This song was the first official LP diss track to publicize directly the hip hop feud between Jay Z and Nas (although there exists several other rap records prior to this featuring disses from both Nas and Jay Z toward each other). It samples the song “Five to One” by the Doors[1] and “Sound of da Police” by KRS-One. The first line in this song is taken from Jay Z’s verse in “Celebration” off of the Streets Is Watching soundtrack. The song also interpolates David Bowie‘s “Fame“. Jay-Z originally performed the first two verses of Takeover as an untitled diss to Prodigy of Mobb Deep at Hot 97’s Summer Jam 2001. While performing the line “you was a ballerina/ I got the pictures I seen ya” a photograph of Prodigy, as a child, dressed in ballet clothes, appeared on the large screen. Aside from its role in the Jay-Z & Nas feud, Takeover was largely seen as damaging to Prodigy (and Mobb Deep’s) careers.
K.Le Got them VOCALS… and did T H I S !