Under Construction

I love her and what she did for women rappers and the entire genre, but i have to admit I’ve never been able to really get into her music

This is so good. Knew some songs but never listened to the whole thing. 4*

This album is pretty cool. Some nice beats, some good music, and Missy has swagger for days. Favorites: Bring the Pain, Work It, Back in the Day Would I listen to it again: Yes

Good Lass!

BEST SONGS: - Ain't That Funny - Back in the Day

This album was a lot more fun than I expected. I don't really know much about Missy Elliott, but she is clearly a super fan of hip hop and this felt like a mega tribute for all her idols. Name drops, guest spots, somg references, it was pretty cool. And it's also an album for the ladies, that they are free to have the same kind of fun that the men always rap about, and I can respect that. Work It is pretty cool, so is the Luda and Beyoncé tracks. I also liked Slide a lot.

I wonder if the pick-up line “baby we can bump uglies if you ain’t on your monthly” ever worked (eg, Being the Pain)? Jokes aside I always had respect for Missy Elliot because very few of her songs sound the same even in the same album. In the early 2000’s club rap was considered to be a low point in raps history. Missy knew how to blend pop/club sensibility with street blending R&B, crunk, gangster, and sometimes less-than-subtly owning her sexuality like Li’l Kim without devolving into solid porn, except on Work It, which I knew I heard on the radio but the editing must have been as creative as the song itself. I also like how this album is like a time capsule of the best rap artists of the time, with Jay-Z, Method Man, Ludacris, and 50-Cent, and R&B credits from the Q-Beyoncé and TLC in their tribute to Aaliyah. This is not an “eating with the parents or kids” album. However, in the post Golden Era rap albums, this could be easily be one of the best.

Random thoughts: * This is the only Missy Elliott album that I own. Got this on CD when it came out in 2002. However, besides Work It and Gossip Folks, I haven't revisited this album much since 2002. * I forgot how much Aaliyah's death was a big part of this album at least through the spoken word sections and the last track. It really doesn't match up to the dirty, flirty, and old school vibe on the rest of the album. * I really dig the tracks I forgot, especially the opening track "Go To The Floor". * While not maybe as inventive and as innovative as some of Missy's previous work, this was a fun and hooky album. Might be peak Missy. I'll gladly put this one on again for the fun tracks.

Deep grooves, sizzling flows and samples to warm anyone’s heart

Decent

I love me some Missy Elliott. I feel like her music always hits to me and I always have a great time listening. She is definitely one of the best female rappers of our generation. Her songs are humorous, have great beats and vibes, and celebrate female sexuality which is a rarity in the rap genre. I will definitely be jamming out to this album again!

Missy is on point throughout.

You don't see Bill Gates beefing with Donald Trump cus they got paper. Ok, inledningen har inte åldrats så väl, men gunget finns kvar. Missy och Timbaland var ostoppbara runt den här tiden. Och det är fortfarande riktigt bra. Många bra spår. Nyupptäckt för mig Slide.

Good r&b with feminism and political critique

Missy Elliott!!! I found the album titled Under Construction better and more reflective than her debut album. Its lyrics and themes are more mature as well. Elliott recognizes how much she can grow while remembering recently passed loved ones. And of course the empowerment oozing out of this album is wonderful! Elliott isn't the only woman hip hop artist to discuss sensitive subjects, but she brings such frankness to the table. I loved when she spoke directly to her audience multiple times throughout. She isn't afraid of her sexuality, but at the same time she talks about more than just her sexuality. The album was pretty catchy, and I find myself giving yet another deserved 4.

Hellll yeah. For hiphop, this is more my vibe: melodic with good groove. My favorites were Work It and Back in the Day (really dug the main hook on this one). Missy is one of the real ones.

A classic album. Already listened to it again. Loved the beats, messaging, lyrics

Such a bop. Love Missy

Fun!

If this is under construction, I want to hear the finished product because this was banging

Super disheartening to see the two biggest reviews of this album giving this the one and giving be a yucky feeling about it. Not my favorite album or artist but come on guys, be better. 7/10. Bumping it up a point.

Represents for the ladies, for sure, with its pussy and period chat. Quite the invocation of the muse to start (replete with name-dropping of multiple Jeffrey Epstein listers!) -- wonder if she feels now that she's got the paper she thought she needed, thought she perserved. Pretty solid on the R&B and flow fronts, but ultimately not too much to get (or stay) excited about (for the long term, at least - her sisters Lauryn and Erykah being much more significant in that sense)t). Seems very much of its time, with the best cuts ("Bring the Pain," "Pussycat," “Back in the Day,”) resonating (perhaps because of their old-shcool vibes) and all the occupational hazards of hip-hop (excess boastfulness, non-convincing posturing). Still rounding up for her courage, the quality of the guest list, and because a number of tunes are well worth knowing.

I like Missy Elliott's rhyming. She adds a lot of humour to her funky beats. This is a pretty consistently entertaining album. Lyric of the album: "Pussy don't fail me now!" Liked Songs Added: Slide

Under further review, the queen of 90s rap hits to this day

I pounced on this when it came out, I love M I crooked letter crooked letter Y!!! Used tracks incessantly in spin class and still do - fantastically creative, over the top innovative production and sampling with Timbaland, they are a perfect duo. Bring the Pain and Work it my favorites. Missy kicks Assy!

Powerhouse. Raw. Unique. This album shows off her strong point of view and badass style.

What happened to those good old days... even if now the good old days are 2002. Sounds even better now. 4.5 stars.

q putisimo flow me lleva la missy. pec.

Wow, I really must listen to rap/hiphop more, if it is this good. Soulful, uncompromising (but sort of apologizing with all the spoken stuff?), fun and funny, groovy, nasty, varied, and it is always great when the n- or b-word count is in reasonable limits. This became one of my favourite albums of the genre, but have to admit, that my knowledge of the genre is quite limited — it basically consists of the hits, old school, some of the stuff of some of the well known acts and some local (Finnish) stuff. Maybe more than many, but nothing to brag about. Sure there are more gems out there, let's keep diggin. 4 for now, perhaps after a few listens a fiver?

Fuck Bill O’reilly , a great 2000's rap album. Great features.

Enjoyable. A lot more upbeat that most of the crap on here. Stand out songs - Work it and Slide

Kind of a collaboration album with a bunch of big names coming in to do a song. Pretty good beats and her flow is some of the best for a female rapper I have heard. 7/10

This lady really raps and sings on top. Empowering.

3.6/solid, but nothing truly stood out to me. cool to see beyonce before she was such a star though

Clutch. The spoken monologues are all excellent and aged really well - the only reason this doesn’t get a 5 from me is because “Pussycat” didn’t age super well 🫠

ICON. Absolutely love her. Work it with Ludacris is SO ICONIC. love love.

