Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Теперь я совсем потерялся, в чем развитие и крутость условных Ники Минаж, Карди Би, или Айс Спайс, читающих про сексуальную либерацию и все такое, когда Мисси Эллиотт делала все эти вещи двадцать с лишним лет назад гораздо увереннее в гораздо менее располагающем для этого мире. Лучшая песня - Work It.
The fat laced nike dunks on the album cover bring me straight back to highschool. I haven't ever listened to this whole album, but it's a great time capsule for where hip hop was at the time. I appreciate Missy's lyrics and her flow, and the underlying beats are equally compelling (thanks, Timbaland). There are a lot of fun cameos on this record, and an equal amount of interlude skits to ruin the flow of the album. Overall, a fun listen but not one I'll probably spend much time with again.
Decent attitude and flow but it isn't really my style. I feel that this is exactly what she wanted to make and I can respect that.
I wanted to like this Missy Elliot album more than I do. A couple of good songs. The singles. Timbaland making some fun beats. A few too many tracks where the lyrics aren't great or are just being jammed in without really clicking with the beat. Too many little speeches one would be fine and If you want a message in a song make sure it serves the music.
Not my genre but pretty good stuff. Lovely grooves and very positive feminine take on rap/hip hop/rnb. Preferable , especially in this context to some of the other derivative stuff from heavier rock or indie genres. Also held together well as an album. Not my taste but v listenable and some great playing/ sampling too.
"You don't see Bill Gates and Donald Trump arguing with each other 'Cause both of them got paper and they got better shit to do" - probably because they were touching elbows at the Lolita express. Oh the innocent noughties! Work it is still such a banger tho.
It blows my mind that this album doesn’t score higher or even get a fair chance with some people just because it’s Hip Hop. I see this bias a lot on this site. Sure, personal taste plays a role, but when the top reviews clearly undervalue it, that’s not just taste, that’s bias. Now, the album itself: this is melodic hip hop at its finest, and you can hear her R&B roots woven into the sound. The feature list is massive: Method Man, Ludacris, JAY-Z, TLC, Beyoncé, 50 Cent. This record was built to stand among the 1001 albums that matter. The production is loaded with sharp sampling and mixing, pulling from legends like RUN DMC, Public Enemy, and Blondie. Missy Elliott is a powerhouse in hip hop. This album proves it. For me, it’s at least a 4-star record. Solid 8/10.
What is worse than the elicit, gansta style rap ... that filthiness being sung by woman. However Back in the Day is what salvaged this album for a 2
Yeah, no.
I enjoyed this more than I expected to based on the artist and genre. It was a fun listen, even with some awkward topics and occasionally cringey lyrics. It was easy to bop along to it as it played, which was probably its best quality for me. My negatives stem mostly from the norms of hip hop rather than being specific to the album. As is common, the music is beat heavy and exists to support the raps, meaning it's often unmemorable in the song. That wasn't as bad for me here as it can be, and I thought the second half of the album had stronger music than the front half for whatever reason. It can be a problem if the raps themselves aren't up to snuff, though, since that means there's really nothing there to save the song. Other than that, my main complaints come from the lyrics being inane and obnoxious at times. Focusing on the album itself, I thought it suffered from the narration breaks as they made the album feel longer than it needed to. Despite those issues, I still had a good time listening. There were some really enjoyable songs on here. Even if there were some cringe-worthy lyrical moments, it didn't make me want to turn it off. As a whole, I'd say it was a solidly good listen. Overall: 3.4/5
Very good, labai patiko intarpai, kur ji toesiog šnekėdavo ir pasakodavo.
I quite enjoyed this one. The collabs were good, I liked the samples, and the whole thing just kinda flowed really well. I was listening to Work It immediately after learning that Charlie Kirk was killed. One of my main complaints is the "Missy Elliott exclusive" bite at the beginning of some of the songs is dumb haha.
This record is rad. I love how it is just full on bonafied rap music. Its rough and raw, but killer beats. Fun lyrics and rhymes. There's a lot of attitude and feeling with this record. I love all of the guest contributors on this one as well. It also ages really well. It doesn't feel too 90s or too 2000s. Obviously, there are strong elements of that but production is really good. It slapped then, and its slaps now. I had a blast with this one today.
such a good album from the most underrated mc of our time we love you missy gossip folks is a classic
duh.
Vind Missy Elliott altijd wel cool en eigenzinnig, maar stop het in een clichématig Timbaland-jasje en het is eigenlijk 13 in een dozijn, en nauwelijks te onderscheiden van ander vrouwelijk geweld van eind jaren 90/begin zeroes. Timbaland is een god op het gebied van club-bangers, maar een heel album verveelt enorm. Missy Elliott is desalniettemin vocaal zo sterk dat het wél een voldoende is. 6/10
Hier kan ik echt bijzonder weinig mee. Echt een album uit het tijdsgewricht van de eeuwwisseling en zeroes. Iconische artiest voor die tijd. Maar als ik puur naar de muziek luister laat het me echt koud. 4/10
Listened Before? N Meh, not really my cup of tea. The list of collaborators on this album is impressive, but somehow none of them really did anything for me. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Work It
A really good album. I listened to it a lot when it was released.
Hilariously suggesting that we don’t see Donald Trump arguing with people because he’s got money, Missy suggests that we all need to stop having beef and just get on with getting rich. And having sex.
7/10
I unexpectedly loved this
A little tough but she’s a great lyricist.
When you need a badly articulated monologue to explain why your pussy is the most interesting thing you have to talk about... it's not a good sign. Also, too many ripped off classic verses. Good beats though.
Missy's love letter to old-school hip-hop. It was a joy to experience and explore this album as a time capsule and cross-section of what was happening at the time. Gangster rap was the main lane, being hardcore was the only game, and Missy reintroduced playfulness as a viable path to music production. Her collaboration with Timbaland was on point and the beats, grooves, and lyrics are all fresh, but what stands out is her point of view. She takes time to honor the past, comment on the present, and propose a more inspiring future, all while evolving the art form beyond what it had been. Like many entries on this 1001 list, this record shaped many that came after it because it legitimized a different, less violent, more female-empowered way to approach lyricism and rap. I don't know how many times I'll spin it on a whim, but I'm glad to have encountered this one.
Excellent listen. Rhythmic and catchy beats. Missy is a master of flow, cadence, style. Must listen #204.
This album is a masterpiece. Great messaging in the interludes also.
5/5. Что-то на великом.
The first time I heard this album was on a long, long road trip from Dallas to Los Angeles with my dear friend Anthony (rest in peace big guy). I can't remember everything, or even all that much we listened to on the 24-hour road trip but I do remember this. It was Ant's suggestion, I wasn't too excited about it but I had to concede I was wrong to judge. This is a fantastic album. It's the epitome of Old School, combining Missy's irrepressible attitude and vocals with Timbaland driving the beats and samples to create a patchwork of both progressive and retrospective grooves.
