Reviews (page 6 of 8)
I recognize that she is incredibly well liked and famous and etcétera, however she was not my type of music. There were few songs I enjoyed and I just couldn’t really get behind it.
Missy is a good rhythmic rapper, which I like (as opposed to spitting a million words a minute ala Eminem) but I don't really like any of the songs...which (obviously) defeats the entire premise. For the most part it's the production/mix which is awful - way too hot for my preference - understatement as its actually annoying and painful to listen to especially in headphones. As for Missy herself, she's technically good but I don't get anything in terms of legit emotion or power and I actually don't like her voice. Plus these lyrics - god. Beyond cringe. Not even funny in a stupid middle school way, just embarrassing. I can see how she was influential - as well as the album - but I don't like it at all and had a lot of trouble getting through it. Probably should give 2 stars for influence but an easy 1 for me personally.... 3/10 1 star
I feel like timbo didn’t bring it…idk Best song pussycat?
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.
63/100 Better than I was expecting
Very good and a real throw back for me. 4
Can she work it? Yes, she can. An absolute belter of an album.
I didn't like it. But I'll probably give it a listen later in life!
Well finding out that I adore Missy Elliott has been a real discovery from this listening project. It's so, so fun.
3.5
SO good. some classics like work it, and some amazing features including a maiden named beyonce. What's not to like.
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.
Standouts: Work It, Gossip Folks, Back in the Day, Slide 3.5
Strong 4
As the title and the opening track outlines, this is an exhibition of an artist that needs some improvements. Half of this album is Elliott getting indiscriminately angry, and the other half is her describing (often vulgarly) her sex appeal, which she defends in a strange PSA in the middle of the album. Both of these halves fit into the general theme of Elliott gloating about herself. So, does the quality of the album warrant the narcissism in the lyrics? Not particularly. Some songs are up there rivalling the old-school hip-hop that inspired the album, and some are a serious chore to listen to.
Very much enjoyed it!!
No, sorry. I don't like rap. I tried, really I did - but it's awful and I hate it.
Hiphoppia ja RnB:tä. Hiphopit parempia. Hyvät biitit niissä. Fast and Furious tyyli. Parhaat: Bring the Pain, Work It, Slide,
Actually better than I expected. Prob not a must listen but not bad. The pussycat song is insane.
This one captured my attention right away and held it.
Another cool album
Nothing wrong with this album, but probably not going to return to this
Chucha yo como no he escuchado esta man todavía, absolutely goated
Mrs. Missy Elliot the woman that you are... Que proyecto tan interesante, lleno de elementos del hip-hop más duro. Los beats e instrumentales deberían ser estudiados por muchos de nuestra generación y los features no se quedan para nada atrás. Desde el intro hasta Nothing out There for Me con BEYONCE hace un fucking 7 song run impecable. Almost no skips, muy divertido. 10/10.
One time I was on at a club with my girlfriend, Missy Elliott came on, she looked at me said "MISSY ELLIOT?", we then left. Work it is kind of a cool song tho Best Song: Work it Worst Song: Ain't That Funny
I was more entertained by the features
Feels like the early 2000s was an awkward time for hip hop, these beats don't sound fresh despite some big name collabs. Production is boring and Missy's lyrics are making me cringe. Really awful opening and closing monologues too. Leave this one in the past.
Probably a significant upgrade compared to the other Missy Elliott album included in this list (her debut LP, if I'm not mistaken). But still quite derivative overall. Timbaland was (is?) a hell of a producer, of course--someone very skilled and talented. But as nice and effective as his arrangements and production values are, they still point to everything that now sounds dated when it comes to early-naughts hip hop / r'n'b. I'd rather listen to current rap artists to be honest. Or go back to the nineties. Because this 'middle ground' between the two periods now sounds so 'generic' that it loses the impact it supposedly had at the time... About some of the words I've just used in this first paragraph... First, I want to point out that being "derivative" isn't necessarily a dishonour when you're a singer or a musician. It's just that having some sort of polished cover version of Method Man's "Bring The Pain" as track number 2--almost ten years after the original track was released--is maddeningly devoid of imagination, let's not lie to ourselves here. And it's not because Method Man himself comes to cash in a check as a featured artist that the idea suddenly becomes acceptable. Also, what's with this huge letdown that the overlong first song is? This record doesn't start well at all. Not a good omen in this genre... Missy Elliot is a gifted lyricist and a stellar performer, don't get me wrong. You need someone like her during the naughts to have Little Simz or Cardi B today. Yet musically speaking, this record has few original highlights. Famous single "Work It" is fine, I guess. "Gossip Folks" (featuring Ludacris) is extraordinary. And on the second half of the record, "Slide" is pretty great. But that's about it when it comes to sheer originality mixed with effective touches. The rest of the songs sure is "effective" but you feel like you've heard that sort of pop / r'n'b / rap drivel a thousand times before. And I have a sneaking suspicion that I would have felt the same way if I had listened to this album when it was released, in 2002. Everthing is so goddamn predictable. You even have featurings by Mr. and Mrs. Carter, mandatory for any "big" hip hop name between 2000 and 2005. The track featuring Jay Z is admittedly quite fine, and it's always a joy to hear Beyoncé's voice, even though I'm more excited by her 2010s output, or 2022's *Renaissance*, or the upcoming *Cowboy Carter* album, than anything she's done during the naughts--bar "Crazy In Love", of course. So here I am rambling about things unrelated to *Under Construction*. A sure sign that this album can't be "essential" to me, as well-crafted as it is. And it seems to me that having too many commercial hip hop albums from this period of time does a disservice to the whole genre. Unless you go for truly cool, interesting underground stuff such as MF DOOM / Madvillain or EL-P. But I guess that's a story for another time, kiddies. 2.5/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential records", rounded up to 3. Which translates to a 7.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5+2.5). Next, please. Number of albums left to review: 247 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 326 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 193 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 242 (including this one)
2.5/5
Hip hop hooray
Missy Elliott cracks me up. Her lyrics and style are always so playful and she's really the only artist from this era of hip hop I look forward to listening to. I don't really know any of her albums well other than the singles, but I liked this one and would play it again.
