Under Construction

Didn’t like

Another great album that I never got to listen to at the time. Felt almost conversational at times but the raps were great and I'm glad we got this one on the list.

Wow, what a great album. First full-length I've listened to from Missy Elliott. I know about her, but wasn't too familiar with her music going into this. Plenty of hits, including some I recognized. The rapping is excellent and good lord, the production is amazing. It's handled almost entirely by Timbaland and Missy herself, they really are a force to be reckoned with. Give me more like this. Favorite tracks: Work It, Slide, Hot, Pussycat, Funky Fresh Dressed. Album art: Nothing to write home about, just a picture of Missy in the street. She's under construction I supposed. 4.5/5

Can stay unfinished for me

Sublime in every way

toll, dass eine Frau auf diesem Gebiet erfolgreich und gut ist, aber ist definitiv nicht meins

Damn bars where hard af back in the beginning of the century. Most of the album slaps even tho that Bey track is cringe af

I hadn’t listened to Missy Elliot before this, and that’s on me.

Hmmm. I wanted to like this more than I did. Bold on the surface but aged kinda badly 'pussy don't fail me now' ??????

Lyrics are a bit of their time, but it was a fun listen.

Like Missy, but this seemed average, and no standout tunes for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A pretty great album! Hearing a woman in hip-hop take control of sexuality and other topics dominated by men of the era, and the talking directly to the audience vigniettes within songs seem like the most notable takeaways of the album and trends of the era. 3.5 rounding up!

Enjoyable.lots of singing as well rapping. Very accessible and good intentions from Missy. Obviously as sex obsessed as Prince!

Awesome beats for Missy to rap underneath. When she is going with her low vice, I felt she was really in command of the song. "Gossip Folks" was a bit annoying, though. The frantic-ness of her voice did not mesh well (I am a big fan of Ludacris, so that was kind of disappointing.) I liked the guest vocalist, they really added something to it. I am never a fan of interstitial stuff, so the outro / intro stuff in songs I could do without. It's hard to believe that she has been recording for so long, and Aaliyah has been gone for so long as well. After this I listened to her big hit, and it still really grooves (although the baby sample does get annoying after a while). So I enjoyed the Missy Elliot album, as long as she was using her speaking voice. But I do not think I will be coming back to it.

Missy is hands down the best female rapper of all-time. One of the best rappers period. And this album has her talent on display - smart meaningful lyrics, cool beats, lightning quick raps, and a pretty darn good voice. Her interludes are actually worth listening to (not just BS) and shows her depth of thought. Although her claim in the Intro that you don't hear Gates and Trump arguing because they got "paper" and "better shit to do" shows how much times have changed in 20 years. Her wordplay or own version of pig latin that she does in Gossip Folks and Work It is so unique and innovative. The former is one of my favorite rap songs of all time - beats and lyrics are just awesome. I'm not sure there was a weak song on the whole album. Slide and Go to the Floor were particularly good tracks I didn't know of before.

Byly dwa i jest i trzeci czarny pick z rzedu i albumy ukladaja sie w sensowna calosc, od plyty z kategorii magnum opus, przez ambitny rap z niecodziennym podejsciem do beatow, do mainstreamowego szlamu wczesnych lat 2k, bo takim szlamem jest under construction, czyli plyta z pogranicza rapu i r&b, ktora jest czwartym studyjnym krazkiem pani Missy Elliott, ktora dorobila sie jakze zaszczytnego przydomka krulowej rapu, nie wiem jak do tego doszlo, kto rozdawal te godnosci i ile musiala za nie zaplacic, bo o ile wczesniej slyszalem ja glownie na jakis featurach, tak po przesluchaniu calego albumu jestem zdziwiony jak ten album znalazl sie na liscie pana wyspiarza, bo o ile gangsta rap moze dobrze sie sluchac, pieniadze, dziwki i koks moga miec swoj hedonistyczny urok, tak taka tematyka u pani Missy brzmi jak zawodzenie menelicy, ktora nie moze sie zdecydowac czy chce rapowac, czy jednak woli spiewac chorki w r&b, sieden z czternastu trakow ma featury glownie rapowe, pewnie w tym mozna sie doszukiwac takiego sukcesu komercyjnego, no ale tez musiala zapewnic jakas luke na rynku i dac mlodym szlaufom gettciarskim jakis wzor do nasladowania, wiec stworzona persona thugowej gettciary mogla sie sprzedac, co do nazwisk pojawia sie tu chocby method man, ludacris, czy jay z z beyonce, nie mozna takze zapominac o kolaborantach na prodcuerce, bo tak generyczne 2k beaty mogla stworzyc tylko wyjatkowo mainstreamowa persona, a takom wlasnie jest Timberland, ktory jest odpowiedzialny za wiekszosc beatow Missy, wydaje mi sie, ze zle ocenilem wczorajszy albumik, teraz z czystym sumieniem dalbym mu trzy gwiazdki po odsluchaniu tej konstrukcji, jako jednej z najbardziej meczacych plyt ostatnio na liscie