(2.5) she said her own name a lot? i like a lot of this but this is a missy elliott exclusive has got to stop 😔
It’s ok. Some good beats. I am being picky about the presentation and can be very wrong about it; but quite often I can’t focus on the rapper because of some sharp percussive elements, or the synths competing with the voice. if someone can EQ it, it will be much better? Music wise, it doesn’t breathes dynamically like some really good rap albums we have had so far. Some tracks are just looping and they don’t contribute much. It’s more like “hey look I’m just chilling here I’m so cool” instead of expressing anything informative. Overall it’s an enjoyable listen. But yet not a 4 for me.
I’m torn between a 3 and a 4. Hip-hop in particular is a genre that shifts so much over time so when you return to the past it can’t help but sound dated. There’s a lot of songs that I think went harder back in the day, but I’m not feeling the punch on like half the album. Few general bops for sure, shout to Nothing Out There For Me in particular. Big names dropping features as well. The star is obviously Work It. And I think it could be argued to be a 3 without that megahit, so I’ll go with a 4 because that song still slaps to this day, which to my earlier point of hip-hop suffering from recent bias, is even more impressive in that light.
This album rocks. Missy is super smooth, her flow is tight, and each song keeps this album feeling fresh. There’s a lot to like on this. Not to mention that Work It is on this album, and is an all time great Great features, with Method Man, Ludacris, and Jay Z too. All in all, really had a blast.
Love some early 2000s beats, and there are a ton of really fun features from legends of hip hop. I think Work It is enough to bump this album to a three, but I don’t need the bookended “I hope you like this album but I don’t actually care if you do or not” skits.
We have our number one quote that aged like milk "You don't see Bill Gates and Donald Trump arguing with each other because they both got paper".
🔥
i enjoyed this. for sure
Amazing production. This is Missy and Timberland at their peak. Missy is hard to pin down- she's a top tier MC, however you slice it. This takes me back to a fun time.
Hey, everyone, did you know that this Missy Elliott album is full of Missy Elliott exclusives?!?!
There was good stuff on this, but it felt very self-congratulatory, to the extent that it really wasn't for me.
f o d a
At least I'll go to my grave knowing how gushy Missy Elliott's vag is. [Source - Pussycat] Some stacked features on this. Whilst I joke, Missy E has some good flows on this. Very of it's time.
Her flow on go to the floor goes hard. Gossip folks i know that kid ad lib apparently from double dutch bus by frankie smith. Damn paul revere shout out? If I had a nickel… “ But they use to call me fatty 'til I got with Puff Daddy” is so funny in retrospec
lol, as this is starting, I realize she sounds just like a girl version of P Diddy. Same accent, same inflection, same vernacular. It’s kinda funny. I think she’s far more talented than he is, but she sounds a lot like him…except without all the raping. I’m actually enjoying this quite a bit, which I didn’t expect. I remember “Work It” being a big deal back in the day, but I never paid much attention. I’m glad it cropped up here and I’m getting the chance to pay more attention now. The beats are interesting and inventive, the features are great, her charisma is pretty infectious. She fills a lot of audio space, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time with this one and might circle back from time to time. The record does peter out a little bit toward the middle-end, but overall, it's a pretty strong effort by Missy. 3.8/5
77% Best: Bring the Pain; Back in the Day; Play That Beat Must-Hear? Not quite
Never listened to, not being a Hip Hop fan - but was OK.
Très surpris initialement que Missy Elliott soit dans le 1001. Profondément féministe. Les beats et le flow sont excellents. Elle semble puiser de la source/tradition hip hop 90s et la distiller à son meilleur.Je ne connaissais pas sauf les deux singles. J'ai adoré Pussycat pour son thème sensible quoiqu'explicite. Ça m'a fait penser à ce que développe Queen Bee un peu plus tard dans son album éponyme. Beaucoup de collabs inspirantes. Malheureusement, le côté chromé du hip hop (le bling, les Benz, les clubs), c'est pas pour moi. Mais elle semble l'honorer et le dénoncer à la fois.
Bon rap debut 2000!
Hip-hop is not my thing but I have an open mind and have given some albums a 5* rating. Not this one, even though I see it is well made. I just find it not that enjoyable musically, and lyrically even less so. For me, hip-hip is a lot about lyrics so when it's too much of the same boring language (n!ggas, pussies, etc.) the whole time, I feel they need to do better. Some songs have catchy hooks and overall the album sounds good (technically). She can sing (and rap) and has some creative ideas, sound-wise. As an influential female rapper this deserves a place on the list.
Vraiment pas mauvais, quelques bonnes tounes, mais l’ensemble n’est pas pour moi.
Ok
I was going to give it a 4, but I hated the talking interludes.
Work It is carrying this whole thing on its back.
This is an amazing and original album. The unique sound is infectious. Storytelling keeps the listener involved. The guests add color. Songs have a dope beat but are so unique and colorful. Great album.
It was alright, I liked a lot of the beats but that's about it Rating: 2.4
So, HipHop/Rap isn't a genre I keep track of, and I really don't listen to it much. On my first listen of Under Construction, I really didn't care for it. But I paid a bit more attention the second time through, and was pleasantly surprised. The collaboration tracks are solid, and Missy does a good job of injecting a smoother nature to some of the beats that I don't find as aggressive as other albums in the genre. Glad I gave it second listen.
Simply not for me.
Really good yet underrated album. Has to be in talks of best female rap album ever
This is a Missy Elliot exclusive review. Her flow is good, the guest rappers are good & she has a good singing voice. I just found it to be annoying & didn't care for it. She's really only on here due to her frank nature of talking about sex. Oh & did I mention this is a Missy Elliot exclusive.
When one review indicated "Bangers a-plenty", I had high hopes. What a shame that "Bangers" seems to be a reference to the people engaging in sex acts that Missy "sings" about, rather than the quality of those tracks.
Work It is a classic but there were some great songs on here like Slide and Gossip Folks. Production is great with unique beats that have such a unique style.
3.5/5
Filthy good.
I was going to let this Slide, but this album is Hot! Play That Beat!
love the radio edit commentary
Well Missy, has hip hop really changed? 🤔
#NeverForget
Pretty much every song is amazing Fav song: Not sure, maybe Bring the Pain?