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
This was decent. I appreciate the message behind the album even if most of the album wasn’t really my vibe.
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.
The most redeeming qualities of this album were the artists that were featured on the tracks.
same as most other 90s / 2000s rap albums. just fine
Timbaland with the slick production and Missy at top of her game
A great listen. Had not heard it before.
Work it on niin hyvä. Tää albumi ei sattumalta tainnut tulla meille naistenpäivä-ish? Selkeä sanoma nimittäin. Juttelut ei kyllä ärsyttäneet, ne oikeastaan tekivät tästä kokonaisuuden, ihan erin mitä olis ilman niitä ollut. Ja minä pidin siitä!!
Yksi listan yllättäjistä, mutta miksi? Jos joku, ömm, Kendrick olisi vetänyt näitä huolella valmisteltuja biisejä, kaikki olisivat pähkinöinä. Kielellisen ymmärryksen ylittävä hittikertsi: check.
Better than I thought it would be
Timbaland and Missy Elliott MIGHT just be a better duo than Timbaland and AI Biggie.
This review is a Missy Elliott exclusive. Y'know, I'd be lying if I said a lot of the thoughts I had while I was listening to this album didn't have anything to do with the top-voted review on this website. Well, "review" in quotes, because it's not really one. It's a track-by-track stream-of-consciousness where they list off every complaint they have, presumably in real time. That sort of method just feels unfair to me. Like, sure, it's not as bad here as the "review" of THE FRAGILE that's over on Pitchfork, but if you're gonna try and formulate and structure your thoughts, then what's the point? What does anyone gain from this? I don't wanna make this whole review about that one, but lemme at least address the point where I stopped reading: right at the top, where they say "Shut and sing ffs." Before I heard the album, I thought they meant "Stop rapping; I just want to hear you sing." However, it turns out they were referring to a minute-long spoken introduction before the first song. Which I'm fine with, myself. This is a rap album, so they're allowed to have something like that. The words and what they mean matter more in this genre than any other (except maybe folk), and I liked being given some context directly from the artist themself. If this was a rock album, I think I'd have more of a problem with it. I mean, heck, I enjoy that one she has in the middle of the album, with the bit about Prince. Although, that said, it's not like Missy Elliott is a master lyricist. I don't think she's aiming to be one, but there's a lot of weird lines sometimes. Sometimes they hit, like on "Work It" (buh-dunk-a-dunk-dunk), but then you have that weird bit in "Pussycat" where she asks if she can put her ass on your spaghetti. And it's not like the featured MCs aren't any better a lot of the time, either; you hear that "solid water" bar from JAY-Z on "Back In The Day"? If that don't remind me of Nicki's whole "duct tape" bit on "Only". Plus, I can imagine how revolutionary Timbaland's production was back in the day, but here in 2024 it can sound pretty damn wacky at times. Of course, when it hits, it hits hard. It's just, when you take it together with some of the aforementioned lyrics... It's got weak spots, to say the least. As a sit-down-and-listen-to-it experience, anyway. I'm sure if you throw these on at a party people would indeed get on the floor. The album ends with another monologue from Missy (if you don't count the remix of "Work It", anyway), where she says, among other things, that she doesn't give a shit if anyone doesn't like her album. The "review" (and I checked, just to make sure I wasn't putting anything in their mouth) I read shrugs it off with an "OK." I can just hear their eyes rolling. And it's not like I can't see why someone, especially someone who doesn't like hip hop as that person admits, wouldn't dig this. I'm not giving this a 3 for nothing, after all. My problem isn't the negativity in and of itself. It's just that I feel like it doesn't add anything to the conversation. Complaining by itself, without much substance beyond it, is pretty useless. But then again, despite all I've said, I probably shouldn't care. I mean, if Missy doesn't care what they'd say, even as hard as I know it'd be for me to ignore it, I shouldn't either.rehtie t'ndluohs I ,ti erongi ot em rof eb d'ti wonk I sa drah sa neve ,yas d'yeht tahw erac t'nseod yssiM fi ,naem I
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.
Not my thing but equally, if I was at a shit club I would be praying for something like this to come on
Lasted until the end of Work It. After reading that that song won a Grammy Award, and was named the 56th greatest song *of all time* by Rolling Stones, I realised that this stuff is like landing on an alien world and just not being able to understand any of it so what's the point in trying. It sounds utter, utter, shite.
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
A fun nostalgia trip
Doesn’t feel dated. Missy definitely doesn’t get enough credit.
i actually listened to this for the first time a few weeks ago after getting Missy’s debut Supa Dupa Fly. very fun to listen to.
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!
Dont like that kind of music
I'm sure I didn't need to know that this was another Missy Elliott exclusive. On the one hand, I love the girl power vibe in a boy's world. Sex positivity, woman in charge here. Cool. On the other hand, I don't like swagger rap, and that makes up over half the album. Not my thing. Back in the Day is easier for me to listen to. It tells a story external to the persona of the artist. I get along better with that. Nothing out There for Me is a bop. Can You Hear Me is really touching. The woman is a powerhouse, no doubt about it. But seriously, y'all: is the "Missy Elliott exclusive" thing a bit? Am I missing the joke?