The elephant sounds on "Work It" always makes me chuckle. I have never had an interest in hearing a Missy Elliott album, even though there are individual songs I have enjoyed. All and all, I really liked this one and I'm very surprised. The material and writing here is strong, as is the production work. There are guest stars on the album (of course) and I think Missy can stand on her own without the stars as the songs are that good. The original independent woman who doesn't need a man to pay her bills but she is going to marry one of the richest entertainers in the world anyway just to be sure, Beyonce, makes a guest appearance to over-sing and moan on one track. Tracks 2-5 are a really strong way to start the album and the guest appearances don't detract from the songs. I don't know if I would seek other Missy Elliott albums again but I did enjoy this one.

So wie The Shamen mir id Schnauze gschroue het, dass es d 90er Jahr sind, durchlöcheret mer d MC Missy Elliott Hastla in Drive-By maniere mitere Uzi mis Trummelfell, das daas d 2000er sind: "DAS SIND D 2000er DU WIXXER!" - öppe so. Und läck du mir am Skinny-Jeans-kombiniert-miteme-V-Usschnitt-Tschööpli gebed die 2000er öppis heer. Da chund min R&B guilty-pleasure uf all ihri chöste und han mich scho gseh mit mim date i mim rote Chevi zum knutsch/ussichts-parkplatz über irgendere beliebige mittelgrosse amerikanische Stadt fahre, d Missy und Beyoncé chrooset über de Kassetterekorder in schlächter qualität und mis 19 jährige iich denkt "that's the best day of my life". 4 rosé-goldni Rolex bar ufd hand

work it laaaaadies – da hani ja ganz en gspässigi wuche usgwählt zum en wuche chrankheitsbedingti abstinenz vom album klöpp z'praktiziere grüezi queen missy, grüezi timbo, grüezi fifty, grüezi luda, grüezi young hova – schön sind ihr alli da banger album mit es bizli zu villne skips = 4 oversized pinki parkas

I like that this album has many personal statement essays. Also many "missy elliot exclusive"s in this one (no, duh?) Good collabs, a fun vibe overall, 4* Highlights: work it, back in the day

I was a nerd and missed this time in hiphop. I think I appreciate it more now than I would’ve back then.

This album was a peak high school listen for me, and I honestly don’t remember the last time I listened to the entire thing. Missy is one of the greatest female rappers, and hell, one of the greatest of our generation. Coming off watching her Coachella performance this year, I was excited to get some of her albums in this generator. There’s some obvious bangers and notorious hit, but “Slide” came in as an understated B-Side and now I’ve got that on repeat for the day.

"Pussy don't fail me now." 4.

Not my genre but damn this has good beats. I could do without all the talking intros. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

Better than 4, not quite 5

Quite goof

While some of this sounds dated and some of the lyrics haven’t aged particularly well, this is a real solid piece of hip hop.

FINALLY, some fun Missy. The skit brought it down, but I really enjoyed this experience.

Bops

Lots of fun! Parts of it very of its time but she's one of my favorites of late90s/early00s rap

Solid record. I like her style.

iconic - liked more than i thought i would

Legitimately fun album. I think the vo/explainers were unnecessary, but the whole album is so well produced and every track is a bop. Worth the listen!

This one was another pleasant surprise. I thought I knew Missy Elliott, but I had really underestimated her skills. If hip hop is traditionally a genre plagued by womanizing, Elliott turns that on its head. This isn't just sex positive, but she takes control of the narrative. Men are objectified here, but it's hard to complain given that she's only levelling the playing field. Even the male guest stars (including some massive names in hip hop) can't steal the spotlight. Elliott is slightly a star. Her lyrical style is rhythmic, effortless and free, often skillfully punctuated by harmonies that recall the 1960s girl groups. The beats (coproduced by Timbaland) are impeccable. The lyrics openly address female sexuality, body positivity, and menstration. It would be shocking to most audiences if the music was so damn catchy. My biggest complaint that is that the album drags a bit in the second half, with the majority of the innovation front loaded on the shunning first half. Not that the rest is bad, it's just not as engaging. I can definitely forgive that for the hits on this one though.

Music aside, just as an artist, Missy is just amazing how she's able to be so cool but also so real. I had only heard the hits before hearing this whole album, which are still fun, but I really enjoyed hearing her POV and voice on stuff like the intro and outro, and just processing and expressing the loss of her friends and just her passion for music. Also you can tell she's also just such a naturally funny person. I wish I was friends with Missy Elliott.

Made my butt move around while I worked

Enjoyable. Missy is definitely a groundbreaker

Is it worth it, lemme work it. Better tracks around that song than you’d think.

The samples are great, Missy is great, the beats are excellent. Yes.

Only familiar with one track on this album. Enjoyed Gossip Folks. Enjoyed Work It. It was an interesting listen for me. It was an okay album. Not really my thing.

Really good Funky Had sentinel meaning

Kedvenc/Favourite: Bring The Pain Nagyon izgalmas volt! Minden dalnak és az egész albumnak is megvolt a koherens hangzása, de tele volt kreatív csavarokkal, színes zenei és szövegi megoldásokkal. Minden előadóval jó volt az összhang. Meglepett, hogy mennyire megfogott az üzenete. Nagyon válogatós vagyok, ha hiphopról van szó, de ehhez az albumhoz még vissza is fogok térni szerintem. It was very exciting! Each song and the whole album had a coherent sound, but it was full of creative twists and colourful musical and lyrical elements. There was good chemistry with all the artists. I was surprised how much its message resonated with me. I'm very picky when it comes to hip hop, but this is an album I think I'll be coming back to.

Zaskakująco dobra. Może na tle dzisiejszego rapu dość monotonna, ale całkiem mnie porwała. Missy ma kawał gadanego. 7/10

Bold, groovy, fun. I’m not that familiar with Missy’s work outside of her big chart hits so this was a good one to get into. The spoken tracks, sex-positive lyrics and smooth harmonies clearly had an influence on today’s artists like Jazmine Sullivan.

This is #day194 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... give me 00s hip-hop and R'n'B crossover any day. Toss in Timbaland’s production, and you’ve got me hooked, all wrapped up in nostalgia. Growing up in the ‘90s-early ‘00s, this music instantly takes me back to when things felt good—or at least, I thought they were. Whatever went down, there was always music to lean on. When I think of 2002, I can’t help but think of Britney Spears, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Jay-Z, Backstreet Boys, and more. And, oh yeah, Lady Marmalade with that unforgettable Missy Elliott cameo at the end of the video released a year prior... Ah, memories. As for this album, sure, the lyrics are often goofy and nonsensical, but the beats and vibes make up for it. I didn't think I'd enjoy this that much. Must be the dopest female hip-hop record I've heard, actually. This is a 4 out of 5 because, and, as it goes in "Back In The Day", I wanna go back in time... Looking forward to #day195.

Nicce

Really fun. Alot of features form big names. All around a good time. Good party music.

I can see myself coming back to this its fire.

More or less one of the major templates for female fronted R&B / Hip Hop for the next 20 years. In other words, it both led the way and still holds up.