3/5. I think Missy has a lot of good intentions and themes throughout her album but I lose some sincerity the longer the album goes on. It has some quality songs and even the provocative songs have heart. It almost rides that line of popular and progressive but it misses the mark a few times. The features are great but the production is lacking as well, kind of feels like it was just a phone in from them. I think with just some selections throughout the album, this could be a really powerful and meaningful record while still keeping Missy's personality in each one. Instead, this an okay album with some skips and some great tracks sporadically placed. I also think the explaining of the album and process does feel disingenuine as well, as the work should speak for itself. Best Song: Work It, Back In The Day, Can You Hear Me
A good hip hop album but not really my style, wouldn't really go back and listen to any of the songs again.
not my thing but I like it better than some other rap albums
Just really great.
Good, fun listen. Probably would not have listened to this album unless organically lol
Finally a famale singer, I was waiting for this for so long. I'm not really a hip-hop person but much enjoyed this album. Don't know what else to say
Seemingly the whole damn country.
No
After listening to this for 10 minutes, I have determined that this is an album that I DO NOT need to listen to before - anything!
I was not expecting to like this album as much as I did. To be honest, the worst track to me was “Work it” - probably because of the many times I was forced to listen to it by the then existing monoculture. I’m not going to be deep here, it’s a cool album.
This really hit hard, I was grooving like crazy today. Missy doesn't miss, great lyrics, vocal performance, the guest spots were fire...a lot to love on this one!
Nothing mind-blowing, but fun, solid, and with a few bangers. Missy can spit, man. Favorite track: Slide Least favorite: Pussycat
Really enjoyed it but only a few songs stuck out so would be more likely to go back and listen to those singles than the whole album again
I almost dropped out at track 9. If I hear that a song is another missy Elliott exclusive, I’ll kms
Ble
Fuck rating albums. Just let me listen.
One of the bester Missy Elliott albums, not a single song on this is bad.
The flow is smooth and the beats are hard. Album was constructed good. 10/10
A classic. Missy was a pioneer of her era rebelling against a male dominated genre with unapologetically raunchy lyrics. Defiantly standing on business while putting out hits and letting you know exactly how she feels
Tried to be open-minded about this (c)rap but even speed listening five or six tracks was just simply painful. * (still maintain that this reading system should have a zero available.)
5 *s from the moment Bill Gates and Donald Trump get name dropped for not fighting. If this was an early 00s look back at the 80s and 90s, I felt that
This isn't my thing, but Missy is great and there's some good stuff here.
This grew on me nicely. Some nice old school vibes, great production, varied songwriting.
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
A perfect album.
Singles are still fresh. Was her career kinda peaking here and then just done?
Not bad at all
This is so good. Knew some songs but never listened to the whole thing. 4*
Real improvement over the last album. Work It being the obvious stand out, but this album just sounds so much smoother and nicer
Thoughts before listening: I only know the hits, but they're fun and memorable. I still quote things that Missy Elliott said in these songs. Review: So this is actually a later album for Missy Elliott. I was expecting to hear all of the hits that were on Supa Dupa Fly, but the only song I actually recognize is "Work It"...which is a great hit from that era. In general, this album is very indicative of early 00s hip-hop and R&B, probably because Missy was just so influential to the sound at that time. I wish there were a few more hits like "Work It" on here, but this was enjoyable enough. 3-stars
Not my cup of tea for sure.
3,5/5.
5.5 / 10 - Another generic 90s hip hop album. The beats are pretty cool and it’s well produced. However, the lyrics are trash, don’t think theres a single song where she doesn’t song abt being a slag. Still better that the jay z album tho
Sounds tired an brings zero to the table whilst being incredibly annoying to listen to. What a waste of time listening to this was
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
Rap/RnB Album. Schöne Stimme, stellenweise chillig. Ist nicht meine Musikrichtung. 2/5
Good album, there's pretty good beats just gets pretty weird and the lyrics aren't good.
Hip Hop 36eme album => 1/5
Flawed but fun listen, with moments of brilliance. Bouncy and futuristic, full of quirks in Timbalands production. Missy's charisma is unmatched, playful, confident, and powerful even on weaker tracks. There are simply too many filler tracks.This album could have been a 4/5 with 4-5 tracks removed. The overused skits, and cheap punchlines drag it down to a two for me. Work It, and Gossip Folks claws the album on a hard climb to a three. Timbaland grabs the edge of that three, and keeps it there for me.
-Missy Elliott has always occupied an interesting space in my mind where i understand she was one of the most important female rappers of the early 2000s, but also i know nothing about her or her music -this was pretty good tho. far from my favorite hip hop album ive heard but something about it kinda charmed me -Favorites are Bring The Pain, Gossip Folks, and Work It
Good Lass!
I liked this
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.
Not my style but I liked her attitude. Definitely not background music.
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
Ok, I’m in two minds about this album - it’s gorgeously produced, and Missy herself has a huge amount of sass. However, it opens with a spoken introduction (including a stunningly uncomfortable reference to the current president of the USA) and there are more of these throughout, feeling almost like a dvd commentary track. I get the sentiment, and the call for rap rivalries to be settled through words rather than violence is heart felt, but they still feel out of place. Missy can also be as crude as male rappers (equal opportunities!) and there is some cheeky use of sound effects (guess what a cat miaowing is a reference to), but her feminism seems a bit reductive. It’s a positive thing to sing about female sexuality but then she limits it by going on about keeping your man happy so his eyes don’t wander. I mean, really? The best track is a collaboration with Beyoncé in the form of a phone call between the pair of them, and I wish more of the album had been like that.
Missy Elliott is a good rapper, the album is quite entertaining. But it a bit overproduced and "modern" to my taste, a bit too clean. Although, to be fair, having sometimes minimalistic background is good to highlight her flow.
When this popped up, i was delighted and initial thoughts put this in the 3-5 stars range as a couple of tracks keep regular rotation in my hip hop playlists. The first few tracks are bangers. I love gossip folks and work it and timbalands production is god tier throughout. But after that initial high, it gets really mediocre. Jay-z pops up with a couple of lazy verses, Missy's singing voice isnt a patch on her rapping and there isnt much to get excited about.
