Customer Reviews

Under Construction

5 star:		(86)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I am a 50-year-old white guy who grew up in Chicago listening to what I still consider to be the greatest music Americans have ever made: stuff like the Temptations, Smokey, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Wilson Pickett, etc. And while the over-the-top profanity bugs me on this Missy Elliott CD, it rocks like nobody's business. I put it on at the gym and the next thing I know, my hour on the Stairmaster is over and I'm spent and jacked up at the same time. Her point about the vulgarity is well-taken: Prince got away with it forever, why not the women, too? Most of it's funny and harmless and after awhile it's easy to overlook. But she's got a lot to say and does so with wit and wisdom and beats that will knock even an old fart like me off my [butt]. If you don't get an overwhelming urge to move while this thing is on, man, you are stone-cold deceased. It's a great record, no two ways about it. I've listened to it everyday for three straight weeks and can't put it aside. Funny: my 17-year-old daughter is in the other room listening to the Supremes Greatest Hits --you go, girl -- and I got Missy on. It's all good.

After listening to Miss E...So Addictive nonstop for over a year after its release, I wasn't sure if Missy could pull off again. I could not have been more wrong! After hearing "Work It" I knew shew was not going to disappoint. Under Construction is easily one of the best R&B/Hip-Hop albums in the last few years. Missy & Timbaland's beats not only take you way into the future, but also back into the fun days of music. And she does all this while staying original!!! As on her last album, Tweet provides some smooth backup vocals to many of the songs. Here's the breakdown:
1.Go To The Floor-Spoken word intro talking about premise of the album and Aaliyah's passing. Then it turns into a hot jam where Missy raps over one of Timbaland's tight beats. Hard not to dance to this one!
2.Bring The Pain: Another great beat from Timbaland where Missy sings about getting together with some guy. Also has a great rap from Method Man.
3.Gossip Folks: This song has Missy rapping with a different voice about all of the hating and gossip that has been said about her lately. Ludacris has a rap part too. This song is like Work It where there are parts where you can't understand what she's saying.
4.Work It: You all know it.
5.Back In The Day: Jay-Z raps and Missy songs about the old days of hip-hop and how much music has changed. Awesome old-school beat which shows Timbaland and Missy's flexibility as artists.
6.Funky Fresh Dressed: One of the best songs on the album. Missy is at her best here, rapping with great lyrics over one of Timbaland's greatest beats. The music changes for Ms. Jade's rap, and only gets hotter. It almost sounds like Missy and Ms. Jade just came in and did a freestyle.
7.P***ycat: Another song that could be the album's best. Missy's vocals are awesome as she sings about using her p***y to keep her man. The song seductively takes you in and doesn't let go. Tweet's background vocals are hot too. This song also shows how Missy can make a tight beat without Timbaland. It kind of sounds like Aaliyah's "Rock The Boat."
8.Nothing Out There For Me: Another song produced only by Missy. The verses are parts of a phone conversation between Missy and Beyonce, and the chorus is sung really well by both of them. This shows how Missy is willing to use different ways of arranging her songs, which is why she is so hot!
9.Slide: An awesome dance song. Missy raps over another hot Timbaland beat. The chorus just makes you dance, even if you don't think you are!!!
10.Play That Beat: Missy sings about being there for her man. Of course her lyrics are great and the background vocals are good too.
11. Ain't That Funny: Missy sings over a great bass-heavy Timbaland beat. This song, like "Play That Beat," has backgorund vocals by Lisa Crawford, who sounds like Lil' Mo.
12.Hot: The title says it all, this song is hot!! Missy and Timbaland put together a hot old school beat that sounds like it's from the future.
13.Can You Hear Me: This is a very emotional song by Missy and TLC about the passing of great artists, mainly Left Eye & Aaliyah. The lyrics and the emotions in the vocals by Missy, T-Boz, Chili, and Tweet really get to you and make you feel the pain. Missy also pays respect to Biggie, 2Pac, and other artists who have died. The song also provides hope and closes the album with great memories.

There is also a bonus track which is a remix of "Work It" with 50 Cents. It is not very different form the original, except for a rap in the beginning by 50 Cents. Overall, I gave this CD 5 stars because I could not give it 100!! It has consistently strong lyrics and beats. Missy & Timbaland could not get any better. They show how you don't need any samples to be hot, and how originality gains you more respect. Missy is still Supa Dupa Fly and will never be stopped!!!