Amazing collaborations and great tracks

Cracking stuff, 4 stars alone for sampling an elephant noise on Work it!

Good hip-hop and a great example of early 2000's rap. Her talent is not just lyricism but in the production and collaborations.

I like it! I've heard her music a lot. 3 or 4. Standout track was the cameo from Beyonce cause she's famous now lol.

A second Missy Elliot album? I’m skeptical that this is really necessary, but let’s see. Still not sure if it was necessary, but this is probably a better album than her first. It has the mega hit Work It, so there’s that. Anyway, probably a 3.5 but I’m feeling generous.

Awwwww. So gooood. Think she'd go on a date with me?

NSFW. But if that’s your only standard for rating hip-hop, you’re going to miss out on some good music.

The music grew on me and I appreciated her honesty and transparency.

Inte lyssnat på Missy annat att man hört hitsen. Ska säga att jag blev riktigt positivt överraskad. Det är jämnbra genom typ hela skivan. Bra beats. Som vanligt lite för mycket snack (typiskt hiphop). Men, kul upplevelse.

Een girl power album waarbij Missy ongelijkheden voor vrouwen in de hiphop wereld bij de hoorns pakt. Sommige nummers zijn niet zo denderend, maar door haar persoonlijkheid en praatjes tussen de nummers door is dit echt 4 sterren waard.

Not her best but really good to listen

3.8 - Liked this a lot more than I thought I was going to. Actually felt like it was pushing a genre forward

for being dedicated to the victims of the september 11th attacks, this is a deeply unserious album.

Had somewhat low expectations going into this, but was pleasantly surprised. Missy has some skill, and Timbaland is fire on production as he often is. Bring the Pain, Gossip Folks, Work it, Pussycat as my highlights. Interesting to get the perspective of a female hip-hop artist from 2002. Overall, interesting lyrics and chatter throughout. Solid stuff!

Love Missy Elliot overall. It has some bops, but she has great musicality overall.

I think it's hilarious how her intro and outtro sound exactly like an AI trained on her voice would. You know that Spotify DJ AI? Yeah.

8/10

This album is badass. Missy is showing off her creative musical chops. She’s a treasure of imperfection, realness, and damn.

Brilliant. Loved every song

I like hip-hop music, but I don't know a whole lot about Missy Elliott or this album, my loss. It is a good album. Some old school callbacks along with newer things. A lot of big-name contributors. Songs that stood out for me were Bring the Pain, Work It, and Funky Fresh Dressed. It's one of those albums that sound like they put a lot of effort into it, it just sounds good. Definitely worth listening to.

This is a really solid album. If there were another one or two big hits, I could see people reasonably giving this a ten out of ten. Right now, people will unreasonably give it a ten out of ten. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great album and I really enjoy it, but it falls just short of historical. All the songs are put together very thoughtfully. It’s nice, I like Missy. 4/5

I liked it! I found the bits of Missy speaking both jarring and charming. The songs themselves were alright, a little repetitive/boring but with some highlights. Work it is a classic, Play that beat was great, and I found Can you hear me quite moving. 3.5/4

I enjoyed this a lot. The hits were great and the worst songs were fine at worst.

It was good to hear an album by her. I've never listened to a whole one, so it's filled in my education a little bit.

This album came out during the peak of rap/hip hop's party phase. Just fun music to dance to with some motivational messaging for young women peppered in. Is it a masterpiece? No. But was it enjoyable? Yes.

I was pleasantly surprised, apparently I was not familiar with missy’s game like that. Some big name features definitely helped the album but I was not expecting to enjoy the solo tracks as much as I did. The best compliment I can give this album is that I even enjoyed the track with Luda on. Very much an album of its time and what a time it was for hip hop/R&B. Artists rarely make tracks like these anymore, very much hoping for that late 90’s and early-mid 00’s era to come back. Special shout out to the first 10 seconds of work it, so nostalgic

I can safely say never have I felt more like a strong, empowered, black woman.. with a formidable attitude and an equally formidable puss. (And in this day and age, it is completely fine for me to say, identify and revel in that feeling.. so, before you scoff, go and check your white privilege). Jokes aside, I liked a lot of this album. The production was good, the features were solid and the reworking of 'Bring the Pain' with Method Man was almost as smooth as the original. I appreciate this is going back over 20 years- and is a far cry from some of the work you'd hear put out today- which tend to be much more crass, unapologetic muff-first vagathons from female 'Rappers'. This album, whilst not perfect, felt like a genuine attempt to pay homage to rap and throwback to a golden era that preceded it. Whilst I'm not a huge Missy Elliott fan, being forced to listen to the album made me appreciate her flow more than I have before. 4/5 for me. A fun album built on the top of some more serious undertones. It was also nice to finally learn I wasn't going insane when I couldn't understand half of the apparent gibberish she says in 'Work it', and have since learned she's reversing one of the lines, which weirdly feels quite cool and stupid at the same time.

The intro was cool and earnest. Impressive featuring artists throughout. Diverse sounding from one track to the next, quite eclectic, reminds me of other albums from similar time like Stankonia or the Ecleftic. Bring the Pain, was smooth, reminiscent of No Diggity with the backing vocal and a similar melody. I haven't heard Gossip Folks for years and it still stands out. I'm sure the Timmy from South Park impression was something a few artists did around this time, somewhat of a cultural linchpin. Work It is a work of genius, the woodblock sounds almost like a click track along with the drum machine, the lyrics, the gibberish, the elephant noise, the implication that the listener couldn't handle Missy, the record scratching, the get ya hair did, the badonk. It's all iconic. Pussycat is cool, it's like a parallel to Dre and Snoop’s Fuck You, with the ownership and intent coming from a woman. I sense sarcasm as much as realism, I don't imagine Missy is all that worried about her man doing the dirty on her. It's quite telling that she feels she has to add context at the end of the song, almost defending her music and the sentiment, where male rappers wouldn't feel the need to do the same. You wouldn't catch Three 6 Mafia apologising for Slob on my Knob. All the songs were great. Nice light and shade, fat beats, big dirty bass lines, soulful vocals at times, well crafted songs, attacking and humourous lyrics. Brilliant album, I'm only not giving 5 because perhaps 2 songs weren't as strong as the rest.

Not necessarily an album I plan to revisit, but there is some depth in these lyrics. Good mix of hits and some deep themes explored.

I’m still not a huge fan of female hip hop artists, and I still struggle to put into words why. But this album was more enjoyable than I expected it to be. You can definitely hear Timbaland all over this record, and it’s certainly something I appreciate. It’s funky, it’s fun, and there’s some really excellent features throughout. Jay-Z’s work on “Back in the Day” is particularly notable. It’s not particularly for me, but I can very much appreciate it as an excellent album thanks to Missy Elliott’s skill in both lyricism and songwriting, and the top tier production value.