Oh man, I vaguely remember this when it came out and I was a teenager. I (thankfully) haven't heard it since then and can't imagine I'm going to like it any more now. We shall see... Yeah man, this is still not for me. I just don't like this kind of music at all. Not a real instrument in sight, bad lyrics, repetitive beats. I get that this is regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time and it's a cultural cornerstone, but it's just not something I enjoy. 1/5
Words cannot express how much I hate the song Work It. I hadn't heard it for years - perhaps a decade or more - in fact, I'd gone as far as mercifully erasing its entire existence from my mind. Now that it's very rudely invited itself into my life again, I cast my thoughts back to when it was popular in my university days and how I recognized then that it was the most obnoxious, hideous, distasteful shit that had ever forced its way into my eardrums. The grating, gimmicky instrumentation, Elliot's insufferable attitude mixed with her abhorrent gangster accent, the vulgarity of the lyrics, the infuriatingly ridiculous "yer perminipi mwem yurkle" trash that spews from her mouth - everything about it is repulsive beyond measure. Here we are 23 years later and nothing has changed. I CANNOT STAND THIS PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A SONG AND I HATE THAT I WAS SUBJECTED TO IT TODAY. I OFFICIALLY CROWN "WORK IT" THE MOST DETESTABLE PIECE OF MUSIC IN EXISTENCE. MISSY ELLIOT, TIMBALAND, I PERSECUTE YOU BOTH FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. MARCH STRAIGHT TO HELL WITHOUT AS MUCH OF A BACKWARDS GLANCE TO EITHER OF YOUR FAMILIES, AND TAKE YOUR GOD-AWFUL INCOMPLETE CONSTRUCTION WITH YOU. I swear to god, if the Spotify algorithm ever dares to inject a single Missy Elliot song into my Discover Weekly or Release Radar due to my endurance of this album, I will torch my device in a bonfire of rage and curse its ashes to oblivion. Update: I paused the album and returned to it later in the afternoon, because I’m determined to listen to every one from start to finish, including those I despise. Only to find that damn awful song rears its ugly head one again at the very end, this time featuring 50 Cent. This is the worst day of music in my life.
Decent
Pretty good—a big improvement from Supa Dupa Fly
In a nutshell: flip it and and reverse it. Hi Missy. Clear something up for me please- why you gotta say "this is a Missy Elliott exclusive" on most tracks? I get why hip hop artists name drop on tracks, it's part necessity and part tradition. But I'm twitching over the grammar- a track ain't an exclusive when *everyone* has access to the track. Saying your name is enough. It sounds like I'm hating. I apologise if it sounds like I am. I'm still struggling to ditch my hang ups about hip hop. You worked hard to get where you are too, so I hafta cut you a lot of slack. I found bits that I liked on this album. Your flow is great, I appreciated the sex positive lyrics (specifically Pussycat) and I like some of the loops you used. Be mindful of grammar, k? Thanks Overall: 4/10
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!
Not my vibe
Rubbish
Rapper. I don't like cra... e, rap.
This album is timeless.
Work it and gossip folks are so good. The rest didn't do much for me
Missy is on point throughout.
Banger after banger love Missy and her little spoken sections, so much charm in this.
Na
3/5. Definitely entertaining and the wordplay is great. It’s surprising me how much I’m enjoying the rap albums that show up on this list.
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.
This was okay, not really my style. Felt a bit too long too.
Good r&b with feminism and political critique
Yeah, this is very much a product of its time. Some of the production is not timeless. But I still enjoyed it quite a bit but will probably not return to it.
для любителей хип-хопа...
This swept me right back to TRL when Missy videos played back-to-back with Limp Biscuit and Brittany Spears and Three Doors Down. What a time to be alive! Timbaland beats, Missy's rhymes, this album is Phat! Could've done without the long, rambling intro and outro. It's really kinda silly and breaks the flow of the album, but whatever. Missy can do what she wants.
Gib skip Funktion, this Shit cringe
Not my fave genre but can appreciate it's a good example of early 00s hip hop / r'n'b. Some quite fun upbeat tunes ... Work It (obvs) and kinda like Back In the Day feat. Jay-Z for the funk mo-town undercurrents
3.4 Thought she was a 1 hit wonder. Actually enjoyed this as a whole album. Some great tunes in here
Not usually my taste, but unexpectedly brought me in.
It starts off really fun, lots of references to the old school. A good jam but only a couple really good songs. Riding on the edge between 3 and 4. On a 10 point scale it would be a 7 but not an 8.
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.
After writing a review about how Missy's debut album didn't really show off her prowess, this album comes in a few albums later and she is obviously much more fleshed out as an entity, fully in her female rapping power. This album is home to the infamous "Work It", which may be the the most famous song ever to have a backwards snippet in it. I remember when this song came out, there was so much speculation about what she was saying at that part and what effect was being used...it was literally just as simple as "put your thing down flip it and reverse it", reversed. Makes sense. A particularly moving part of the album is "Can You Hear Me", in which she addresses fellow female R&B and hip-hop legends like Lisa Left Eye and and Aaliyah. Anyway, it's great to hear Missy at her peak here; there's still plenty of features on the album, but unlike on her first album, she's in full control of the narrative and stage here.
## In-Depth Review: *Under Construction* by Missy Elliott Missy Elliott’s *Under Construction* (2002) stands as a pivotal album in hip-hop and R&B, blending nostalgia, innovation, and raw personal reflection. This review explores the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and concludes with a critical assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** Missy Elliott’s lyricism on *Under Construction* is both playful and profound. The album opens with Missy speaking candidly about the loss of Aaliyah and her disillusionment with the direction of hip-hop, immediately setting a tone of introspection and cultural critique[1][2]. Throughout the record, Elliott oscillates between braggadocio, humor, and vulnerability. - **Playful Wordplay:** On tracks like “Work It,” Missy employs clever reversals, double entendres, and even reverses her vocals, showcasing her inventive approach to language[1][3]. The song’s nonsensical hooks and playful delivery are balanced by sharp commentary on gender and sexuality. - **Social Commentary:** “Back in the Day” (featuring Jay-Z) reminisces about the “good old days” of hip-hop, lamenting the rise of violence and beef in the genre while paying homage to icons like Tupac, Dr. Dre, and Salt-N-Pepa[2][4]. - **Empowerment and Sexuality:** Songs such as “Pussycat” and “Nothing Out There For Me” (featuring Beyoncé) celebrate female sexuality and autonomy, with Missy unapologetically addressing desire and fidelity[2][4]. - **Grief and Resilience:** The album’s closing track, “Can You Hear Me?” (featuring TLC), is a heartfelt tribute to Aaliyah and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, reflecting on loss and the enduring strength of Black womanhood[2]. The lyrics throughout the album are marked by a blend of confidence, wit, and genuine emotion, making *Under Construction* both entertaining