"under Construction" is one of the best Missy Elliott albums I've ever heard. It is also the first one recorded after the deaths of Aaliyah And Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. It is full of great rhymes and touching goodbyes. One good song on the album is "Bring The Pain" with Method Man. It is an adaptation of method man's song (Same name from "Tical" in 1994) abd that is a Method Man Classic. The Best Song on the album is "Can You Here Me?" featuring T-Boz And Chili. It is a heart-touching goodbye to Aaliyah, Left Eye (for most of the song), Tupac, BIG, Big pun, and all the other greats who's lives were taken. Anyways, This should be in everyone's Rap/Hip-Hop Collection

I have been a Missy Elliott fan for years. Since day one even before she released her first album "Supa Dupa Fly". I seen her when she was happy and sad(the passing of Aaliyah). When I started listing to the album. Missy tells her fans how she's Under Construction by losing weight and all, and personally I think she looks alot better w/o the weight. But this review isn't maily about Missy personally, it's about her musically. So here it goes.
01. Go To The Floor - A tight track, it makes U wanna go to the floor and dance like the freaks!!(ha ha). And Timbaland really did his thing on this one!!!!
02. Bring The Pain - Missy actually sampled Method Man's track "Bring The Pain", but she made the original sound even hotter!! A definate hit banga!!!!!!!!!!
03. Gossip Folks - This is her new or 2nd single off the album, I seen the video 4 it the other day. The song and video is off the chain. She also samples another old scool jam on the chorus. But this song is a very hot track!!!!
04. Work It - I know most of y'all already heard this one. It's definatly a Missy Elliott one time x-clusive. A very tight song!! WORK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
05. Back In The Day - The title speaks 4 itself it makes me feel like i'm livin' in the old school dayz when hip hop was SO MUCH FUN!!!!!. And Jay-Z's verse is tight!!!
06. Funky Fresh Dressed - She's tellin' you to turn the volume up!! It's a track that deserves it!!!. And Ms. Jade laced it with an awsome verse.
07. P***ycat - This song is one of the nastyest songs I heard Missy do since day one. But I agree with the other users it does remind you of Aaliyah's song: "Rock The Boat"
08. Nothing Out There For Me - It's basically a conversation between Missy Elliott and Beyonce, Missy's tryin' to convince Beyonce to go clubbin' wit her. Instead of stayin' wit her broke down, good for nothin' Man.
09. Slide - My favorite song on the album!!!. Missy basically is havin' fun with this record. Timbaland did his thing on this one also.
10. Play That Beat - This song is tight! But on the chorus, she's talkin about givin' up the p**y easy!! The song is tight besides her talkin' bout her well U know
11. Ain't That Funny - This song has a rock vibe 2 it. It's one of those tracks that far-left to what Missy usally does. That's what I really like about this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12. Hot - She say's "This is an old school Missy exclusive. It's tight, my favorite line is when Missy says. "I don't carry guns, kick a** wit a chain!!! That's hot.
13. Can You Hear Me - This song is dedicated to Aaliyah & Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, I think it's good that Missy had a song dedicated to her 2 Friends Aaliyah and Lisa. (R.I.P. Babygilrl & Left Eye)
14. Work It (Remix) - Simular to the original, just with a additonal verse with 50 Cent. A hot track with an x-tra verse!!!

This was a very hot album and it's worth buying. You be mad at all. So check out her latest single "Gossip Folks" feat. Ludacris on BET, MTV, or listen to it on tha radio!!!!!
WORK IT!!!!

While there's nothing on "Under Construction" that equals last year's excellent "Get Ur Freak On," Missy's fourth CD is easily her most heartfelt and personal. The deaths of Aaliyah and "Left Eye" Lopes clearly dealt an emotional blow to Missy, who now makes a sincere call to stop the hating and start focusing on what really matters: the music. She makes various references to the old school; puts in check deadbeat lovers, and if you ain't feelin' her, she could care less about what you think. She faithfully reunites with Timbaland for a buffet of jittery beats and grooves while roping in guest rappers and singers. Elliott shines with Jay-Z in "Back in the Day," holds her own in the steamy yet catchy single "Work It," and even Beyonce doesn't sound half-bad in "Nothing Out There for Me." But "Under Construction" saves the best for last as we get to the disc's closer, a collaboration with TLC in "Can You Hear Me," which is a tribute to, of course, Aaliyah and Left Eye. Missy and Timbaland have taken hip hop to such interesting creative heights, that it's pretty hard to imagine what radio would be like without them. She may call her album "Under Construction," but the material on this album suggests that the "work in progress" is very much complete.

She deserved more grammys!!!
Rap Performance by a Duo (Gossip Folks feat Luda)
Pop Collaboration with Vocals (Can You Hear Me)
Rap/Sung Collaboration (Go Back in the Day)

I've always been a Missy fan but never purchased one of her albums. I recieved "Under Construction" as a Christmas gift and after listening to it, I ran out and picked up all of her other discs. But I think her most recent release is by far her best work because it has a lot of old school feel to it in tracks like "Bring the Pain", "Back in the Day", and "Play that Beat". Here is my track by track review of Missy Elliott's "Under Construction":

1) Intro / Go to the Floor - <9/10> - One of my favorite cuts on the CD. If you like "Work It", then you'll love this one. I just don't like having to listen to the 1min. 40sec. intro before getting to the actual song. That's why I gave this song 9/10 instead of 10.

2) Bring the Pain - <7.5/10> - This one is okay. It's my favorite out of the old school sounding tracks.