First things first, "Work It" is an absolute top-tier early-2000s banger. Iconic song. Outside of that, this is pretty fine but maybe a bit unexceptional to me. It's generally a pretty smooth sound, rap but definitely a bit of an R&B type feel to a good bit of it. There's a lot of A-list appearances on this too (Jay-Z, Ludacris, Beyonce). Maybe not a shocker, but they lyrics are very explicit. "Pussycat" is definitely not beating around the bush much. There's a few funny spoken word asides too (one on the end of "Pussycat" and then another on the intro song where at one point she says "You don't see Bill Gates and Donald Trump arguin' with each other / 'Cause both of 'em got paper and they got better shit to do / Get more paper"; that's quite the 2002 statement). Also she dedicated this to Aaliyah and the 9/11 victims, so there's that. Generally a fine album, about what I was expecting. I don't see any real reason to listen to the full thing again, but there's some solid song on here. Favorite song: Work It Other: Bring the Pain, Back in the Day, Funky Fresh Dressed, Nothing out There for Me, Slide 2/22/24
Why have I only heard the hits? Great album. Timbaland at his best too. Before he became a parody of himself.
WOW, <3 Missy Intro/ Go to the Floor - Message is authentic and raw, you can tell Missy is above the bullshit and on some. Set it Off!!!! Coming out swinging She delivers both smash radio hits and introspective emotional tracks on the album. As she said it herself, she is "Under Construction" working on herself and I'm here for it. You can hear Missy's influence in pretty much every female hip hop artist out now. They all want to be flashy and spit bars, but they lean too heavy on sexuality 🍑 to sell records and unfortunately that works (discussion for another place/time). Missy uses a fresh combo of funk, RnB mashups, old school hip hop, and her own Missy style to Bring the Pain and WORK IT! Combine her flow with production from Timbaland... shyyytttt it's a wrap... game, set, match! 🎾 I need a glass of water after this one 🥵🔥
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.
I actually enjoyed it way more than I thought. So nasty, so saucy. Loved the guest vocalists on this one.
Wow! This is the ME album that I was looking for. Great all around wonderful.
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.
Tycker alla låtar låter likadant. Inte riktigt min grej.
• Ser ut som ett tidigt 2000 rapalbum, och korridoren på Tingsholm • Intressant att ha ett Intro som förklarar känslan/syftet bakom albumet, nämner också han där Trump • Inte min favorit typ av rap (tidig 2000) det här • (feat. många olika artister) Betyg: Jag ska va ärlig, jag orkade ej spendera min fritid på att lyssna klart på de sista 30 minutrarna => 1/5
Helt okej ändå. Kul att hon pratar lite mitt i albumet o grejer. Låter som hon är en rimlig dam. Lite gungigt o grejer. Känns som det borde vara med i GTA eller något. Hade jag varit lite äldre hade nog nostalgi vunnit över mig till en 3:a men ack om så vore fallet.
Not really my thing. There are a couple of good songs.
Fun party album.
I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. It had some great collabs with Methodman and Jzee that I really enjoyed and I have added into my liked Spotify songs playlist.
i like this but the spoken word bits spoiled it a bit. giving it 4 anyway as work it is great.
One of the best albums to come out of the early 2000’s
Missy’s and Timbaland’s beats and creativity are impressive as always. She merges a very old school style of rapping with production that was way ahead of its time. She was a shot in the arm for hip-hop and is an amazing talent. All that being said, this album has some real duds on it. This is more “Work It”-and-Friends than an actual album. But “Work It” is such a great song that it’s hard to be too mad about that. I think Missy, like many rappers, is a single-oriented artist rather than someone focused on making a cohesive album. I think someone dying having never heard “Work It” would have really missed out, but this album? You’d be alright giving it a pass.
Straight fucking bangin’. Really really tasty shit
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.
it was ok but i got bored. sorry missy. loved the first few songs
Good Drum and Bass
If you need to do an intro and frequent interruptions justifying and explaining your album, it’s probably rubbish. If you don’t believe enough in your own art to let it speak for itself, I’m not going to take it seriously. Also, what’s with the “this is a Missy Elliot exclusive” intro on every song? It’s your album! We know whose fucking song it is! PS - I agree, fuck Bill O’Reilly
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.
Fuck me thank god it's over.
Really didn't care for the intro, just get on with it missy! If I wanted background to the album I would have read it on Wikipedia. Then she starts talking half way through the album why?? Appreciated Ludacris and Jay-z turning up for cameos. And they probably saved this album from being at the bottom of my ratings.
I didn’t hate it but it didn’t do anything to blow me away. It felt like an album with an idea and theme but it may have gone over my head. Liked back in the day but I just didn’t feel inspired by the album.
Good concept album. Everything was very listenable, and Work It is a smash hit.
Xtra-låtar borde inte ha varit med.. samma catchy låt som på själva skivan.. höjdpunkten är tagen, men det är en sällsynt jävla låt som är rolig.. Du spelade den två gånger, fan, förstår du fan ljudet av din skit, den blandade rösten, oh shit, oh fy, jag har roligt med mitt liv de senaste dagarna när jag lyssnar på den här skiten, jag kör bil, annars är boken oavslutad, det är vad min pojke säger huhhuh
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
Not my thing.
I am no fan of hip-hop so am not qualified to judge this album. It seems representative of the music of the time.
I had heard the singles, overall the full album was more consistent than I would have expected. I don't really love this era of rap, but it was alright
Best bit was a few bars of Jay Z
Would have given this another star but THIS IS A MISSY ELLIOTT EXCLUSIVE
Okay
I generally appreciate Missy Elliott's music but for some reason a whole album isn't doing it for me.
missy elliott and timbaland is a great combination
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.
Well, this was exceptional, wasn’t it? I was especially pleased with the transition from yesterday’s outstanding album…I couldn’t have dreamed it up any better!
Fun samples and catchy beats with lyrics that are clever, sexy, and heartfelt. Missy Elliott has swagger and this album is fantastique!
Not completely my bag but I enjoyed it. Didn't love everything but really liked a lot of things.
Great album that I have never heard before. Obviously I have heard a few songs from it but never the whole thing. Not necessarily my thing but I would probably listen to it again.