and deeply resonant. --- ## **Music and Production** The sonic landscape of *Under Construction* is a testament to the synergy between Missy Elliott and Timbaland, with Elliott also stepping up as a co-producer[1][5][6]. - **Old-School Homage:** The album deliberately references the sound and ethos of 1980s and 1990s hip-hop, using classic breakbeats (e.g., Bob James’ “Take Me To The Mardi-Gras” on “Work It”) and nods to early rap’s playful, experimental spirit[1][7]. - **Innovative Beats:** Timbaland’s production is as futuristic as it is nostalgic, blending spacey synths, off-kilter rhythms, and unconventional samples. Tracks like “Funky Fresh Dressed” use the reversed drum patterns from the Beastie Boys’ “Paul Revere,” further blurring the line between homage and innovation[1]. - **Versatility:** The album traverses a range of styles, from the dancefloor-ready “Work It” to soulful ballads and hard-hitting bangers. Even when Elliott takes the production reins, as on “Pass That Dutch,” she demonstrates a deft touch with sultry R&B jams and energetic club tracks[5]. - **Guest Features:** Collaborations with Jay-Z, Ludacris, Beyoncé, Method Man, and TLC add variety and depth, with Missy often outshining her guests through sheer charisma and lyrical dexterity[5][6]. Overall, the production is dense, inventive, and meticulously crafted, balancing accessibility with avant-garde flourishes. --- ## **Themes** *Under Construction* is thematically rich, addressing personal, cultural, and social issues. - **Reconstruction and Healing:** The album’s title and intro frame it as a work of self-repair and collective healing, especially in the wake of Aaliyah’s death and the September 11 attacks[1][2]. Missy uses music as a means to process trauma and advocate for a return to hip-hop’s roots. - **Nostalgia vs. Progress:** Missy’s reverence for old-school hip-hop is clear, but she refuses to be trapped by nostalgia. Instead, she channels the genre’s original spirit of creativity and fun, even as she critiques its contemporary flaws[1][2]. - **Female Empowerment:** Throughout the album, Missy asserts her autonomy, sexuality, and artistry in a male-dominated industry, offering a blueprint for empowerment and self-expression[2][3]. - **Community and Legacy:** By referencing fallen icons and collaborating with a diverse cast of artists, Missy situates herself within a broader lineage, honoring the past while pushing the genre forward[2]. These themes are woven seamlessly into the album’s fabric, giving *Under Construction* a sense of urgency and timelessness. --- ## **Influence** *Under Construction* is widely regarded as a landmark album in hip-hop and R&B. - **Critical and Commercial Success:** The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, went double platinum, and received Grammy nominations for Best Rap Album and Album of the Year[2][3]. - **Cultural Impact:** Tracks like “Work It” and “Gossip Folks” became cultural touchstones, influencing a generation of artists with their inventive production and unapologetic lyricism[3]. - **Trailblazing for Women:** Missy’s success with *Under Construction* further solidified her status as a trailblazer, especially for women in hip-hop, showcasing that commercial success and artistic innovation are not mutually exclusive[3]. - **Lasting Legacy:** The album’s blend of nostalgia and futurism has kept it relevant, with critics and fans alike citing it as one of the best hip-hop albums of the 2000s[6][2]. --- ## **Pros and Cons** ### **Pros** - **Inventive Production:** Timbaland and Missy’s beats are both nostalgic and forward-thinking, creating a soundscape that is uniquely their own[1][6]. - **Lyrical Versatility:** Missy’s lyrics are witty, empowering, and emotionally resonant, covering a wide range of topics from grief to sexuality[1][2]. - **Cohesive Themes:** The album’s focus on reconstruction, nostalgia, and empowerment gives it a strong conceptual backbone[2]. - **Iconic Singles:** “Work It,” “Gossip Folks,” and “Back in the Day” are standout tracks that remain influential and widely recognized[6][3]. - **Strong Features:** Collaborations with major artists add depth and variety without overshadowing Missy’s presence[5][6]. - **Cultural Significance:** The album’s impact on hip-hop, especially for women and marginalized voices, is profound and enduring[2][3]. ### **Cons** - **Inconsistent Ballads:** Some critics argue that the album’s slower, more saccharine ballads pale in comparison to its uptempo tracks and Timbaland’s signature funk, occasionally disrupting the album’s momentum[5]. - **Occasional Overreach:** Missy’s ambition to blend old-school homage with new-school innovation sometimes results in tracks that feel less focused or lack replay value[7]. - **Lyrical Repetition:** The frequent use of explicit language and recurring themes of wealth and sexual bravado may feel repetitive or alienating to some listeners[4]. - **Polarizing Content:** The album’s explicit lyrics and brash persona have drawn criticism from more conservative audiences, with some finding its empowerment messages overshadowed by vulgarity[4]. - **Not Her Absolute Peak:** While many consider *Under Construction* a high point, some critics and fans view it as slightly below the creative peaks of Missy’s earlier albums, citing less overall cohesion or innovation in certain tracks[5][7]. --- ## **Conclusion** *Under Construction* is a masterclass in balancing homage and innovation, personal reflection and cultural commentary. Missy Elliott’s fearless lyricism, combined with Timbaland’s genre-bending production, makes the album a standout in early 2000s hip-hop. Its influence endures, not just in the music itself, but in the doors it opened for future artists—especially women and Black creatives—seeking to redefine the boundaries of hip-hop and R&B. Despite minor criticisms regarding ballad quality and occasional thematic repetition, *Under Construction* remains a vital, joyous, and deeply human work. It is a celebration of hip-hop’s past, a critique of its present, and a blueprint for its future.
An undeniable classic. I have such a vivid memory of watching the Work It video on TRL and then begging my mom for hip hop lessons.
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
Love Missy. Already had a few of these songs saved, added a couple more I didn’t remember. Slide was the dark horse on this album for me.
Such a bop. Love Missy
Appreciate that she’s an icon and enjoyed the vibe of this album. Work It is great. There were a few others I liked but overall not my thing
Fun!
If this is under construction, I want to hear the finished product because this was banging
Nic pro me
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.
Hip hop retro. No es el meu estil.
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 went into Under Construction expecting not to enjoy it—this isn't a genre I typically gravitate toward. But to my surprise, I found myself not only enjoying the album, but replaying it several times in one day. There are some standout moments here. The star-studded collaborations with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and TLC bring variety and elevate several tracks. "Work It" in particular is a brilliant showcase of Missy Elliott’s creativity and energy. It's hard not to appreciate her originality and flow—she may well be the best female rapper out there. Favourite Tracks: The collaborations really shine. I especially enjoyed “Gossip Folks,” “Nothing Out There for Me,” and “Bring the Pain.” Least Favourite: Honestly, every track was worth a listen—there weren’t any obvious skips. Album Artwork: Not something I'd hang on my wall, but it suits the album's tone.