Missy Elliott and Timbaland are a funky fresh dream team. Sadly I think this album is considerably weaker than ‘Supa Dupa Fly’, and if there is only one Elliott on this last, I’m mad it’s this one over her debut. But this album is nothing to be mad about; it’s full of very fun, very funky, very fresh tracks. The first two are kinda sleepers, but the run of “Gossip Folks”, “Work It”, “Back in the Day”, “Funky Fresh Dressed”, “Pussycat”, and “Nothing Out There For Me” is just killer. The remainder of the album is a little meh until the last track, “Can You Hear Me”, which always makes me a little weepy. It’s a very touching elegy. The features on this album are really good, even if the Jay-Z verse is a bit goofy. Elliott’s rhymes are always so playful and light-hearted, they are really a joy to listen to. I have to dock this album though because even though it’s quite good, no part of it is really excellent except “Work It” and “Can You Hear Me”. Compared to ‘Supa Dupa Fly’, it’s a little disappointing knowing how much better this album could’ve been. 8/10

4+

An excellent hip hop album full of great features! Banger after banger with a couple of turds thrown in (but that seems to be a trend in hip hop).

4 sterne

This could be one of the greatest but there are a few songs that fall flat in contrast to the fabulous Work it. One of the best Rap songs ever.

Very good start, with great production, good flow, and nice features. Got a bit stale by the end

This was a really fun listen, enjoyed all of the features. My favorite was “Work It” or “Back in the Day”. 3.5/5

Another great hip hop album! Missy Elliot is an incredible MC. Missy and her contemporaries were some of my first intros into hip hop when I was in middle school. So while it was nostalgic to listen to, it still felt fresh and I was having a great time listening again. Her bragadocious verses and great features make this a fun and re-listenable album.

.tI kroW dna skloF pissoG rof 4 ot pu gnidnuor ,5.3

gostei demais

First listen. Impressed by this one.

"Under Construction" is the fourth studio album by American rapper Missy Elliot. The album was primarily produced by Timbaland and features guest appearances by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Method Man, TLC, Ludacris and Ms. Jade. The album was dedicated to Aaliyah (who had recently died) and the victims of 9/11. Commercially, the album hit #3 in the US and #23 in the UK and was well-received critically. The album opens with "Intro/Go to the Floor." Missy explains she's a work in progress and dedicates the record to Aaliyah and the 9/11 victims. The music starts halfway through with James Brown yelling "hard working" from "Sex Machine." Synths and the beats in the background. She's shaking her booty. A hypnotic, repetitive beat highlight "Gossip Folks." Missy raspy rapping. Ludacris joins in and tells his story and don't believe the rumours. Michael Jackson and Vanilla Ice are mentioned. A drum sample of Blondie's Heart of Glass" pervades throughout "Work It." She gotta work it. Provocative lyrics and you won't find no better bitch. You got to turn the volume up on "Funky Fressed Dressed" featuring Ms. Jade. Various samples including the Beastie Boy's "Paul Revere." A lot going on with scratching, drum beats and a repetitive chorus. Missy in fast rapping mode and her attitude is bitchy cause her period is heavy...never heard that before. "Play That Beat" begins with an early 80's synth sound and a drum sample from Thunder and Lightning's "Bumpin' Bus Stop." This time it's the synths that are hypnotic. An impressive grinding vibe. Most of this album is pretty chill and blends soul and R&B with the hip hop beats and sampling. Missy Elliot's rapping is strong and in control and at times raspy. Hypnotic beats. Sex and romance seem to be the main lyrical topics. Great use (and not overuse) of guests. This is Missy's album and a very decent one at that.

Big fan of what she did for hip hop and this album a staple to showcase that women in the genre play a powerful and important rule to change/improve it all together

Great album from a great era of hip-hop

Great album! Ive heard work it multiple times but didnt kno it came off this album.

This is a really dope record. I've known of and appreciated Missy Elliott, but this is the first full-length record that I've ever listened to by her. The production is spot-on, thanks to Timbaland, the king. Plenty of hits on this record, but Missy's vocals, cadence, delivery and lyrics really help carry this record through and keep the party moving. Solid album.

Genuinely enjoyed this album and YES it was the clean version. I'll definitely come back to this one.

Missy showing she was one of the finest rappers of the era. Some great collaborations too, including Meth, TLC, and Beyonce. Good times.

Missy Elliot is her. She's the original female rapper, and used her prominence to blast open the gates for what was possible for women in music. The guests on this album are crazy and Timbaland absolutely rocks the production. So many big names at the time that they had to stick Knowles after Beyonce because that wasn't enough in 2002. It's prime early 2000's hiphop. She deserved both of the first Female solo rap Grammy's

Missy is Work'in it! Critical colabs and very consistent throughout.

Probably a 3.5 hit rating up because iconic

Very solid album and includes one of the most wonderful hip songs of all time.

nogle virkelig definitive Timbaland beats

4.5

01) Intro/Go to the Floor - 7,5 02) Bring the Pain - 7,5 03) Gossip Folk - 9,0 04) Work It - 9,5 05) Back in the Day - 8,0 06) Funky Fresh Dressed - 7,5 07) Pussycat - 8,0 08) Nothing Out There for Me - 8,0 09) Slide - 8,5 10) Play that Beat - 7,5 11) Ain't that Funny - 7,5 12) Hot - 7,5 13) Can You Hear Me - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,96 (80/100) Current ranking: 99/279

Missy is always a classic!

I liked this more than I thought I would.

Exciting

Super great rapper it’s aged very very well. Def see the influence on like cardi b and Nicki Minaj. Loved the Beyoncé one

Not my style and unlikely I’ll listen to it again. Having said that I enjoyed this listen. A lot going on and it takes you on a journey.

Drags just a little at points, but overall it's fantastic. Pretty easy 4.

Very catchy, and varied for a hip hop album

Man, Gossip Folks and Work It are alone worth the price of admission. Missy was hitting in my late-teens / early 20s so maybe I’m so positive on this bc it brings me back to that time. But I just love her beats, flow and the lyrics are great. The shit she says cracks me up. And an elephant noise in work it! And the hook in pussycat 🤣 Ludas verse in gossip folks is 🔥 3.5 - I was struggling to wrong up, but fuck it. I went back and listened to the two aforementioned songs and I just like them too much. They were EVERWHERE when it dropped. So perhaps I have the benefit of seeing the cultural influence first hand.

3.5

I mean, Production from Timbaland and decent features, this one a solid 4. The end of the Album kinda fell off for me but man those first few were banging.

Straight bangerrrrrr! Love Missy.

HipHop is actually not my genre, but I like this. Old school hiphop not being about banging chicks, big money or gunning down others.

A lot of no nonsense hip-hop tracks that are so delightfully 00s with appropriate levels of pettiness too.

This was pretty good overall, with a few standout songs that I'm surprised that I never heard before. Well maybe not too surprising. I'm glad that I'm expanding my musical horizons.