Yet more Hip-Hop? The only thing that really differentiates this from all the other Hip-Hop albums is that this is "sung" by a woman.
Mm
2/5. Should have edited out the talking bits. It cheapens the album. By a lot.
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
Missy feels like a guest on her own album, with collaborators like Beyonce, Method Man, and Jay-Z feeling like generic deep cuts from their own albums. "Gossip Girl" is another example, a very Ludacris-style song, but that one is actually good. "Pussycat" is a weird example of an out-of-place neo-soul track that has nothing of value except smoothly transitioning to the Beyonce track. "Work It" is by far the best track on the record, and one of her best songs. Excellent display of her rapping skills, personality, and Timbaland's production work, with plenty of quirks to blow you away. We don't get to see more of this style until "Slide" for the last 4 tracks, and it's nice to hear that distinctive abrasive electric style, but they do feel pretty weak. Missy is a great rapper, and has some great production work on this record. But the songs are weak and inconsistent, feeling a bit forced to appeal to mainstream audiences. If you want a Method Man song or a Jay-Z song with Missy on it, there you go. But otherwise, there's nothing of value besides "Gossip Folks" and "Work It".
I liked this. Even if it’s a bit dated
She's good, but this album was not for me.
good and solid made hip hop
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.
Not a huge fan
Lotta fun.
I was totally prepared to hate this album but I cannot. It was surprisingly good.
Early 2000s rap scene is something we all would like to forget ("we" being me and probably few more people somewhere in the World). Unfortunately, this list like a constant reminder just how awful that time has been. Missy Elliott missed a lot with Under Construction. It's a below average adventure through mediocre beats and underwhelming flow. I just want to get out of this ride (which I have done after 5 songs).
I’m not a hip hop fan.
Not into rap/hip hop.
Incredible record
So much fucking fun. Peak Timbaland production. Missy being great. And the entire album is just dedicated to old school fun hip hop. Love it
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
It’s a good album, and I think Missy Elliot deserves inclusion on this list. My only complaint, is that 80% of the songs start with “THIS IS A MISSY ELLIOT EXCLUSIVE”, I don’t get it.
Go to the Floor - i don't think i have actively listened to Missy Elliott. i don't like this intro, but i get it. sucks that 2002 is little to no different 21 years later. Trump and Gates not giving a shit cause they make too much money? yeah (3/5 i'm starting at a 3 because i don't understand Missy Elliott's flow yet. Eminem Shake That? Ass Like That) Bring the Pain - oh Method Man. so far Missy Elliott has a very chill remix beat vibe with smooth rap flow. (4/5 i love M-E-T H-O-D Man the spelling is fun. feel like Fergie) Gossip Folks - this is so 00s. it kinda hurts. (3/5 i like the rough raw rap stuff, the content is not for me though. god the lyrics are so dated* holy shit) Work It - i only know the one line. i didn't know the song though (4/5 this would have been popping at the skate rink) Back in the Day - Jay-Z sounds the same. this is just a chill rap song more hip hop than rap in my opinion. (3/5 i don't think i like this.) Funky Fresh Dressed - this is the raw rap flow i like. (4/5 i vibe with it) Pussycat - the RnB side. this is okay. a flirty song (3/5 eh. this is literally what Megan Thee and CupcakKe said) Nothing out There for Me - this was before Beyonce was Beyonce? damn i cannot believe this is early Beyonce. (3/5 only because Beyonce talks about Jay Z like that a lot and he does not deserve it) Slide - i'm going to be honest. if i listen to one more Missy Elliott song on this Missy Elliott albums start with "Missy Elliott exclusive" i sure fucking hope it is???? (1/5 for reminding me after the last song. this goes kinda hard though) Play That Beat - i legit will stop listening to this album if the next song opens with "Missy Elliott exclusive" 1/5 Ain't That Funny - thin ice because it TECHNICALLY did not open with "Missy Elliott Exclusive" 2/5 Hot - alright it broke me. if this album took the time in intermissions to bother me, i'd be okay. this album is good, but the talking or something could have been edited. it only bothered me a lot toward the end, i get that rappers have their sign-on and sign-off thing that they do sometimes to tell you who is on the track. but come on. i'm listening to Missy Elliott on a Missy Elliott album. i know who you are. and honestly i have to drop it to a 3/5 for that cause it took up too much of my time and didn't even flow well enough into the song that i could just ignore it. *they are so far not negative dated
Just not for me. I appreciate that Missy came on the scene when there were few female rappers but I just don’t enjoy the sound.
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Best track: Gossip Folks
Elliot fait du hip-hop?! Pis c’t’une madame??!!
Better than I expected. Decent album over all.
I tried, I really did but I couldn't get through this album. Absolutely horrible.
Fun album, liked it more than I thought I would! Of course, I heard Work It years ago, but never bothered to listen the album. But it’s actually pretty good! Some nice features, good beats, pristine mix, good lines and wordplay. 7,5 out of 10
It’s ok, but not really my brand of music.
“Is it worth it?”, he asked “Let me work it”, she replied. And thus, he put his thing down, flipped it, and reversed it.
Wel af en toe een lekkere hipperty hop maar kon er minder inkomen dannik hoopte. Gelukkig was wele alles een missy elliot exclusive
Hip
Not my preferred type of rap. Wasn't bad just not my jam.
Holy shit, this is good. Missy is an all time great and no, not all time great “female rapper”. She’s here to remind you just who she is - she’s funny, sexy, biting and brilliant. Under Construction maintains the fire right to the end.
I have a lot of respect for Missy Elliott and I liked the songs about loss, being a strong woman, and having fun. I was annoyed when she said “This is a Missy Elliot exclusive” for every song. At least she was having fun.