The album almost makes it to 2 stars, but it shoots itself in the foot too many times when it could have easily been avoided. Sacrificing musical complexity, song structure, instrumentation, melody, likability, and infinitely many other factors for the sake of... whatever this is... isn't worth it. Under Construction is yet another example where narration is very unhelpful for the listening experience. Intro / Go to the Floor is already not a particularly convincing track, and the musically barren first half doesn't help. Pussycat is a good track, but it's similarly dragged down infinitely by the monologue at the end. Again I question how some of these musically barren song segments made the final cut on an album that's already slightly bloated. The exact same problem happens in Can You Hear Me. Missy Elliott doesn't even have the goodwill to put these in their own discrete interlude tracks so that they're easier to skip. The latter track is the final one in the album, in which Elliott declares that she hopes you enjoyed, but doesn't care if you didn't. Man, are you *trying* to make your listeners despise you? The constant cutting of the melodic and harmonic parts of the instrumental is pretty jarring, and yet is consistent enough that I have to imagine Elliott thinks it sounds good. Go to the Floor does it every single bar, Bring the Pain makes the jump-cutting part of its hook... This is a common music trope in the 90s and it hasn't aged well. Separately, Missy Elliott's voice is pretty annoying, especially when she's rapping in the upper register. All in all, the sound comes across as amateur and indulgent in lyrics/attitude while completely neglecting musicianship and quality of composition. I doubt many artists would want to listen to Gossip Folks more than once, let alone cover it. Chronologically, the first decent track is Back in the Day – partly because Missy Elliott finally sings rather than using her obnoxious rap voice, and partly because the hook doesn't keep cutting out and disrupting the smooth funky experience. The music is continuous (lacking the very sudden silences that prevent the listener from properly grooving), for the most part. 1/5 Key tracks: Back in the Day, Funky Fresh Dressed, Play That Beat
Shout out to Trump! Beyoncé ruins everything
bah
Fine. Not my thing.
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
It’s 2000s hip hop, I’m not big on it, but there’s some good hooks here.
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.
It’s not for me
Mediocre. Some good listens but rap is not my ideal choice
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.
A fun album full of choppy keyboard and drum machine RnB pop rap beats in big party mode, braggadocios horny rhymes, and all-star cameos. Mixed in with some reflective personal tracks about embracing life in a new way the wake of loss. Too many annoying and weirdly defensive spoken interludes. Not as good and not as many undeniable hits as So Addictive but still a good time.
Pretty fun overall but does start to dip in quality around the halfway point.
Enjoyable. A lot more upbeat that most of the crap on here. Stand out songs - Work it and Slide
Low-key impressed by Under Construction which, although drenched in that early 00s Timbaland production, appears very progressive in its' themes. It's not difficult to see that many rappers 20 years later owe a great deal to Missy Elliott. This would probably be a 4 star review, had I been part of the target audience. Also, I could do without the intro and outro. 'Bring The Pain' is such a solid opener in its' own right.
It reeks of Timbaland (that’s not necessarily bad) and it’s hard to grasp the reason behind the spoken introduction (that, in the other hand, is quite bad). Apart from that there’s a lot to really like on Under Construction. The cast of guests is legendary but they somehow don’t take away from the talent of Missy Elliott.
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
Apart from Work It there was nothing that overly stood out for me. It wasn’t terrible or anything but it’s one of those albums I will have forgotten I listened to in a couple of weeks. Top Track - Work It
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
4/10. Charismatic but not my thing. That's about it. Song with Beyoncé was pretty good 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 🫠
Wow!
Obviously a millennial touchstone, great production and Missy’s flow still sounds fresh, inventive, and very funny. She really earned our love!!!!
For better or for worse, without Missy Elliott we wouldn’t have the late 2010s, early 2020s wave of female rappers. And you can hear that in this record. You can’t dismiss how influential this record is.
ICON. Absolutely love her. Work it with Ludacris is SO ICONIC. love love.
Missy is the best. So much fun, so engaging. I’m sure I’ll return to this, but I don’t know if it’s exactly legendary. Really good, though.
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
Miss review isch au na biz under construction. Aber weiss nöd öbs hüt na fertig gstellt wird oder öbs eher Stuttgart21 isch. Hed mir leider doch biz weniger gfalle als erwarted. Halt eifach zu alte hip-hop. Vlt au nur 2 sterne Ima so sorry
da hemmer ja grad chli en run von not-cköntri-und-rock wo sehr guet tuet mal – so machts spass missy machts für ihri girls seit sie im album, git chli kontra da im 2002 produced vom timbaland unter anderem seit da de wikipedia artikel und ich finde das ghörtmer au use isch nöd so boppy action gsi wie bim i-would-like-to-confirm-a-fanta-lite-please-brevvvvv skepta aber doch no nice zum chli lose segemer mal drü baustelle blinkliechter klaut fürd construction site
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
Черная женщина читает рэп
Catchy Hip-Hop. Always a pleasure. Makes the day go by really fast when I’m jamming to the fast pace cadences. “Work It” was the only song of Missy Elliott I was familiar with before this, and I believe it was the right song to get as big as it did. I was pleasantly surprised with the entire thing as a whole though. This was an album made in the wake of multiple tragedies in the USA, including 9/11 and the deaths of a number of prominent rappers in the scene, and Missy mentions all of them, with a somber yet hopeful undertone that we will all heal, slowly but surely. When she’s not rapping about some massive ass or getting laid, there are some surprisingly deep messages here. The features are also tremendous. Would put my thing down, flip it, reverse it, and listen to more of her stuff.
Two REALLY good songs and this rest are kinda meh
"This is another Missy Elliott exclusivvvveeee" that got really annoying towards the end lol. I think the features really shine on this album and some of the beats are really creative. Just not my style overall, would not wanna listen to it again
Eerste nummer geluisterd, gaan we lekker niet doen
Never much cared for the Missy Elliot singles that made it out into the world (except Gossip Folks…holy shit the kids in that video were dancing machines), but I did enjoy this album. She was ahead of her time as far as raunchy lady rappers go, but man did she miss the mark with that intro. “You don't see Bill Gates and Donald Trump arguing with each other 'Cause both of them got paper and they got better shit to do.” Man….I fucking wish that was case, Missy. I really, really, do 😔
I liked the rap songs. "Work It" and "Gossip Folks" still hold up for sure. Didn't care much for the slower R&B stuff or the talking intros/outros. 3.5 rounding down.
Još jedan dosadan i monoton album, ali ne mogu reći da je dosadan na nivou onog jučerašnjeg. Opet, bilo bi idealno dati 2.5 zvjezdice.
In comparison to the previous Supa Dupa Fly that we got to listen to, I'm more casually familiar with THIS version of Missy Elliot - very sharp and full of energy. I think she frontloaded this album with songs she figured would play on the dancefloor or radio; "Bring The Pain" has a hypnotic sample loop, "Gossip Folks" has Ludacris on it, then "Work It' is obviously wildly iconic for its innovative vocal and quirky delivery. I could see how hardcore early Missy fans coulda been mad at this release - its a departure for the more airy, mellow early stuff produced by Timbaland. This album has a selective, star-studded features list and everything. I can't say I get a lot more out of this presentation of Missy Elliot. I don't think it's way worse or anything, it's just after some of the best first few songs, you kinda get the message loud and clear. The good: Missy Elliot's vocal presence and confidence, some great samples in the production, and a few hit-worthy bops. And that insanely punchy beat on "Slide". The bad: an album made seemingly to appeal to a wider range of people Alright, 3/5!