This is the end Bye, motherfucker, nah, I'm just playin' Anyway, uh, you know, once again, I hope y'all enjoyed what y'all heard You know, I know somebody gon' walk through the door who say they still don't feel me They, you know, don't like my album or maybe somebody just shitted in your cornflakes, so maybe somethin' stink this album does not stink and my cornflakes remain shit free

Some of the skits on this were pretty dumb, but I really enjoyed myself. Plenty of good singles, and the overall effect of the album was quite pleasant. I'd be happy to return to this any time in the future!

Love this! I've never heard Missy Elliot and knew it was a blind spot, but it's great! Great guests and beats.

It was quite good; not exactly my cup of tea, but it sure was funky throughout.

Missy Elliot slay

I really enjoyed this album. I’ve heard her hits but never really listened to anything else. She will be famous forever.

The beats are fantastic, which might be Missy or might be Timbaland. The harmonies are great and the rap delivery is awesome. They lyrics are "meh" for me, but there's some creative stuff in there.

It might because the sun is out, or it might be because this Challenge has been feeding us rock music for the last 2 weeks... but I really enjoyed this.

I was reminded of the crying baby Timbaland used so memorably in 'Are You That Somebody' - it still seems innovative & surprising to me, 20+ years later. & that same, no-constraints approach to samples & beats is super evident all over this album (the elephant noise on 'Work It' still makes me laugh). Combined with Missy's clever rhymes, numerous big name guests (really loved the Method Man track), and fun throwbacks - this overall feels like folks have *fun* making music.

Favorite songs: Back in the Day, Nothing Out There for Me, Can You Hear Me.

Easy to forget all the production novelty here with todays hip hop

3.9

I really enjoyed this album. Lots of good songs and collaborations. I wish there wasn't as much spoken content, but I appreciate the artist's perspective.

Danceable, fresh beats(at the time) with an attitude. Love it!

Missy be puttin’ down.

Solid vibes - good work music although entirely open office inappropes.

I feel like despite her successful career Missy Elliott is still somewhat underrated. This was a fun album to walk to, although I did get a little bored towards the end.

Hvorfor har jeg ikke hørt på Missy Elliott før? Det å finne (for meg) ukjente BANGERALBUM som dette gjør hele prosjektet verdt det. Dette albumet er en fantastisk sammesveising av RnB og Rap. Det er god bruk av sampling, som virkelig understreker at KISS funker. Jeg er svak for suggerende musikk, så det kan ha noe med saken å gjøre også. Flowen er god, variert og kjennes ikke trang ut. Det høres ut som det kunne vært gitt ut i år, og er virkelig et album som har tålt tidens tann. Albumet er gjennomprodusert, og det er vanvittig mange små detaljer å legge merke til i produksjonene hvis man tar seg tid. Samtidig er det utrolig imponerende at Missy Elliott faktisk greide å slå gjennom som kvinne i en mannsdominert sjanger allerede i 2002.

Very good and a real throw back for me. 4

3.5

A great album with thoughtful themes woven throughout. Some bumping beats with tact lines and bars. "Work It" is an iconic song, and the 50 Cent remix at the end wasn't bad. I really appreciate Missy Elliot's interstitials at the end of tracks to give more insight into what her concepts are. The album can sound very 2000s at times, but it's still a really cool listen.

Strong 4

Very much enjoyed it!!

Hiphoppia ja RnB:tä. Hiphopit parempia. Hyvät biitit niissä. Fast and Furious tyyli. Parhaat: Bring the Pain, Work It, Slide,

This one captured my attention right away and held it.

Another cool album

Rad album. Missy is the best. 4.25/5

Goddamn is Missy good. I had a blast with this, even the weaker songs like Beyoncé’s feature. Takes me back to childhood. B

The skit, talking and intro on albums is normally an instant turnoff for me, but it works better on this album, for my tastes. It helps connect the writing thought process. Combine this unexpected bonus with the unique lyrical perspective and beats and I'm sold on this one.

Timbaland with the slick production and Missy at top of her game

Better than I thought it would be

Timbaland and Missy Elliott MIGHT just be a better duo than Timbaland and AI Biggie.

Just some good ass hip-hop from Missy and the various guest artists she brought together.

It’s a really cool 4 that I'm REALLY tempted to give a 5 for the hell of it, but I'll hold back. I haven’t listened to almost all of Missy Elliott’s solo work before this, and that's completely my fault. She popped off on this album, and I'm a moron for not listening to her before now. There are some songs I’m not sure I’ll go back to, but that comes down to little things like “well, the beat didn’t go hard enough for me” or “I can’t be caught dead listening to this in public” (see: Pussycat), but there’s a lot of variety on this album that just hits my musical tastes right. I could try to explain myself, but when you’re vibing, you’re vibing, and I was REALLY vibing. Really fun album, with really cool production from Timbaland that sometimes misses the mark for me, but her vocals make up for it tenfold.

Just some classic Hip-Hop. 8/10.

will revisit.

There is so much more to this album than the one single she is known for. Usually album that include features are just filler and not great, but Beyonce, Jay-Z, Ludacris and Method Man bring tracks to this album that make it work (pun intended). As a bonus, it annoys me that most hip hop albums go way over an hour and throw in filler sketches. None of that happen here. 4/5

awesome pop rap with just enough bite and experimentation. timbaland is one of my fav producers ever but i had never heard this record. great music to roll clay coils to? 7.5/10 fav tracks: work it, bring the pain

Like an audio party! Which feels like what she’s going for! I like that she also acknowledges that hip hop has gone through some major losses prior to the release of this album and wants to respect that, but also wants everyone to have a good time. All the features keep the variety up. This was a very fun listen!

Ok now! Missy carries the torch of hip hop music FORWARD! So fresh and speaking truths …. We worked out to this album yesterday am, love the production and she can rap , dont Stop Missy!

Ok, I can't believe this is from 2002! The singles we all know - Work it, Gossip Folks, etc. - are well worn. Woop! Hoo! Woo! (Missy Elliot background sounds) Some okay B-side tracks, but nothing I'd return to. Nice features -- Beyoncé, Jay-z, TLC, Timbaland, 50 Cent... Cool to see where singles originate from!

Missy successfully transitioned into the new millennium with massive hits and a great vibe. This album is seminal for the 2000s.

You’ve gotta love Missy Elliot preaching peace, love, dancing, and safe sex. She urged a new direction, in hip hop and our culture in general, and I’m sad more didn’t hear her pleading. It’s clear from the narration in the intro how impacted she was by 9/11 and the death of Aaliyah, and I love that she took that pain and turned it into positivity. Elliot deftly moves between silly, serious, and sultry, aided by great features and beats. Timbaland is one of my favorite hip hop producers, and while this album doesn’t feature his best work, it still keeps you bopping and grooving. But it’s the writing, themes, and Missy’s flow that really carries things here. Missy is for everyone. Even The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner said that "Karen [O, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' singer] and I listened to it all the time. We used to play it before we'd go onstage... 'Funky Fresh Dressed' is my favorite track. I don't know what else to say other than it's amazing." If you want to have a good time or boost your mood, throw on “Under Construction.”