Really enjoy Gossip Folks through Back in the Day. Funky Fresh Dress cool too
3 years ago I would have passed on Missy Elliott. Probably won't seek her out again, but she's not bad. Some of it is pretty good
The worst in music
I think it's more digestible than other rap albums, but still too sexual for me
Nothing really stood out as amazing, but it's worth another listen. Not as strong as some of her other work, but a quality effort.
Less of my style.
Missy Elliots music with its sex positive attitudes was certainly something and the album is better than I thought after I just vaguely remembered the singles. However, it has the problems of many other hip hop albums that just deals with, well, hip hop. It's all very self-absorbed in a way and so I didn't care so much either when Beyoncé popped up. A different time, I guess. Nothing you really need to listen to.
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)
More like Miss-me Elliott. It was fine. Meh. Eh.
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.
Not really a fan of hip hop, but I tried to have an open mind for this album because the last 2 hip hop albums I got were surprised me a lot, and I quite enjoyed those 2 albums. But this one just doesn't do it for me. Also I think she says her name too much.
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
Couple of great track, some stinkers.
Całkiem przyjemne, jak kobieta rapowała kiedyś to przynajmniej nie była taka gangsta madafaka jak panowie.
Has merit as a step forward for women in hip-hop. Maybe it's a case of oversaturation, but quintessential early 2000s rap feels so boring now.
I've come to the conclusion that I just like very specific types of rap for some reason. And unfortunately this didn't fit in there. Can't put my finger on it, but it just didn't move me at all for some reason. I appreciate that she's taking a stance for the ladies though, quite a lot of rap can be very misogynistic in my opinion. So hearing something different than that is refreshing.
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..).
Weer gigantische ouwehoermuziek. Maar op een bepaalde manier wel sympathiek en afwisselend. Dus waarom zou ik moeilijk doen.
Ook de dames hebben behoeftes. Dat zou dit moeten uitstralen. Waaraan? Ik denk om de dansvloer op te gaan, want het is vooral een verzameling clubdeuntjes.
Het begint al gelijk met een skit, superirritant. Vervolgens twee nummers die soms zo typerend zijn voor hiphop: megakinderachtig, met name in de teksten. Als je als genre serieus genomen wil worden, maak dan niet zulke nummers. In het nummer met Jay-Z is het ook weer zo kansloos, maar dat wordt dan net als work it wel enigszins gered door een lekkere flow, met een goed sampletje of een leuke scratch. Verder is het altijd zo egocentrisch, een soort zelfverheerlijking, waar ik gewoon op afhaak. Waarom vind ik dan grunge wel top, terwijl dat ook over onderwerpen gaat waar ik niks mee heb? Bijv Alice in Chains, waar het meeste over het drugsgebruik van Layne Staley gaat. Misschien is het het geheel van tekst, flow/groove en of iets een goed liedje is. Check 2 vd 3 boxes en je bent al een heel eind. Hiphop laat te vaak sowieso 2 vd 3 links liggen, en dan blijft er maar 1 open om af te vinken. Het is te weinig voor me. Als ik het onderling moet vergelijken met andere hiphop in deze lijst, dan is dit niet veel beter dan de 50 cent gangstarap. We horen nog net geen geweerschoten, maar het n-woord wordt volop gebezigd. Het eindigt vervolgens ook met een samenwerking met TLC (en als bonus nog een keer 50 cent, dat zegt eigenlijk al weer voldoende). Missy is vooral bezig te laten zien hoe stoer ze wel niet is. Egocentrisch, zelfverheerlijking. Kansloosheid. Ik ben klaar met dit soort troep.
Tää soundi ei ikinä oikeen oo purassu. Mutta Missy on genressään ihan raikas poikkeus. Vähän liian 2000-luvun allun meininkiä mulle. Ehkä kymmenen vuoden päästä aika on kypsä. 2/5
No tämähän tuli vähän puskista. Olipas kova! Yllättävän freesit nuo timbaland-soundit nykyään. Ja Missy räbää tietty upeasti.
Niin paljon kuin oonkin tyytyväinen, että naisräppärit on saanu tehdä tälläsiä levyjä, jotenkin tää 2000-luvun alun valtavirtasoundi on vaan todella tylsää musta. Ihan hauskoja tekstejä, joten kai se kolmoseen nousee.
Bored me to death
Other than the songs I already loved the rest of them were between meh and blech
There are some good songs, but for the most part not my cup of tea. The talking portions are also a little jarring.
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.
This was really good but shaky of the 5 that the tiger album we heard by her deserved. She’s a great rapper and interesting artist but repeated use of mixtape like tags were very annoying. Some stray thoughts: Always strange to hear old references to Trump in rap songs knowing what would happen later. Missy and Jay’s ode to hip hop itself in “Back in the Day” was great (Fuck Bill O’reilly indeed). Nicki takes a flow from Funky Fresh Dressed and uses it in Bottoms Up I think?
I was quite looking forwards to this; it's what The Project is for really - making you appreciate things that you'd never listen to normally. And it starts quite well - Bring the Pain, with Method Man, is a good song. It drags a touch though, and there's not loads of variety for me. Glad to hear it, probably won't again.
(First impression) I FOR SURE LOVE THIS ALBUM ! (Halfway) so good
not my style at all, but honestly i grew to like it more as the album continued. Slide?? I really like that one 2/5
Wouldnt normally listen to missy elliott. Some catchy tunes, quite a few collaborations. Overall good listen
Early 2000s hip hop was a giant leap in production but that doesn’t make this particularly good.
Quite enjoyed this despite it not being my type of thing. Work it is great
Our eldest cat is named after Mossy Elliot. This album is awesome. Old school hip hop at its finest.
each their own.
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.
It’s Missy. What else is there to say?
Nice beats, and while often vulgar, Missy had something to say.
Not my style, I just don't think I'm a fan of the genre. Nothing against the songs, although they were only okay.
Extra, extra funky. Great beats with great guests.