Every song is a BANGER

Misdemeanor doesn't mince words, and isn't afraid to share what's on her mind. In her effort to save hip-hop she mostly succeeds. Highlight Tracks: 3, 4, 6, 8

An interesting listen, great lyrics and delivery but not hugely interesting musically. Top tracks: Work it

Не люблю мисси элиот

First Listen. Besides the couple of songs that I knew, I didn't enjoy much of the rest of the album. It really isn't my kind of music. I do think that Work It is one of the best of the genre - so props to her for that one! 2/5

Really enjoyable, excellent grooves

Fun album to blast in the shower and confuse your partner with your musical choices. The Timberland production has aged well. Never appreciated Missy in her time but can clearly see her legacy in hip hop today with huge artists like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, etc. That's fantastic. Also the Method Man track reminded me how hilarious sex duets are. I don't take 56 minute showers tho. C

This album started out hot, I was dreading listening to this, but the first songs grabbed me, good word play, good flow, catchy beats, first 3 songs were 5-4-5. I was like holy shit, this is Timbaland’s magnum opus, this set the stage for Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake. I was excited that I realized, “let me work it” is based off of a Blondie sample. Then it started to slide and got worse, the quality dropped, the sentimental songs sapped the life out of it, the beats lost their luster and eventually it faded into the background. By the tone she wax eulogizing her friends I just didn’t care. 3 for starting out strong. The line, “you don’t see bill gates and Donald trump arguing” because they’re rich, didn’t she well, or did it?

Missy's great, especially in a garbage bag costume

this was incredibly disappointing. 40% waffling on about some old shit, 40% R'n'B bollocks and 20% work it.

Like licking cum off the back of a tortoise. Like sucking on a corpse's cliterous. Not very nice.

Overall, just kinda forgettable. The beats are fine, the flow is fine, but it’s not my thing.

IThere are some pretty good songs (Work It, Can You Hear Me?) the rest was mostly just okay with the exception of Pussycat which was just kind of embarrassing, especially the explanation at the end of the track. I know Missy is a hip hop icon but this album is just not something that I'd choose to put on in my free time. I respect her as an artist, but its just not for me. 5/10 for me. I'll give it a 3 star here just because I don't want to round down.

Owned this album when it came out. I remember 2002 as a blur but this was and still is a banger.

Fun album to listen to. Some hits and nice features I liked. Probably won't listen again.

This was great! My first Missy Elliot album. I liked it very much

This is a really good album that makes me think about all that 2000s Hip-Hop/soul and wonders where did it all go?

Definitely not my kind of thing - but I can understand why people like it.

Pretty solid! I don't usually like hip hop or music from the early 2000s, so I was surprised to find that I liked this hip hop album from the early 2000s. Some really good guest verses. Didn't dig all the songs, and it started off a little rough, but I'm very glad I listened to it.

Maybe the best flow of her generation and the production on this is immaculate

Reminds me of life just post-college. I'd forgotten that the album is a tribute.

I think this album came out after she’d annoyed the entire world with Get ur freak on. I quite like the samples being drawn from absolutely everywhere- there’s a sort of mad scientist vibe to that. But the rest of it. No.

This was released at the peak of Missy Elliott's popularity. Half the tracks feature big-name collaborators (Jay-Z, Beyonce, Method Man, TLC) and it's produced by Timberland. It's commercial, accessible and an easy listen for the genre. I'm not sure Pussycat has the feminist credentials that Missy thinks, and I could have done without being reminded that "this is another Missy Elliott exclusive" at the start of EVERY track. Missy sounds good though and neither her voice nor the instrumentation grate on me like many other hip hop albums have. I therefore do not feel the need to "kill it with a skillet". 3/5.

Listened to at least parts of this a fair bit back in the day. I think to surface gloss of the saucy content distracted me from its deeper track message of grief for the many senseless losses hip hop sustained around the turn of the century, and its call for unity.