And a half. I loved this.

Even at 20+years old, the album still sounds fresh. Missy stakes a claim for women’s points of view in hip hop. A well constructed album.

i like this but the spoken word bits spoiled it a bit. giving it 4 anyway as work it is great.

Missy Elliott is sorely underrated. The production on this album is high, the sampling is excellent, and the attitude coming across in the lyrics is fun and snappy as hell. I remember listening to a lot of these songs as a kid, so the nostalgia factor is real. Is an early 2000's rap album complete without a feature from Ludacris? I think not, and Missy Elliot delivers.

I ended up liking this a lot more than I thought I was going to. Gave me real vibes of shaking my booty while absolutely off my noggin on £1 Vodka Redbulls at uni. Simpsons reference: A Missy Elliot song has been played in an episode, but can’t see any direct reference.

This is a 1001 Albums Generator Exclusive... Good beats, skit parts are better than the other ones I've heard through this list, and sparks some nostalgia

Besides Missy Elliott's talent, this has a pretty amazing collection of guest artists! And it is fun to listen to. Each song had a distinctive sound and feel, and while I didn't love all of them, I really loved some of them.

Not completely my bag but I enjoyed it. Didn't love everything but really liked a lot of things.

I was fully prepared to not enjoy this. When your only exposure to an artist is a popular song you don’t enjoy, having to listen to the entire album that song is from might not be the most enjoyable experience. But after hearing Missy’s opening monologue on the first song, I realized that I was probably in for something good. This is the epitome of pop rap in the 2000’s. Unfiltered, vulgar, and undeniably catchy as all hell even if it isn’t perfect. Some didn’t exactly have this concept down, and it resulted in a lot of very generic and less than memorable music. This album is one of the more well executed examples. And although this is led quite a bit by Missy’s fantastic delivery and personality, I immediately became more interested once I learned this was produced by Timbaland. That man was the actual goat producer in the 2000’s. He carried so many artists, and his signature drum sound with those beefy ass kicks created some of the most iconic beats of the last 30 years. I spoke about it already, but the one song I don’t find enjoyable is Work It, and in turn it’s remix with 50 Cent. The content of most of the songs on this record is already pretty mature and sexual in nature, but this song is the most egregious example. It’s simply a little too much at some points. My least favorite part about the song is actually the reversed vocal sample. To be 100% honest, it sounds dumb. That’s literally it. I just think it’s a silly dumb gimmick for the song. Otherwise, most tracks are good, and cover a variety of topics like love, infidelity, and sex. Rating: 7/10

I liked this. Even if it’s a bit dated

I liked the album. Missy Elliott is one of my 90s - early 00s rappers that I always enjoy listening to when a song comes on. There's also some good collaborations on the album with other artists like Method Man and Ludacris. The B-side wasn't as good as the A-side.

I was totally prepared to hate this album but I cannot. It was surprisingly good.

Incredible record

Ian it a time capsule? Is it a dedication album? Or perhaps a showcase of various artists and there flows from around the hip hop spectum. Missys flow combined with squeeky clean yet club dirty production is masterclass in how to be unique, approachable, and "I don't give a fuck, 'who shot in your corn flakes'" all at the same time. Personal preference in a few tracks keeps this from being a perfect album for me but dammit if it isn't close

Better than I expected. Decent album over all.

“Is it worth it?”, he asked “Let me work it”, she replied. And thus, he put his thing down, flipped it, and reversed it.

Hip

Missy = Queen

I like when she says “this is a missy elliott exclusive” on every other song. Also good rhymes and some nice post I’ve messaging (wow, I feel old saying that)

You got a big elephant noise, let me work it.

I liked this a lot! Great rapping.

Obviously, some classic bangers on here. I really like the spoken intro/interludes, they make the album feel really candid. Even though not all of the songs stuck on the first listen, I just really loved the overall vibe of the album, and the instrumentals were great.

Missy it's Diane Here's the information for the Where, where you can send the flowers to The florist for Aaliyah I'll give you the phone, phone number In case you need it Okay Missy take of yourself I love you I love you bye bye I been checkin on your moms and dad And your brother, since the day you left Passed on and went away with god But for your momma it's been so damn hard I hate to even hear her cry Aaliyah she asked me why Would her baby girl go this way Can you give me better words to say One day she'll see you again With the same old beautiful smile Long hair and the voice of a humming bird You'll be singing them same old songs Aaliyah can you hear me I hope that you're proud of me Me and Tim we been doing our thing But it's never been the same since you had to go I ain't never met a friend more incredible 4/5

I do have a soft spot for Missy Elliott and think she is criminally underrated. After a surprisingly heartfelt intro you are treated to a few good intro tracks. I hadn't heard "Bring the Pain" before but man that sample is great and Method man is on it as a plus. "Gossip Folk" and "Work It" follow which are both stellar. I remember "Gossip Folk" from my brief stint getting into street dance at the age of 10. It didn't last more than a few weeks but i still remember the music (the other song we danced to was "Ice Ice Baby". There are a few duds (looking at you "Pussycat") but as a whole it is a good album with some nice guest artists (Method Man, Jay-Z, Beyoncé,TLC..).

No tämähän tuli vähän puskista. Olipas kova! Yllättävän freesit nuo timbaland-soundit nykyään. Ja Missy räbää tietty upeasti.

I do appreciate that she just tells us the entire context of what's to follow. Kill it with a skillet, baby. Work It is still fun, and I think the album really kicked into second gear starting there and continuing with Back in the Day. "Pussy don't fail me now" is a great line. Gotta love Austin Powers in Goldmember era Beyonce. Overall still pretty solid and enjoyable, despite the fact that I'm clearly not the target audience.

Strange how much talk about death there was on such an upbeat album. This was fun. Loved all the features.

(First impression) I FOR SURE LOVE THIS ALBUM ! (Halfway) so good

Do I like gossip folks more than work it?? How did I just realize that?! And what a back to back punch in the face with those two tracks. Missy is an icon, a pioneer, this just furthers that legacy.

- Incredibly produced album. It kinda makes me mad how much fresher this sounds than most modern hip-hop. - The opening run, from Go to the Floor to Pussycat, is brilliant. Second half is a bit less engaging; I don't love the Beyonce collab, and Hot is on the weaker end of the album. But those aren't bad songs, merely slight lulls in what's otherwise an incredibly solid front-to-back listen. - Work It remains a solid-gold classic.

Nice beats, and while often vulgar, Missy had something to say.

Extra, extra funky. Great beats with great guests.

An album I enjoyed far more than I expected. Really good example of how hip hop can have texture, sound and melody.

Klasse rap, solidt, work it

Second ME album in a few weeks as prescribed by the generator. Own a cd copy and perhaps listened to Work It a couple of times in the past too much. But I still like the 80s hiphop references a lot - also on several on the other songs, and the Timbaland beats rule as always. However, all the talking in between the tracks is super-annoying. A reminder of why I hardly listen to the album in one go. It disrupts the flow (same goes for many other hiphop albums from that period). Overall 4 stars again.