Fabulously produced and lyricly inventive as Missy has become known for. A top female MC for sure, not only of her time, today's ladies could take a lesson.
An album I enjoyed far more than I expected. Really good example of how hip hop can have texture, sound and melody.
Missy does her thing really well. It’s just not exactly my thing. I really enjoy the production here, and a lot of the beats work in the context of the song, but it feels like Missy runs out of ideas pretty quickly. She fills in some gaps with album highlights like the Beyoncé or Jay-Z features, but mostly I was kind of bored after 15 minutes.
I love me some Missy, but I think her true superpower lies in her knack for crafting bonafide hits rather than cohesive albums.
Missy se débat comme elle peut sur les instrus de Timbaland et parvient à éviter la catastrophe.
Je deteste désormais par la faute de ce générateur de merde tous les codes hip hop, mais j'admets tout de même que cet album était l'un des moins pires de la liste maudite.
Not at quite the same quality as Supa Dupa Fly, but the features are still used very well, and some of the beats are nice. I like the emphasised use of R&B stylings, because Missy Elliott can certainly sing, makes me surprised she didn't do one that's just that. Unless, of course, it's not her singing on some of these? I suppose that's possible. Anyway, still decent.
By the end of the first half this was a weak 4-stars, but by the end I had really gotten bored of it and the quality had noticeably dipped, so 3-stars overall. It's not bad, but it's in the awkward spot between classic 90s hip-hop and 2000s fake hip-hop/R&B for me and all the talking got dull.
cRap!
It's alright, but I lost interest after about 7 songs. Favorite song: Back in the day
Not really my music taste
Klasse rap, solidt, work it
This is my second time listening to this album all the way through, and I still have the same feedback: what do any of the songs have to do with the Under Construction theme she establishes at the begining of the album? The songs aren't bad, although they get very repetitive in feel and theme. Her feelings about losing Aaliyah are obviously genuine, but talking about all those deaths in hip hop before dropping these songs just feels like the definition of monetizing tragedies. Give me Supa Dupa Fly over this any day.
Dear Missy. It's easy to hate your music without being a hater. I'm a pretty decent person but your "music" manages to mix boredom, irritation and the stupidest, most puerile lyrical content which seems to infest your genre. I'm going to listen to yesterday's album from Janelle Monae again. There is an artist worth listening to.
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.
We had Missy Elliott's debut just over a week ago, and the difference is striking. This one is so much worse: the songs are weaker and why all that talking?
Typically hip hop isn’t my bag. Musically interesting but lyrics are infantile. Nothing to say.
Vekkuleita biisejä, olen jopa saattanut aikoinaan kuunnella tätä levyä - viihdyttävä.
Tasasesti hyvä. Nytkytysefektillä varustettu ehyt räppipläjäys
I can’t put my finger on it but something about this album just didn’t hit me the right way. It just feels kind of dated for some reason. Got some good songs but not what I expected.
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 immediately wished it was over.
I’ve learned that these are all Missy Elliott Exclusives, and that that is a good thing.
Not horrible but gets a bit tiring after a while, would have been 3 stars if it was half the length
Good flows, has some vibe but not sure if I will put it on again
Has some nice flows here and there but won't listen to this again.
Not a fan of the language but some head bouncing hip hop
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.
Slapped Missy is a G
Fuck yeah
I don’t hate rap but this is really, really horrible (one of the worst things I’ve heard)1/5
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.
3.4 good, bit all the same but I liked the features faves: work it, bring the pain
Just fell flat for me. Had a few good songs but nothing I wanted to hit repeat on.
Margt mjög gott á þessari plötu. Work it er náttúrulega bara next level dansgólfssnilld.
Nope.
lovely
Oh, for goodness sake.
Can't help it, this really isn't my kind of music.
Bit more than a work in progress.
It's...fine. My favorite bits of this album are actually the spoken word bits, they're very insightful and Missy is a very captivating speaker. There's some cool tracks here and there like Pussycat and Slide, but a lot of this album I didn't really love.
toinen puolisko paljon parempi kun emnsimmäinen...iso hittibiisi ihan ok. joo meikääkin ei, voisi siis olla ilman puheluita, puhekohtauksia, pulinoita, ja ei tarvi ilmoitusta tehdä ennen biisiä ei tässä armeijassa olla sentään heh... peruskivaa musiikkia ja pari bängeriä siellä täällä. vähän tylsä mutta 50min meni ohi iilman suurempia valituksia slide
Not my genre at all. Starts off with a line that aged like milk…”you don’t see Bill Gates and Donald Trump arguing, cause they both got paper!” Definitely an album that doesn’t age well. Decent sounds though.
On one side she is keeping it real. On the other side some tracks fall way flat.
Give me some of this in a bun. Varied, and I even like the slower singy ones, which doesn't often happen for me on rap albums!
Call it nostalgia (even tho I’m hearing roughly 12/13 songs for the first time today) but I loved this Both Missy & Timbaland bring out their respective best artistic qualities in each other, & the guests (e.g. TLC, Method Man) are also pretty excellent. I may have just had back-to-back 5-star hip-hop records (where’s that kid who only listens to the Beatles, Floyd & Queen now?), but while I’m still digesting the Outkast one, this more straightforward outing is easier to deliver a verdict with. HL: “Bring the Pain”, “Back in the Day”, “Slide”, “Funky Fresh Dressed”, “Can You Hear Me”, “Work It”
seeee 8/10
Musikalisch uninteressantes und eintöniges Gelulle, wortreich aber inhaltlich leer. Niemand sollte so was hören müssen. Was sprechgesangliche sowie texterische Fähigkeiten angeht, unangenehm maßlos überschätzt. Ein weiteres Ärgernis.
polished, boring. Sorry.
Decent stuff, very sexual didn’t like that
Alright alright. I've been postponing this album for... wow two years now I think, because I'm not the biggest hiphop fan in general but damn, Missy can get it. I can only guess the universe wanted me to enjoy it as much as I did today.
