2.5/5
This system does not work for us, so we must take this system and make it work for us’ begins The TakeOver, with a pseudo-inspirational prophecy from MC Zumbi, a la Dead Prez.
You would think, after such an opening, that the album’s most powerful premise lies in the depths of intense political commentary. But with the high-energy tribal drums of ‘Geek to the Beat’ as a perfect percussive backdrop, Zumbi turns around and walks the other way, spitting the benefits of chillin’ the fuck out: ‘You, over-civilized/ Trapped in your suit and tie/ You should relax a little/ You should check out my riddle.’
Zumbi delivers a competent rhyme with intermittent bits on commercialism, albeit at a thumb-twiddling pace. But title track ‘Take Over’ taunts us to hate ‘mdash; ‘Doesn’t matter what you think/ Feel free you can hate on me/ I’m in deep to the beat/ And the music’s taking over me’ ‘mdash; and techno-infused ‘DJ DJ’ only reaffirms the socially conscious Homo sapien’s’ power of the beat.
Then comes the two-part centerpiece, ‘Caged Bird Pt.1’ and its sequel, both prodigious feats from producer AmpLive that elegantly mash string concerto with old-school snare ‘n’ bass. Brother Ali contributes a poetic bit to the former, changing the album’s lyrical force: ‘Our voices ring in the emptiness/ The helpless moan of wings that will never spread/ My song brings the evidence/ Allowing me to sing what was never been said.’
The masterful transition from Pt. 1 to Pt. 2 is what really makes AmpLive shine; he minimizes strings to an emotional four notes, intermingling harmonious harp with soulful back-and-forth vocals. AmpLive then follows Pt. 2 with a furious distorted guitar and bass-heavy beat ‘mdash; making us wonder why the whole album didn’t follow suit.
The TakeOver hosts an odd assortment of parts, combining an ass-shakin’ vibe with intense moments of poetic justice. Though Zion I don’t pull any real surprises, their unfocused ranting detracts, at least, from straight-out-the-mill beats.