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
Absolute banger
Solid stuff. 3.3
Legend
Ok
I like how she checks in on us from time to time lol
While I'm not much into Hip Hop, the music, beats, and production are quite good. The lyrics are not so much, though I appreciate her departure from all this gangsta BS that was so popular back in those days.
Wow. Beyond the two singles (which are bangers) this album was non-stop. Really surprised how much I enjoyed it. Love that early 2000s hip-hop sound. Probably a 4.5 but I'll round up
Shitty pop rap. No. Sound is interesting, but those vocals... Just NO.
My first Missy Elliott album despite knowing of her and her legacy for so long. It was fine. Work It was a bop, Jay-Z had a fun feature, and I liked the story telling with Beyonce. I understand some of the "disclaimers" on the tracks but I wish they were individual tracks; It doesn't work smoothly in the streaming playlist era.
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.
Strong female hip hop voice. Catchy tunes.
Makes sense why the singles were chosen. The rest is meh to fine.
I liked this better than the other Missy album but I still didn’t really care about it. Some of the songs could kinda bump and the guest verses were cool (especially Luda) though
2 Missy Elliot albums that I must hear before I die? There are some highs here, missy is a talented rapper and the production is mostly pretty good. But she sure is corny, and sone of the songs on here are borderline unlistenable.
"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
Ok
Better than 4, not quite 5
Quite goof
🎧Wish all the tracks were as good as Work It
Nö!
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.
I really enjoyed the clips of her talking at the beginning and between some songs - the whole album felt like a time capsule to 2001-2, and it was cool to hear from Missy about what she was thinking at the time she was recording & releasing it. Work It obviously is a classic for a reason but other standouts for me were Gossip Folks, Nothin Out There For Me, and Slide. Pussy at was by far the weakest track, but everything else was so good, whatever. Joyful and fun, with real depth and an artist who’s not afraid to take risks while giving it 150%. Loved listening, will play it again many times, AND I feel like I got an education on a very particular moment in hip hop history. Thanks Missy.
Blind album and artist. I did not like her voice at all, and this album dragged hard for me. Skits and speeches were kind of cool, but no from me overall.
I don't understand why anyone would like this.
I'm reaching for the off switch seconds into each track. Unlistenable.
An album from my teens. I remembers a lot of the songs from the radio and MTV. Great listening to them again. The songs that weren't as successful I kind of get why now. They aren't straight up bad. They just don't hit as hard.
3.6 good but a bit too explicit for my taste
FINALLY, some fun Missy. The skit brought it down, but I really enjoyed this experience.
Bops
Second Missy album on the list, even better...damn didn't knew I liked it at all!
Lots of fun! Parts of it very of its time but she's one of my favorites of late90s/early00s rap
2.36
Solid record. I like her style.
Likte da egentlig ganske dårlig
iconic - liked more than i thought i would
Once again as it is with all hip hop… It is not a genre that I enjoy very much, but I do appreciate her talent
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!
Never was huge on Missy, and listening to this album confirms it to me again. I’ll give her a bonus star because I’ve spent too much time perfecting the reverse section of Work It and then playing it back in reverse. That song still slaps.
Hmm. It terrible. I was thinking to myself give me this over Beyoncé album anytime. Then Beyoncé had a feature. Highlight was the Paul revere sample, which oddly enough was two albums ago. Great song. Again not terrible, kinda of enjoyed it.
Not my jam...
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.
I like her so I have some bias I'll admit...
She's so smooth god damn I thought every track was fucking incredible, bar the one with Jay-Z and Work It She's so underrated as a rapper. I never hear name mentioned with the greats. She's a phenomenal artist
Some fun songs on this. Her production is distinct and the beats are really good. Album loses steam a bit near the end. 3.5/5 Might listen again
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.
Albumi #196, 10.04.2025 Under Construction on Missy Elliottin neljäs albumi ja se julkaistiin vuonna 2002. Perus r&b hip hopia. Ei ole mun juttu.
Eigenlijk ben ik hier vrij snel na het gesproken intro al klaar mee. Ik heb hier helemaal niks mee. De boodschap (als die er al in zit) boeit me niet, ik vind de beats op dit album relatief saai (een enkele uitzondering daargelaten). Zo'n track als Pussycat vind ik enorm cringe. Net als het "This is a Missy Elliott exclusive" op elke track. Het Missy Elliott nummer met de meest iconische beat staat niet op dit album (Get Ur Freak On). Op dit album heb je dan nog wel 'Work It' als hoogtepunt, wat op zich nog wel een gaaf nummer is, met een gave clip ook. Ik zit al te diep in m'n rant om daar nog echt oog voor te hebben. Wat ik ook bizar vind is dat ik me de tijd nog herinner dat deze muziek uitkwam en toen klonk het nog alsof ze (Missy en Timbaland) hun tijd vooruit waren, maar als je het nu luistert klinkt het toch aardig gedateerd. Misschien onderschat ik dit album gruwelijk, maar ik heb er, op 'Work It' na, helemaal niks mee. En die track kan dit album voor mij niet redden. Ik heb elke track getwijfeld om de boel af te zetten. En heb hem in 2 etappes geluisterd uiteindelijk. Het is helemaal zwart voor m'n ogen inmiddels. En ze staat verdomme twee keer in deze lijst. 1 ster.
Super solid productie, paar bangers, best wat rnb cuts die minder mn ding zijn, wel enjoyable. 7/10
Feels like inauthentic hip hop trying to get attention
The greatest female rapper of all time delivered a gem. This right here is prime 2000s Hip Hop featuring some of the most influential rappers of the decade. Favorite Track: "Gossip Folks".
Made my butt move around while I worked
I like some (most?) of this album, a few of the tracks are a little underwhelming. Missy is a good lyricist, but sometimes it feels a little repetitive. 3+ stars, but I’m not quite feeling it enough to round up to 4.
Eh, it was fine. Wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t really grab me
This was just ok, beyond Work it -- they didn't really feel like the Missy Elliot.
Good fun! Strong first half with some great beats and flow. Lost me a bit in the second half as not really connecting with the more R&B stuff. Standout tracks: Gossip Folks, Slide
Queen
Enjoyable. Missy is definitely a groundbreaker
Future perfect.
Is it worth it, lemme work it. Better tracks around that song than you’d think.
It was fine
Неплохой альбом и типичный хип-хоп того времени. Одно то, что в 2002 году женщина записала трек с 50 cent, так ещё и не хуже него, было революционным и производило приятно удивление.
Missy's rap game is strong. Even though this isn't my genre I enjoyed it very much. Definitely an album that should be included in this list.