I have always had a soft spot for Missy, and that is partially because she is a funny rapper, and partially because she makes bangers. I would say this album has some interesting songs and the music itself is fun to listen to. It doesn’t appear that it will quite make it into my rotation, but I now know a little more of her catalog, which will make the bangers band just a little harder. Missy pushed females forward in rap and deserves the credit for her style.
Loved Supa Dupa Fly, but this one is a pretty bad miss for me. I really don't see what any of the songs have to do with the message she says during the Intro. Not every song needs to be a profound statement on life or society, but you kind of lay down that expectation when you open the album talking about the struggles every human or family goes through.
Much more fun!
Album 40 of 1001 Missy Elliott - Under Construction Favorite Tracks : Rating : 3 / 5 I didn't enjoy Missy as much as Missy enjoys Missy.
future sounds fresh from the 90s past
I don't think I've ever listened to any of Missy Elliott's albums before (maybe Supa Dupa Fly if I have), but I thought this album was fantastic. The beats were catchy, the rapping was great, and the lyrical content was outstanding. "Gossip Folks" and "Work It" are both so much fun, but they still feel like they belong on an album with a bit more serious of a tone. Is it gimmicky that she raps backwards in "Work It?" If that's what you think, keep it to yourself, because I think it's genius. I loved that Missy Elliott talked about loss (both personal grief and collective grief in a post 9/11 world), how her vision of hip hop shapes how she makes music, and criticisms of women in music. The duets were really great, especially "Nothing Out There for Me" with Beyonce. Missy Elliott raps with a personal brand of swagger that I don't think I've ever heard before; if I had to summarize it, I'd say it's a 'powerful confidence with a the perfect sprinkle of realistic humility.' I've been trying to stay away from albums on this list that I haven't listened to before, but I'm really tempted to listen to Supa Dupa Fly tonight, because this album has been rattling around my brain all weekend.
It's okay. The highs are high, but the rest of the album is kinda forgettable. Gossip folks still slaps so hard though
Good
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.
Love it, it's odd but I love her commentary towards the end of each track. Women feel like an endangered species in hip hop and this chick is awesome.
Non male, veramente non male. Un sacco di collab e tutte belle, non so se è da 5, ma quasi.
Every time I get a Missy album on, it's the best Missy album. I think it dropped off after this, but for four albums she could not put a foot wrong. This one is touching, looks back over hip hop without being regressive, is very sex positive, and just plain slaps. The first 20 minutes is relentlessly good. Work It, Gossip Folks, Funky Fresh Dressed, and collabs with Jigga and Meth that both hit. Genius.
Fantastic album with a lot of amazing guest contributors.
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.
3.5/5 I kinda liked this, but overall it's not my taste. It was odd, the little conversations she had with the listener. It made it feel kind of unfinished or something. There were some interesting use of rhymes and lyrics, some of the music was fun but overall it was a little too vulgar for me. I know she did it the best way she knows how and like she said at the end, "If you don't like it" she don't give a shit.
I hadn't really heard much by Missy Elliott before this album and was honestly hoping for something along the lines of Fugees quality wise. Obviously I ended up disappointed. This had the cheesey talking rather than being musical type songs, an intro and outro, all of which I could have lived without. The stuff in between was okay but nothing ground breaking. Not won over by this artist.
I struggle with this genre of music finding it repetitive and with a limited horizon. This album follows the pattern but the artist has something about her that sets it apart. It was palatable and entertaining.
Nä tack!
Even worse than the other Missy Elliott album. I did sorta try though.
Not a rap fan
pretty good for the genre. Explicit lyrics.
Ikke så meget mig, men ikke direkte forfærdeligt.
Too much dialogue at times but the songs themselves were not bad.
When a song says "We can bump uglies if you ain't got your monthly" I'm out.
“Work It” is a personal favorite and it stands tall above the rest of these songs. Every time I listen to it, there’s a line that makes me laugh or a new detail in the mix that pops out. Just an incredible, goofy, cool, one-of-a-kind track. There are a lot of cool beats on this album, some of which get close to “Work It” in their inventiveness and energy. And all those beats are produced by Timbaland. Honestly, the simplest way to improve this album would be to cut all the tracks he didn’t produce. His beats sound like a transmission from the future, even now, ten years after the album came out. Okay, pet peeve here: She says “This is a Missy Elliott exclusive” on too many tracks. I know it is! I’m listening to your album! Like, put that on the first track and maybe one or two of the singles but you don’t have to tag every song with it. It sounds silly after a while.
I was 12 when this album came out and I thought "Work It" was so funny and out there and great. I think at the time it was really refreshing to hear some light-hearted rap music and I still continue to appreciate how goofy that song is and this artist is. I love the bass riff on "Back in the Day". Really funky and catchy and doesn't even get boring after it repeats multiple times throughout the 5 minute song. Love all of the Timbaland flavor which is all over this. What a damn phenom. The Beastie Boys homage at 2:40 in "Funky Fresh Dressed" is awesome. "Pussycat" is hilarious and I love the monologue right at the end where she talks about the double standard in music and how men always get a free pass to talk about sex but women can't. Her message here is a really nice touch IMO. I like how it's surrounded by all of these songs about sex- with some being on the nose and some being more tongue-in-cheek. I love the breaking of the 4th wall and just coming out and saying "hold on a sec, this is what I'm trying to say and I'm trying to even the playing field". For her to then mention practicing safe sex is really the cherry on top too. It's not just gratuitous references to sex. It's also really cool as this track ends and then you hear the buttery smooth voice of Beyonce open up the next track. Just a great segue. One downside of this album is that her flow can get pretty repetitive in her hooks. "Hot" for example sounds way too similar to "Work It". The chorus in each is like "If you ____ then I'll ____ I'll ___ ____ ____ ____ ___". It happens elsewhere too but this one is really prominent. For me this is a pretty big factor in where I'm rating this album. This is a great example of this system needing more than 5 levels of rating, because I'm struggling to give this one a 4/5 but it's definitely above a 3 for me.
