After a 2-year hiatus from the scene, El Da Sensei, one half of the debunked New Jersey duo Artifacts, has reappeared with his sophomore album Global Takeover: The Beginning. Teaming up with The Returners, a Polish production team formed of Little and DJ Chwial, El’s newest project throws the hip-hop game back to the Golden Era. Alongside Sensei’s sharp tongue, The Returners stretch horn loops, rubbery baselines and a healthy dose of vinyl scratching, to produce a melancholic sound reflective of the sonic boom of East Coast boom-bap rap.
El’s emotions on his previous albums (Artifacts included) outlined his distaste for today’s rap and stressed the fundamentals of hip-hop. He continues this trend on ‘Hard to Find’. With a sound-clip chorus, a technique prominent through most of the album, Big L, Jay-Z, Nas and Common express sentiments on rap, over a thick vinyl scratched beat reminiscent of the Golden Era. “Life It Is” is a commentary on what’s affecting us today, and is consequently summed up by the main line in the chorus via “Fakin Jax” lyrics, “You never succeed or progress/ Searchin’ for peace through material objects.”
El’s lyrics wash fluidly over the gospel feeling beat and the messages are conveyed with ease. “Aight Then” is a lively, hard-hitting track that brings back what Artifacts‘ music stood for. El’s signature sound outlines a blissful goulash of hip-hop elements alongside abrasive and guttural lyrics. “It’s Not That Way” imposes the soul of jazz music, but also indulges in the 70’s vibe via a sped up tune à la Kanye. “Got Fire”, featuring Doujah Raze, is a track that reintroduces the soul sample and also recovers a late-70s vibe. Raze effortless glides across the beat throwing down lyrical puns with a tight flow.
Guest appearances on the album are minimal, but reveal collaborations that are on point. “Money,” featuring Reef the Lost Cauze and Roc Marciano, is a collabo strung around the “C.R.E.A.M” concept. Lost Cauze’s realness, Sensei’s politics and Roc Marciano’s hard gritty voice makes inject a whole new intensity to the album.
The production aesthetics of Global Takeover represent a natural progression in rap music, but also recognizes the necessity to appreciate the past. The production display wreaks the feel of hip-hop that so many people claim to be dead, however, most beats carry the same construction as far as their format is concerned, moderately lacking diversity. Despite that, El Da Sensei’s hard hitting flow, charismatic deliveries and effervescent lyrics cradles The Returners‘ heavy-hitting beats, vinyl spins and sound-clip driven hooks. Together, the dynamic American-European tag-team delivers an album, highly overlooked by North America, a diamond in the rough.
85/100
Standout Tracks:
Got Fire
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Aight Then
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Hard to Find
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
i personally enjoyed this album..its got good lyrics and good beats..i definately miss albums produced just by one producer..the returners are a dope producing duo..they make dope beats and dope scratches..hope they continue working together..they both make dope music
i haven’t heard all of this, but i promise i will be the end of the year
from what I have heard, its very very fresh
El Da Sensei & Returners – C’mon Wit Da Git Down / Got Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3DKA0OlC1Y&fmt=18