Pretty good hip hop album. Benefits from Timbaland producing everything so it sounds consistent. Quite a few bangers

Bring the Pain has a nice musical hook to it: musical, no lyrical. That's all I've got...

Good album: I love the lyrics Missy Elliott throws out without any shame, and her pronounciation is a refreshing change from more recent vocals that tend to go more towards mumbling. There are a few tracks that miss imo, but the beats are generally enticing and the features add to the songs. Not sure if I'll come back to it but I can defo grab some songs from here to go in the playlist

shite!

Rapnek jó de most nem élem.

didn't expect the pussy talk but whatever, the album was good

Not a fan of her music I guess.

It was OK, but I didn’t listen as closely as I probably should have, as I was doing chores.

Some good musical ideas in here. But, I get bored quickly with bloviated, self- aggrandizing lyrics.

It was pretty average tbh so I give it 3/5 stars. Not a big fan of Missy's voice.

Started off ok. But then wasn't into it

No

Just like the name it feels like it’s building to some great tunes. Pussycat was particularly memorable

Rap.

wtf is this commentary shit, fuck this garbage.

TIL https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Shit%20in%20your%20cornflakes

aight

I don't like this genre, but it's not THAT bad.

There's nothing in the world that sounds like a Missy joint. When Missy's on her game, she's unstoppable. Unfortunately, there are a few tracks here that DON'T feel like Missy joints (I'm looking at you "Pussycat", "Nothing Out There for Me", and "Play That Beat") hence the 4-star review. But the rest of the album is just so good, she almost pulled a 5-star anyway. These beautiful, throwback traps feel so good with her effortlessly confident flow draped over top. Legendary talent.

Old school hiphop album, goede flow en wel wat lekkere nummertjes. Maar niet helemaal mijn smaak.

I don't like late 90s to mid 2000s Hip Hop, she goes hard tho

Delicious classics

Pas ma tasse de thé

Missy has never been my thing… stray’s a little close to pop stuff for me. This is alright though!

Early 2000s rap at its finest. The moments where she's speaking to the listener are a little dated feeling but they also give this album its charm. I still can't really get with the reversed parts of Work It but everything else hits for me Saved: Bring the Pain, Gossip Folks, Funky Fresh Dressed, Slide*

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Bring the Pain, Gossip Folks, Work It, Play That Beat Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: I respect the purpose and execution of this album, I just wish I liked the outcome more. 2.5 rounded up.

Holy shit this was a surprise, I hated the other album, this one was fantastic

A classic

Intense.

Muy fresco, excelente álbum

Just not good.

Meh, it's not bad. Sounds like pretty generic early 2000's hip hop though, and it is a little boring.

3.5

Loved it. Made me laugh a lot.

5/5 - This album kicks ass

Great rap album by an outstanding artist.

I love Missy Elliot because I feel like she keeps hiphop weird. Timbaland is probably also responsible for some of that, but I can't mistake her for anybody else. Every song I've ever heard of hers I liked. A natural.

When I first searched for this on Spotify the first thing that came up was some jive from The Sims. A damning indictment of modern society. Anyway, this is really good - rhymes are sharp, the beats are accomplished and for once, guest spots are done with taste and intention. Absolutely of its era but no bad thing!

Damn this was fun. I love the little before and after speeches and that, somehow, she managed to get the names of Bill Gates and Donald Trump in there. Exactly what hip-hop had been begging for.

Fun and interesting album even though not my normal jam. Nice vocals, good beats. 3.4/5.0

Really benefited from the interstitial comments about representing for females. Made me appreciate she wasn't being "vulgar" (btw I didn't care but it would keep me from recommending to others) for shock sake. Mid line marks because hiphop isn't my thing but salute to the author for speaking her thoughts!

Missy Elliott's fourth album & the second one I've listened to - thanks to this site. This hip hop album is a classic from 2002 and it has some memorable beats like the hit song 'Work It'. I enjoyed this blast from the past and many other people must have, because this album is certified double platinum.

Strong! So many top-end collaborators on this, and some deep digs for samples, and a really unique style. I never listened to the full album back in the day but really enjoyed hearing it through.

Standard early 2000 rap

Missy is dope and whew that feature list

Really not my style of music, but it was clearly a big inspiration for some of the rappers and hip-hop artists of the 10's. Love that Beyoncé is featured on "Nothing out There for Me" as "Beyoncé Knowles", as she hadn't even released an album yet. 2/5

Work it is peak early 00’s. Although not every a song is famous, it’s a lot of fun. Luda/Gossip talks is underrated

Beat from the intro track had me hooked. Insane features

Love The Kinks!