Another strong album from Missy Elliott, having recently checked out her debut Supa Dupa Fly. I'm really liking her voice, whether she is singing, rapping, or just speaking. Maybe there are a few more songs on this one that are less compelling, but it is still worthy of a solid 4 star rating from me.

This album was foundational to my understanding of rap and hip hop in high school and made me seek out new music instead of sticking to the boring ass music taste of rural midwestern white people; so not only is this album a landmark in contemporary rap but it’s also personally important to me to some extent. I’ve listened to tpab countless times but what made this listen fresh is that it came in the second half of the list for me after a number of albums that exposed me to the full history of hip hop. I think I came out of this listen with an even greater appreciation of it because I better (but not fully) understand its influences from dj shadow to a tribe called quest. As for my thoughts on the album itself it’s mindblowingly well produced and accompanies songs focusing on interesting and thought provoking subject matter. Every song is an absolute banger except for maybe you ain’t gotta lie and mortal man only because the Tupac convo at the end goes on too long.

I’ve learned that these are all Missy Elliott Exclusives, and that that is a good thing.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve listened to Missy Elliot. I remember when Work It was released because it was played everywhere. I’ve never listened to a full album by Missy Elliot, so let’s have a listen and find out how it is! Songs I already knew: Work It Favourites: Work It, Pussycat First of all, I don’t remember Work It being so vulgar! This is like WAP but from the early naughties! Missy’s rapping and singing are fantastic throughout. She has one of those voices where the rapping sounds very natural and effortless. There are a fair few big features here too, such as TLC, Beyoncé and Jay-Z. There is a lot of heartache heard in Can You Hear Me where Missy raps about how she misses Aaliyah, and this was done very well and tasteful. Overall, a pretty great album. Give it a try!

Day 102 Another rap/R&B album I was happy to see pop up even if I didn't know anything about it. I don't feel inspired to write at this moment, and probably I would need to spend a lot more time with it, but this album has plenty of bangers and interesting moments. A keeper. 

Missy Elliott peut chanter comme elle peut rapper. Son flow et les beats sont aussi réussis, sinon plus, que ceux de certains artistes hip hop que j'ai entendus récemment, et ses thématiques sont plus variées.

Margt mjög gott á þessari plötu. Work it er náttúrulega bara next level dansgólfssnilld.

Bit more than a work in progress.

seeee 8/10

Much more fun!

In which Missy brings us back to the old school. Inspired by the dance vibe of hip hop past and aiming to recapture a sense of fun from thugged out violence of the time, Missy and Timbaland have created a smooth record full of wit and bouncing beats. There are a few flops here - generally those tracks where Missy sings rather than raps - but when it gets good it gets really good: Gossip Folks is a fun bop, Work It is entertainingly quotable and Funky Fresh Dressed sounds classic and fresh all at once. Method Man, Ludacriss and Jay Z bring solid verses to their tracks and Missy shows when she’s on she’s one of the best rappers out there. The real star is Timbaland - consistently bc testing beats other rappers would kill to have. The production is uniformly excellent and the Missy Elliott / Timbaland partnership is one of the strongest in the genre.

Non male, veramente non male. Un sacco di collab e tutte belle, non so se è da 5, ma quasi.

I think this was my favorite rap album I've heard so far. Something about it was just really good and got me excited to listen to every song.

"you don't see Bill Gates and Donald Trump arguing with eachother cause they got paper" Lol. Trump "wrong" gif. Not my bag at all mostly but no denying this is a cracker of a record and I enjoyed listening to it.

Although we didn't see it at the time, it was the end of the road for a duo whose futuristic approach to hip-hop and R&B had helped lay the groundwork for imitation and admiration from those then-present and later. For Missy Elliott and Timbaland, Under Construction was a work layered in looking backward, pushing through grief and stamping their place amongst increasingly hostile waters. Amongst neck snapping, limb shaking bangers and occasional forays into calmer terrain, this is a record that's not meant to be underestimated in regards to its title. For we are all works in progress and, if Missy Misdemeanor proclaims herself to be such, we could all use a good look in the mirror. Favorites: Intro/Go to the Floor, Bring the Pain, Gossip Folks, Work It, Back in the Day, Funky Freshed Dressed, Pussycat, Nothing Out There for Me, Ain't That Funny, Hot, Can You Hear Me.

a lot of talking, but also a lot of bangers

I love the atmosphere of joy that runs through this album

Honestly wish I was into hip hop when I was a teenager. But I wanted to reject anything my classmates were into. This albums good. Obviously I know work it but 5-6 of the tracks are really good. Like most albums there's some eh songs but I thoroughly enjoyed.

One of hip-hop’s most important female voices turns out a slightly unwieldy banger of an album. As moving as it is vulgar.

This entire album had me jiving to the beat the whole time. Any album that can capture your subconscious attention for nearly an hour straight and keep you moving is a goodie. Imagine going to a college party in the early 2000s and this pops on the boombox? Good vibes all around. I just know there were a couple shy lads who got a couple brews in them, popped on the Missy Elliot album, and ended up leaving that party with a decent amount of phone numbers in their pocket (on paper probably, this was pre-razr). And the FEATURES on this album? You kidding me? Luda, Jay-Z, TLC, 50? Missy knew what tf she was doing. I did enjoy this album, but wasn’t blown away by any means. Missy gets a 4. Side note - the best line in the whole album was “can I put my booty in your spaghetti”. Not even entirety sure what that means but then again the entirety of “Pussycat” was a trip, so 🤷.

A very exclusive album!

Well produced and we'll rapped, features used sparingly but we'll, I found a lot of inspiration that other modern rappers have taken directly from this album, tough between a 4 and a 5

Good hip-hop. Definitely a product of early-2000's rap with those beats. I like how she just talk sometimes. Explains the album title, rebukes criticism, ends the album with "I love ya, god bless, good night". Great.

Damn really strong start. The first four tracks are all great. The Jay-Z song isn't as strong but still good. Pussycat is a song. Sounds like a Lauren hill love song but about pussy. Then a real love song with Beyonce. Heartbreaking final song. This was great. Highlights: gossip folks. Can you hear me

I'm not going to pretend I'm some sort of hip-hop virtuoso, and maybe it's just that this album wasn't written for "someone like me" - but it's not an album I'll rush back to anytime soon, it definitely has its merits though. Pros - this album almost seems to be educational to its listeners. It knows its target audience (young women) and tries to teach them not to be fucked around. The no nonsense attitude of Missy Elliot shines through and ultimately makes this album fiercely defiant, especially for the time it was written. The collaborations were spot on, and each guest lends another element to each track. Cons - Generally the theme of this album got to me. Whilst each song sounded very different, track after track we heard the same sort of thing. "I want to be with you, do you want to be with me?" "I'm a strong independent woman, I don't need no man, but I still want to sleep with you" Zzzzzz 4* for originality and song structures Losing the star for churning over the same old themes over and over again.