Not bad, over 20 years old and still sounds modern. A lot of great features kept the track list fresh. Some tracks were forgettable and the intro / outtro tracks were a little silly for my taste. 3/5
Bangers a-plenty. Really enjoyed this, although the spoken word bits sound like an earnest podcast. Tunes though!
After the recent string of hip-hop records, I was dreading another dense, drawn-out dirge of muddy drum-programming and diarrhetic flow, but I really enjoyed this. Missy is funny ("You soggy-breasted cow stomachs!"), musical (Back in the Day may be awkward nostalgia, but she can sing), and refreshingly sincere - skits are always embarrassing, but Missy's commentary here is sweet and tender. Timbaland's production is sharp and the beats are genuinely bounce, when so much 00s radio hip-hop sounds like grinding robots. The samples are neatly integrated into the whole and the features are all good - who is that kid on Gossip Folks? I don't know that I understood much of it. This rating might go up or down depending on if I ever understand what is happening. For now, it is enough that, after I did my due diligence, I put it on again, thankful for access to all these Missy Elliott exclusives. 3 This wasn’t exactly ‘Good’, in any sense of the word, but I must say it was entertaining. For one, I really didn’t see the twist coming when the ‘fuck poor people’ track transitioned into a reflection on loss and the nature of the afterlife. It was funny, possibly unintentionally, and touching. Intention, generally, is difficult to untangle on this album. In recent weeks I have been disgusted at the frankly psychotic misogyny on open display in the lyrics of Eminem and 50 Cent. Despite the (seeming) protestations and clarifications of the odd spoken word sections my sense after a couple of listens is that Missy Elliot’s material not only doesn’t challenge their poisonous worldview but enthusiastically collaborates with it. Perhaps there are performative nuances or an element of irony that I have missed; I note this was ME’s 4th album, well it was the first I’ve listened to. Setting aside my repeated moral repulsion I quite enjoyed some of this, even where the musical content of the backing was a beat and a short, chromatic loop. Missy Elliot has a fascinating voice - singing and rapping - from which she builds mesmerising collages of syllables and heavy breaths. Sometimes she will suddenly turn rapping into snippets of sweetly harmonised melody. Sometimes the words are completely incomprehensible but the texture of the vocal fascinates enough to carry the track through (Gossip Folks). Sometimes it put me in mind of the many-voiced rantings of the demon in the Exorcist; as long as you can ignore the psychological attack, the slanders about your mother etc, you could listen with interest for hours (there is even some backwards stuff!) Credit to Timbaland’s production as well - I am a complete sucker for big compressed synths playing chromatic riffs over heavy beats; I enjoyed Gossip Folks and Work It - Slide was my favourite thing here. 2.5/5
Definitely in the upper tier of this era of hip hop to me… I just don’t love this era of hip hop all that much. Was she making this album when 9/11 happened and then went back to add reference to it? It seems that way to me.
Well produced early 00s hip-hop album by Missy, it was an ok listen, but I didn't really like the more r'n'b influences (e.g. the song with Beyonce). I'm not too much into hip-hop and I prefer the 90s hip-hop more than this, so I'll stick with a 2 star.
The best message of any early 2000's main stream rap album with no loss in swagger and a noticeable bump in production. Amazing.
Missy Elliott is my guilty pleasure - paving the way for the likes of doja cat, Megan thee stallion, cardi b and all those artists.
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🧥📻🏙️ Production: 🥾😲👌 Music: 🛫🏅⌛ Rating: 🚧🚧(🚧)/5
Day436 - i come into each day with an open mind but not even ludicris and method man can get me to enjoy missy elliott
The samples are great, Missy is great, the beats are excellent. Yes.
Honestly this was just ok. Not really a big fan of her music outside of her hits like "Work It". Don't get me wrong, some songs are pretty solid, like "Back in the Day", but others kinda miss the mark, especially "Hot". 5/10.
No me es fácil darle nota a este álbum. Las letras son muy originales, sobre todo en Work It, incluyendo iconos auditivos e incluso frases pronunciadas al revés. Buenos mensajes, muy buena producción, y es un álbum que al parecer tuvo gran influencia entre muchas artistas de hip hop que estarían por venir. Además, las numerosas colaboraciones son muy buenas, con artistas de gran calibre como Jay-Z, 50 Cent o Beyoncé. Por otro lado, el R&B nunca ha sido mi estilo favorito, y este álbum es básicamente hip hop combinado con R&B noventero. Me he cansado bastante rápido de él, y encima es un álbum bastante largo. Creo que, a estas alturas, su sonido se ha quedado bastante anticuado y no me dice gran cosa. Aprecio las partes buenas que tiene, pero no son suficientes para darle mejor nota.
Simply annoying HipHop album.
7/10. I feel like for me this album is more than the sum of its parts. Of course the songs are good, solid hip hop beats and some nice flows but as a while I was a big fan. The monologues at the beginning and end are great and an there's an absolute star studded feature list as well so overall I think it just comes together well. And it's fun too, no less exhibited by the iconic track 'Work It'. Definitely deserves it's solid score.
Very dated early noughties RnB and Hip Hop record. Not necessarily bad, as there are some tracks that sound great, and the many features on here add something unique to each song. However, that's about it for the positives - Missy Elliott seems to talk a lot about not a lot - whether lyrically or in her many meandering monologues. Many beats on this also are too reminiscent of early 00s nightclub fillers. Best Tracks: - Bring The Pain - Nothing out There for Me Worst Tracks: - Intro / Go to the Floor - Pussycat - Play That Beat Rating: 3/10
American dog shit
Solid jams throughout, even if it’s a bit cheese ball at times. “Work it” and “Gossip Folks” are songs I often listen to to hype myself up before something scary (like a job interview). So far, it’s worked. Thanks, Missy. 🥰a proper 3.5.
I think we can all agree elements of that intro have not aged well. It’s super important that this is here; I’m simply not within its audience.
Sounded pretty dated unfortunately. Not a huge fan
Man I'm digging the albums from my millennial age! I was never really that into Missy Elliott, but this was a good album and I enjoyed it for what it was, there were some things that didn't age very well but alas that's how things go! Overall a decent album
Fun mix of old school and futurism that holds up alright 23 years later. Missy and Timbaland were on fire around the millennium shift. But just like her other records - the hits are enough for me, I don’t need the rest.
Well, what can you say about this? On the face of it not a lot. For what it is, it's OK. Questionable subject matter and lyrics. But not really for me. Worth more than a one, but only just.
It was better than I thought! Apart from the preaching.
I cant think of any positives for this album whatsoever, so I won't pretend there are any. I do struggle with rap/ hip-hop at the best of times, but if you are going to release a 'work in progress', then please show me ears the decency of finishing it before final release.
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.
Fucking Banger "It still sounds incredibly fresh, in all meanings of the word," observed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' guitarist, Nick Zinner.