I like this better than the first Missy album, but that's not saying a lot. At least she didn't rhyme "Missy" with "get pissy" this time.

Pleasant. But if I never heard it again, or never had heard it, I don't think my life would be any the poorer.

New to me. Not in n but wheelhouse but that doesn't mean it's not great. My favorite song is the one with Jay-Z. Loses a rating for having to introduce each track with "This is a Missy Elliott exclusive". That might come across as charming if the track appears on some upcoming random playlists, so we'll call it a push. Missy knows her hooks. Actual rating is 3.5.

Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gnaht ym tup i

The elephant on trumpet on “Work It” get me every time — though Method Man on “Bring the Pain” is my favorite bit here.

Jay z thooooo. Leuk album. De knip knoppers hier zullen blij zijn. Ik ga het zeker nog eens beluisteren want I miss elliott

4,5 Yaaaaaaas, ga ik zeker nog eens luisteren. Features zen hier zeker een meerwaarde. Work it BOP (was natuurlijk een nummer dat ik al kende but still) HOV is the goat. Missy Elliot > Cardi B

2000 hiphop let's go I am ready Niet iets wat ik dagelijks zou luisteren maar zeker een toffe listening session. De sterke features maken er een vlot album van.

fun, funny, great album and production

I really enjoyed this one but then I do loves me a bit of hip hop. If sounded so fresh, couldn’t believe it was from 2002 - it spoke of topics still relevant today.

Work it

-Nice "-aded" rhyme scheme in "Intro / Go To The Floor" -Method Man's verse on "Bring the Pain" was nice -Good bassline in "Back In The Day" -Overall just didn't really like the album, just fairly bland hip hop

How have I never heard Missy Elliott before? 8 songs in, absolutely excellent.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. Not sure I'm a fan of her type of beat, but her energy was good and she seemed passionate.

Decent. Love the sequence.

Great Early 2000s Nostalgia

Enjoying this way more than I thought I would.

I never mind that hip hip albums are more autobiographical than some music, but one thing I distinctly dislike is when an artists has to drop their own name every song. Maybe I'm selfish for wanting music to be more malleable and relatable to myself... I mean, who am I to discourage art as a form of raw self expression? It's just not within my taste.

I dug this a lot

I've heard her name many times but don't recall having listened to her music, so I had no idea what to expect. I like a lot of the tracks. Really infectious rhythms and love her use of voice. It was only my first listen so I didn't get to into the lyrics, so I'll need to come back for that. Totally enjoyable.

Very good album. Missy is very clever!

I really enjoyed this, I didn't think I would but I thought it was great. There is a part of me that absolutely loves listening to women singing about enjoying sex, dunno why really, it gets me off or it's empowering or something

I was grooving all the way to work with Under Construction playing in my car. It has retro-elements, not just in terms of musical production, but also in terms of it's lyrics. Miss Elliot is very nostalgic here, and the lyrics are fun, poppy, but also light and a little underwhelming. Fav tracks: Bring the Pain, Work It and Back in the Day

This album was a super fun listen with immaculate production and delicious retro-future sampling. Some of the tracks don't quite hold up, but the highlights are so, so high. I can really hear the influence on Janelle Monae. Rating: 3.5/5 Favourite tracks: "Work It", "Back in the Day"

Nicht immer überzeugt mich das Genre - das ist aber ganz nett.

Damals mutige Texte, heute unmöglich, wenn man #metoo berücksichtigt. Sie singt in deutlichem Englisch. Ist das jetzt highclass Rap? Auf jeden Fall erinnert es an Schulzeiten.

Vielleicht werd ich ja doch noch zum Hip-Hop Hörer!?

Cool 2000's vibe hip-hop

*This is a Missy Elliott original*

Lots of bangers on here

Not for me

Kovaa kamaa 3-4 biisiä, muuten aika tuubaa. Kuitenkin noi timantit painaa kolmoseksi!

Ahhh world famous slickly produced rap. Rap has come a long way from the pre Rick James days. 

Hyvin vähän kuunnellut, mutta tykkäsin kyllä. Kovia nimiä ollut feattaamassa.