I like it more then I thought I would
Me gusta este disco. Esa corrida de tres canciones es imparable (Bring the Pain, Gossip Folks, Work It). Iría mejor sin los skits
Actively annoying. The lyrics are just terrible. I can't imagine what other people see in this. How many times does she tell me it's Missy Elliott on this album, is she trying to break a record set by Craig David?
Wasn't offended, if it was on I'd tolerate it
Missy is a rapper. She spits bars. She has raps. She will rap up bars. She’s been know to wrap and rap and spit.
Slick
"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.
This album is a lot of fun, and Missy is undeniably creative and talented. Unfortunately a lot of the lyrics and themes are pretty dated, making the album a little painful to listen to some 20 years on. Still sounds great, though, especially the collaborations, but I probably won't be visiting again.
I liked the melodic tracks, not a fan of the rap. It was an O.K listen but I wouldn’t seek her out by choice. 3* ?
Amaze. Legendary. So fun!
This album continues to be well out of my comfort zone. I'm not a lover of rap or hip-hop, but have over the years listened to some. So a mild combination of rap, hip-hop, r&b and pop is pretty much how we come up with this compilation. I remember when Missy Elliott became popular and was all over the radio, though with some censorship in the middle of songs at time. At the time this album came out, it highlighted for me the dreadful dullness that had occurred with popular music at the time. No doubt the fans think this is amazing. And of course it has been placed on this list, which to me is maybe just because it was trying to do something different with this combination of genres at a time when it needed something different? I've listened to this today. It has bored me for the entire almost hour it has been playing. It doesn't draw your attention, nor hold your attention. It could be the same beat for each song, but I can't discern it. No thanks. Next please.
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
Just not a rap fan.
I love the atmosphere of joy that runs through this album
This was a blast
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.
Nothing like TImbaland beats. Missy is a great rapper. Funky Fresh Dressed is a great track.
A little patchy, but good overall; the sleazy funk of "Work It" more than makes up for the dire "Back in the Day." She reminds me of Prince in places. I think she helped reclaim hip-hop from misogynist assholes as well.
When I was younger I would listen to rap rap and it was rare to see any women rapping. Hearing Missy for the first time I said this is some good shit. Easily one of my favorites. Isn’t my first listen. Growing up with this album did open the doors to other artist in the genre of rap. Listening to it again after time of not listening to it for awhile quickly gets me listening to missy once again. Beats are raw, lyrics are different, this is some good stuff. I understand why it’s on here. Missy is one of the best to ever do it. Enjoyable listen.
It was okay. I bet that shit went crazy when it released tho. Just not my jam
Hey it wasn’t that bad there was some nifty parts and I like the running them of working on yourself and society as a whole she was spittin when she talked about beefing with folks. 2.75
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 🤷.
Oo wee This is definitely some of the better early 2000’s rap ive heard (granted, ive only really listened to the radio stuff) Work It will always be a classic, i remember listening to this track with my old neighbor on the way to school in 2013-15. HOT DAM I DID NOT KNOW WORK IT WAS REFERENCED IN RATATA WITH SKRILLEX Back in the day is such a vibe I think I understand why this album is on this list, and there are some tracks i really enjoy, but its not one i would go out of my way to listen to. Definitely worthy of this list from a big picture standpoint.
Pretty decent album that at times felt like it was a little too long. There was times when I really was feeling it but other times when the beats felt so redundant. At times it was a bit cliche how “New York” the project sounded. The beat switch up in “Funky Fresh Dressed” was the best part of the album. The outro of the album was incredibly awkward. After already addressing the audience in the intro it really didn’t seem necessary for her to address them again to reiterate the message that some people will like the album and some won’t. No duh. That’s the whole point of letting your art speak for itself. Leave those for the MTV interviews.
1. Intro / Go to the Floor: crazy beat, begin aint it but second flow is a lot better. 5.5/10 2. Bring the Pain: bit better but still not that great. Method Man feature goes harder. 6/10 3. Gossip Folks: great beat, Ludacris feature pretty good. Overall track alright. 6.5/10 4. Work It: pretty good track, like the reverse parts. 7/10 5. Back in the Day: yeah not it, mediocre singing with some random Jay-Z lines. 3/10. 6. Funky Fresh Dressed: this one is really great, good flow and lines. 8/10 7. Pussycat: bruh these lyrics. Song itself is good 5.5/10 8. Nothing out There for Me: Beyoncés vocals really carry this track. Overall nice duet type song. 7.5/10. 9. Slide: this beat goes hard. Overall great sounding track, with good flow. 10. Play That Beat: mwah not great per se. 5.5/10 11. Ain't That Funny: good parts in between mid parts. Beat is interesting. 6/10. 12. Hot: not really that great. Feels like reusage of other songs. 5/10. 13. Can You Hear Me: pretty nice song. 6.5/10.
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
I’ve heard this before. Pretty good!
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.
Not really for me but big props noting the incredibly male driven genre she managed to break into and the artists she’s influenced to date
I think this was the first time I listened to "Work It" in headphones and good ones at that. It's super rad and I love how much layered detail there is to the song. I also love, love, love the opening speech from Missy! I've recently been listening to a lot of Doja Cat and I enjoy how sex positive and confident she is. Missy's "Pussycat" is a rad song and her speech at the end was a pleasant surprise! The track feels like one of the foundational tracks for Doja and others to write the type of stuff they do. I'm really into the sentiment, outreach, and positive messaging that's in this album and to be honest, I'm pleasantly surprised by it.
Didn’t listen
Old school, I love it.
I know it
Mostly just had it on in the background and was fine