Old school, I love it.

classic hiphop

This is tons of fun and consistently enjoyable. Well produced, nice collabs, and solid flows. It doesn't really sound like it's "under construction".

I was really surprised with this album.

4.5

2002 - Hip Hop; R&B; Old-school Hip Hop

The self-esteem we all need :D "Work it" is so good!

I really warmed up to Missy Elliot. The timbaland bounce— and I cannot emphasize enough— is I N C R E D I B L E. He’s the best at this by far. The danceability of every record. Ah! Too much spoken word intros! It was great at first. Then it was too much. I got too much of a peak behind the curtain. Ah I love the bounce.

A little too long, feel off for me towards the end but some bangers all around

Honestly, this was really fun. Have only really heard her hits, but it turns out she's a great singer?! Some of these songs come off as pretty toxic though... Pussycat in particular. So a little bit off for that. I'll still give it a 4 though, honestly pretty much any rap from this era is going to have some road bumps like that, and it's not egregious or anything. Fire singles, and like I said... Just fun.

This is another missy elliott exclusive….

helt bra... bra beatzz... gillar vad Missy Elliott gör på skivor var hon baa talar i början och slutet de e chill

Missy is a legend. A little too much talking before/after songs, which disrupted the flow a bit and kept me from considering 5 stars. Still, if I could do half-stars, I'd have given it a 4.5.

banger after banger

certified classic. 4.

Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gnaht ym tup i

1. This album is aging really well. 2. This is kind of the perfect album length.

Missy Elliot doing what she does best. Laying down thick beats and slaying lyrics.

2000s hip hop at some of its best. There’s a reason Missy was and is considered the Queen.

This album was light years ahead of hip hop on several fronts. There's an awesome female empowerment push in this that is great. I love that she confronts it head on about how male rappers get to talk about all the dirty stuff, but women are supposed to not talk about that. As if 80% of male rap lyrics in the late 90's early 2000's wasn't about women and sex. Aside from her stance on rap culture and feminism, this album just absolutely SLAPS. The beats are great, her flow is awesome, her word play is unique and interesting, her message is fantastic, the guest spots are incredible (Beyonce, Jay Z, Method Man, TLC, etc). I'm consistently impressed with how everything she does is unmistakably hers. Even without her raps on this album, I probably could've picked out her style. Personally, this album wasn't in rotation with me when it came out and flew under my radar until MUCH later. But listening to it back now... it seems like this album would've been made much more recently than 2002. Great record and deserving of a higher place in the hip hop pantheon. So much of modern female rap culture started with and emulated Missy. Give up the flowers.

Another, what felt like, 90's throwback. Can definitely appreciate the uniqueness of the beats!

An album dedicated to the families of 9/11 victims includes the song "Work It". 4/5 stars.

I was super surprised how many of these tracks I knew. I liked this a lot. The flow is fun and I like her perspective.

Very enjoyable, with great guests and engaging songs. Lots of spoken word to start and end the album, which was a bit weird. I really enjoyed it, but not quite enough for full marks. She came damn close though!

Mér finnst þetta alveg skemmtilegt.

One of the few rap albums that’s really held up. These beats are just dope.

elite elite elite elite. One of the first full length albums I ever listened to.

Can see why/how Missy was so big, great album, enjoyed her plaudits to Biggie/Pac and peace-seeking lyrics, great features too

Missy is a badass. Even without listening the the album, just reading the liner notes and seeing who is featured on it would tell you how much respect the industry has for her. She can rap, she can sing, the beats are unique and not repetitive. It's just a fun album. I was actually surprised at how well this album held up. I think I actually like it even more now than I did when it came out.

Its a banger - but didnt feel it needed the commentary. Although the commentary was pretty good. Nearly a 5 TBH

I didn’t know what to expect from this album but it certainly delivered. It is a good mix of old school style progressive hip hop with a sex positive and community minded message baked in. Overall, the album was incredibly forward thinking while paying homage to the music that came before it. Missy Elliott is clearly a student of the genre and her love for it can be felt throughout the record.

speaking for like a minute after half the songs is a cruel act but it still bumps

Missy Elliot rocks - definitely one of the best hip hop artists of the late 90s / early 00s. This album blazes through with gusto, right from the first track until the last - with the masterpiece that is Work It and a series of songs with a bold feminine point of view that is incredibly refreshing and rare across genres. Production is awesome, the guests stellar. A great album that maybe is a tad long, given it’s relentless intensity.

T3B 1. Gossip Folks 2. Work It 3. Bring the Pain What a time for rap, late 90s into early 00s. 02 was a great year. This album is a great example. Amazing productions, awesome features. Solid 4!

That's some guud rhythm and poetry

Very fun hip-hop album. Missy can hang with the best of them. Not every song spike to me, but the ones that hit hit hard.

Very well produced hip hop album with great beats and a star lineup of features. Missy kills it on the delivery.

Classic

A modern classic

I liked it much better than I'd expected.

One of the best and coolest in hip hop, and nicely weird too. I can't stand corporate commercial pop crap, and this is thankfully not that. Some of the lyrics are trite as hell, but some are fucking brilliant too. The talking between songs is just completely buzzkill though.

Favourite Song - Slide One for karaoke - Nothing out there for me One for a run - Work It Sound that. Jenna was excited for me as a lover of older hip hop and it was justified

Liked it more than i thought i would!

Leuke hiphop. Niet heel speciaal. Hier een 4

Pretty great

Raunchy, bopping and a great listen. This is a Missy Elliott old school exclusive. 👍

Nije ko supa dupa fly i missy e do eddictive ali zbog work it i svemirske produkcije je super

I get it Missy Elliott, this is a great album full of old school exclusive songs.

This album is incredible, ahead of it's time, and speaks truth to power. It's still sounds absolutely fresh today. Excellent album.

Lunas.

Overall this is one of those albums that is better played loud! I find the spoken parts break the flow but understand they are important to what Missy Elliot wants to say

One of the all time great female rap albums

More albums need a directors commentary like the opening track of this. Absolute banger of an album. Great samples, great flow. Loved it 4.5

Missy and Timbaland are a creative match made in heaven. They balance subtle experimentation with catchy hooks. The thing I like most about them is just how playful they both are. Missy will have these more serious interludes throughout the album that seem very heartfelt, rather than contrived, but she usually follows it up with humor to temper it, and I appreciate both. Some real interesting recycling/reusing samples of very identifiable beats and clips from older iconic hip hop albums such as Public Enemy and Beastie Boys. Even the Method Man song is more or less a remix/reimagining of his older version.

Won't hit my regular listen rotation because the beats are deliberately jarring and it makes my anxiety brain twitch, but it's great.

Surprised how much I like it

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If someone says 'female rap artist' I can almost guarantee the first name they think of is Missy Elliott, and with good reason. Love the little intro and outro speeches - setting the scene, and unapologetic. Play Work It and see how many people can resist a little wiggle.

Really solid album