Un poco largo. Pero pues es Missy. Brutal.

classic, idk what else to say. bomb ass features from method man, jay z, beyonce, tlc.. pretty good

Missy Elliott is a lot of fun on this album! The production stands out and her confidence makes this worth listening too. It's not the best hip-hop by any means, but Missy Elliott has cemented herself in the history of hip-hop and it's well-deserved by all accounts.

Work It is 10/10 I feel like during this era of hip hop albums were inconsistent af but this still has some certified bangers.

Super solid rap album. Rap is not my thing in many cases but there are a handful of songs on Under Construction that I enjoy for their groovyness and lyrical flow.

Jepa meininki, mutta sitten käy puuduttamaaan.

love me some 90s hiphop

It was ok, not a huge fan of missy elliott

Missy has never been my favourite tbh but this album was fine.

Aika geneeristä taustamusiikkiräppiä. Välissä satunnaisia tilityspuheenvuoroja.

Pues qué más que decir? Pues que me gustó. Todo un sonido que definió los inicios de los 2000, grandes colaboraciones con artistas que hasta la fecha son vigentes y unos beats superpegajosos que inevitablemente alcanzarían la popularidad. Aparte de Work It y la que hizo con Jay Z, me gustó Play that Beat, está super good vibes el sonido. Mood: Me siento bichota sin salir de los 2000.

3.7 - Another hip hop album I wish I'd listened to earlier - Missy's a godmother to so many current rappers. Her monologues interspersed give us a chance to better know her POV and to empathize. Some real bangers on here. Also a couple of duds. Above all, Missy comes off as honest, sometimes brutally so.

Good beats and production and she's entertaining to listen to. Clever lyrics throughout. Bringing in other rappers and Beyonce was a good idea. I can always listen to "Work It" one more time.

Highlights: Work It, Gossip Folks, Back in the Day, Play That Beat, Can You Hear Me This might be one of the most important hip-hop albums of all time: It's prescient (Bill Gates and Donald Trump? Jay-Z for president?), it's old-school even for its own time, but it maps out the future of hip-hop ("Back in the day...Hip-hop has changed"), and it wouldn't be Missy if it wasn't also foul-mouthed and that's OK. Hip-hop isn't my style, but I can't deny that Missy Elliot is the salesperson for the genre.

“Under Construction” by Missy Elliott (2002) With lyrics full of self-contradictory complaints, braggadocio, and slutological/pharmacological initiative, Elliott is the señorita of sass. One wonders what’s going on inside. On the outside, she’s putting on bling and excess pounds. The poetry of her rap, while prodigious, is of low quality, with overly opportunistic rhymes, limited thematic scope, tedious repetition, eighth-grade vocabulary, and stunted vision. One great lyrical disappointment is that she opens the album (“Intro/Go to the Floor”) with a hopeful anticipation of approaching the land of seriousness and then proceeds to wander away into the wilderness of self absorbed carnality and tasteless superfluity. One suspects she’s spent a lot of time there. She does provide a helpful (if unconvincing) apologia (at the end of the slutfest “Pussycat”) explaining her predominant lyrical themes, but what they actually boil down to is: “I’m so stoned, so satisfied, so victorious, so satiated, and so oppressed”. And how many times does she have to introduce herself? BUT her sound is well crafted, with vocal skills that are considerable, if under-utilized. She shows an excellent sense of dynamic range and variety. Backing/accompanying vocals and instrumentals are excellent. Very creative grooves. As pornosonic ear candy goes, this stuff is pretty good. 3/5

liked it more than i thought and knew more of the songs then i thought i did

Hip-hop popero.

Missy does have a way with the presentation!

All time classic

Meh

Mucho flow, buenas rimas, grandes beats. Qué buena la Missy Elliott, no tengo skips, me gusta todo, quizá especialmente "Work It" y "Slide". También la de Beyoncé muy cool. 10/10

Casi tiene 20 años ahora que lo escucho en 2021 y suena como si estuviera grabado hace meses. No soy super amante del rap, pero lo puedo disfrutar en casos concretos y dosis adecuadas. Aquí hay bastantes cosas interesantes: Gossip Folks, Work it o Slide. También es un repaso a las figuras de los 2000 muchas de las cuales siguen ahí: Jay-Z, Beyoncé, 50cent o Ludacris. Bastante mejor de lo que esperaba.

Classic Missy!

Bumping female hip-hop vocals

Not really my thing but I enjoyed it. Great, creative writing and decent beats.

Rap

Average hip hop?

Good record! A lot of LPs of this era fall flat in spots, but this held me throughout

It's not my favorite style, but she has some great songs on here!

