweaked
I sold what your whole album sold in my first week
You guys don't want it with Hov
Ask Nas, he don't want it with Hov, no!

R.O.C., we running this rap sh-
B. Sigel we running this rap sh-
M Easy, we running this rap sh-
Get zipped up in plastic when it happens, that's it
Freeway, we running this rap sh-
O and Sparks, we running this rap sh-
Chris and Neef, we running this rap sh-
(Watch out! We run New York)

I know you miss it, Nas, the (fame!)
But along with celebrity comes 'bout seventy shots to your frame, homie
You's a (lame!)
Know you's the fag model for Karl Kani, Esco ads
Went from Nasty Nas to Esco's trash
Had a spark when you started but now you're just garbage
Fell from top ten to not mentioned at all
To your bodyguard's Oochie Wally's verse better than yours
Matter of fact you had the worst flow on the whole entire song
But I know the sun don't shine, then son don't shine
That's why your (lame) career's come to an end
It's only so long fake thugs can pretend
Homie, you ain't live it, you witnessed it from your folks' pad
You scribbled it in your notepad and created your life
I showed you your first TEC, on tour with Large Professor
Then I heard your album 'bout your TEC on the dresser
So yeah, I sampled your voice, you was using it wrong
You made it a hot line, I made it a hot song
And you ain't get a coin, homie, you was getting plugged then
I know who I paid, God, Serchlite Publishing
Use your (brain!)
You said you've been in this ten, I've been in it five, smarten up, Nas
Four albums in ten years, homie? I could divide
That's one every two, two of them things was due
One was (nah), the other was Illmatic
That's a one-hot-album-every-ten-year average
And that's so (lame)
Homie, switch up your flow
Your shit is garbage, what you trying to kick, knowledge?
You cats gonna learn to respect the king
Don't be the next contestant on that Unplugged screen
Because you-know-(who) did you-know-what with you-know-who
But let's keep that between me and you, ma

R.O.C., we running this rap sh-
B. Sigel, running this rap sh-
M Easy, running this rap sh-
Get zipped up in plastic when it happens, that's it
Freeway, we running this rap sh-
O and Sparks, we running this rap sh-
Chris and Neef, we running this rap sh-
(Watch out! We run New York)

R.O.C

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Jay-Z

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America. In 2012, Forbes estimated Carter's net worth at nearly $500 million. He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving fourteen Grammy Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations. He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all-time. He was ranked #1 by MTV in their list of The Greatest MCs of All-Time in 2006. Two of his albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996) and The Blueprint (2001) are considered landmarks in the genre with both of them being ranked in Rolling S… more »

7 fans

Written by: Alan Lomax, Bryan James Chandler, Eric Victor Burdon, Jim Morrison, John Paul Densmore, Lawrence Parker, Raymond D. Manzarek, Robert A. Krieger, Rodney Maurice Lemay, Shawn C. Carter

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Doors Music Company, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Album
"Takeover" is a track from Jay-Z's sixth studio album entitled "The Blueprint." This album is frequently considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time.
Release date
The song was released on September 11, 2001. This date was significant as it coincided with the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
Production
The song was produced by Kanye West, who was at the time an emerging producer.
Musical style
"Takeover" utilizes a sample of The Doors' song "Five to One," adding a distinct edge to the track.
Lyric content
The song is famous for its lyrical content, as it features Jay-Z engaging in a heated exchange with fellow rappers Nas and Prodigy from Mobb Deep.
Infamous diss track
"Takeover" is renowned in hip-hop as one of the most prominent 'diss tracks'. Jay-Z used it as a medium to express his feelings towards Nas and Prodigy of Mobb Deep, initiating one of the most remembered rap feuds.
Chart performance
Despite the controversy surrounding the song, "Takeover" managed to peak at number 13 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Live performance
Jay-Z first performed "Takeover" at Summer Jam 2001, where he made headlines for calling out Prodigy and Nas.
Impact on career
The song helped cement Jay-Z's reputation as a compelling and ruthless lyricist and is an important track in his discography.
Awards
"The Blueprint," the album featuring "Takeover," was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2002 Grammy Awards.
Cultural influence
The feud between Jay-Z and Nas, sparked off by "Takeover," is recognized as one of the defining moments in hip-hop history.
Response song
Nas released a response track called "Ether," which many fans believe 'won' the rap battle, though this point is heavily debated among hip-hop enthusiasts.
Legacy
Despite its initial controversy, "Takeover" is considered a significant track in hip-hop history and is frequently mentioned in discussions about the genre's greatest diss tracks.

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