3 - Heftiges Brett im Genre

Entgegen aller Lästereien, die im Gruppenchat stattfanden, fand ich das gerade richtig geil. Hat mich irgendwo abgeholt und mit in eine richtig geile 2000er-Sause genommen. Mit Bauchfrei, Bauchnabelpiercing und Hüftjeans. Würds mir sicher wieder anhören! Mega entspannend.

This was actually well good - so didn't expect to love that! What a grooooze

some bangers!

Very slick - Missy Elliott makes it all seem effortless. Fave track - gonna have to go with "Work It" - love that the gibberish after the lyric "reverse it" really is the vocal track reversed. Always fun to hear people attempt it in karaoke! 😆

Not for me.

Bangers

Not bad, but not my thing.

This is solid. Made me like Missy Elliott more than before i listened. Interesting extra messages from her, though why is everything an "EXCLUSIVE"? Good energy.

Not my jam, but I respect it.

Not really my favorite type of music, although I can appreciate some of this. 2 stars.

Better than I remember. Fun album. Adding to my collection.

Yeah. This isn't for me.

god. a fucking boss

Awesome

This album cam out when I was four. So obviously I didn't get to listening to it then. It's good hip hop love the beats.

Cringe

Fett bra faktiskt. Modern klassiker. Missy var cool, fattade ej det då. Kan alltså vara nostalgi också som säger att detta är bra, men nej, tycker nog objektivt att det är bra musik. Bra rap, nice med OG rap-stil.

So many bangers! Loses the plot a little in the second half (really didn't like Pussycat or the Beyoncé collab) but otherwise so solid. 3.5

Not a fan at all

This was a great album

Meh... Liked this album a lot better when I was a kid

What an album! I am not a hip hop fan, but this album is incredible. The guest appearances are a who's who of hip hop. The content is sometimes funny and thought provoking. Other times a little raunchy, but always entertaining.

Enjoyable. Work It is a banger OBVS. Missy Elliot, more like Missy Good Album.

Terrible. I can’t handle it

A few stand out songs, was pretty good. Don't have much more to say

Was never super into Missy.

Man, I remember listening to this back in the 2000s. But, I don't remember having this much fun.

Such great focus, production, and performances. Not wild about every song but this is my favorite Missy album for sure.

rap . okish , not gonna listen again

This was okay

It was shit

Not my style, but I can recognize the historical influence.

Girl power, roliga voice overs med, bra beats timbaland!

lit

-classic hip hop groove. -could get repetitive.

I can’t believe this is twenty years old

1,5/5

this ain't for me

Considering this album dropped 18 years ago, the beats still sound archaic, even for 2002. The majority of the songs are nothing more than hype tracks, and the "Missy Elliott exclusive" announcement on every single track is a bit excessive. Also annoyed at the "explanation" spoken at the end of Pussycat. Who the fuck does that? It speaks to her own insecurities about releasing the song in the first place. Standout tracks are Funky Fresh Dressed, Aint It Funny, and Hot. The rest is forgettable. 1/5, bleh.

Top 1 kvinliga rap-album.

missy elliott is missy elliot

Not a terrible album but all I could think while listening is that most of the talent is with the producer and some of the guest performers.

Missy can sing, that's for sure, but hip hop is so positively, definitely, not for me or aimed at me!

There are a few swings and misses here, but also a whole lot to like. Every collaboration works. It's criminal how underrated she is. Best track: Gossip Folks

This is a Missy Elliot Exclusive. I like how personal this album feels. Missy has always been one of the best flows in the game, but I never knew she had such a good singing voice. Great beats. Favorite tracks: "Work It", "Pussycat", "Nothing Out There for Me"

Much more fun and consistent than I gave it credit for

Both Timbaland and Missy are excellent here, crafting a well-deserved classic. I'm not familiar enough with the history of the scene to pick up what precisely was happening with Aaliyah, but the skits suggest a degree of cohesion.

It was a good one for sure, but not what I wanted to hear that day

Every skanky girl in my year at school listened to this stuff back in the late 90s/early 00s. I never liked her singles, just sounded like the real trashy end of rap. The full album isn't AS bad as the singles, and tbh the few actual sung songs are pretty good - she can really sing - but it's still full of annoying shit like "Timabaland" and Jay Z chiming in every now and then to let us know how cool they are, and it's got that "street philosophy" going on about life, death and dead rappers that heaps of derros think is really deep... not for me. 2/5.