3) Gossip Folks - <10/10> - Another favorite. I love the chorus. My fave part is at the end where she confronts the gossipers. (Listen to the song and you'll know what I'm talking about!)

4) Work It - <10/10> - C'mon. You all know this song.

5) Back in the Day - <7/10> - This song has Jay-Z rapping on it and also sounds a bit old school.

6) Funky Fresh Dressed - <9/10> - This one has a bass-infested beat and has Ms. Jade rapping on it. She sounds a bit like Eve. This is one of the best songs.

7) Pussycat - <8/10> - Even if the lyrics are a bit risque, it's another good cut. The chorus gets stuck in my head all the time. (P***y don't fail me now/I gotta turn this n***a out) This song has a slower beat.

8) Nothing out there for me - <6/10> - This one has Beyonce singing on it, and frankly, it gets a bit annoying.

9) Slide - <10/10> - Another favorite. Steady beat with funky rhymes. I absolutely love the chorus!

10) Play that Beat - <6.5/10> - This one's aight. It's not the greatest. It's somewhat repetitive...

11) Ain't it Funny - <16/10> - My FAVORITE song on the whole album. I think the lyrics are so funny. And the burning bass just makes you wanna get up and dance!

12) Hot - <8.5/10> - This track is very dancable. It's sounds a little old school.

13) Can You Hear Me - <9/10> - A tribute to Left Eye and Aaliyah.

14) Work It (Remix) - <10/10> - This is the exact same as track 4
except that it has a somewhat [other]rap by 50 cent in between the opening and first verse.

BOTTOM LINE: This album is worth the bux.

Missy's fourth music delivery is not far to be labeled from tasting like the first three. What makes "Under Construction" different from the rest, is the fact, that "Work It" made Missy an International Music Star, and established her as a main force in the top 40. But this album is really in touch with the old school Missy, many tracks find themselves lost in that early 80's oblivion, for someone who doesn't understand this, would find this record anoying and boring. But if we focus in the first two singles "Work It" and "Gossip Folks" I can asure there is no more delightful Pop-Rap-Hip Hop tracks around today, pretty music gems of the new millenium that will stand the test of time.

It's ridiculous to believe it now, but there was a time when we used to dance to hip-hop. Not just break dancing, but dancing. And not just the sexy girls in the videos either, but everybody. Remember the Wop? The Cabbage Patch? Remember It Takes Two? You Gots Ta Chill? Bonita Applebum? The Show? OPP? Jump Around? So what happened? When did the new funky nation turn into the crotch grabbing, head nodding zombies who made it uncool to celebrate the music?

Missy Elliot wants to know. In fact she wants to change it back. At the end of 'Work it' she says and rightly so, that back in the day even hardcore rappers used to dance. ...So here comes Missy with Under Constuction an album with no concept other than the art of moving butts and it's a masterpiece. The best hip-hop album since Stankonia or even Life After Death. If you love what hip-hop is, you?ll love this. If you love what hip-hop was, you?ll love this.

And yes you read right. Under Construction is hip-hop, not R&B. Not because she uses breakbeats, or that she raps or that rappers appear on the album, but because hip-hop is the only context in which such a record could have been possible. So while the debate over what is hip-hop raged, Missy and Timbaland went back to the drawing board and came back with a stunning new blueprint. A futuristic hip-hop album about the past. This is the first hip-hop record to take the music's legacy seriously. At the end of the stunning Work It (Easily 2002's best single) She cuts up the already slamming beat and rips in the unmistakable bell-bounce of Run DMC's Peter Piper. It's more than sampling. It?s standing on some mighty shoulders in the same way that The Rolling Stones stood on Muddy Waters or Eric Clapton stood on BB King.

Missy may the first of her generation to realise that to know where you are going you have to know where you've been. So when Double Dutch Bus creeps under Gossip Folks and Paul Revere twists itself out of Funky Fresh Dressed and Hot rips up the original Bronx style beat, she announcing that hip-hop can stand on something it never stood on before. Itself. But if you think Under Construction is just an exercise in well-meaning retro you'd be dead wrong.

Go to the floor, which never amounts lyrically to anything more than what it started out with, nonetheless gains a profoundness by the share wickedness of the beat. Missy may lack Jay Z's eloquence or Eminem's fury, but she has built entire cast of characters from twisting her voice like nobody else since George Clinton. With Oops Oh my, she gave Tweet a post dancehall beat. On Funky Fresh Dressed she snatches it back. Back in the Day rumbles with rock guitar while Slide hijacks majestic Arabian strings and ends up sounding like the real hip-hop version of Led Zeppelin's Kahmir (Sorry Puffy).

In Missy's world sex is everywhere, she's in control and the [explicit] ain't getting any bigga (or better). "If you broke, say you broke, all you blowing out yo [explicit]is smoke" she snarls in Play That Beat. But she's an insecure sex kitten in Pussycat, downright ordering her special body part to please her man lest he strays. It's a puzzling contradiction in a music that thrives on it. How do you reconcile the toughness of the music, some of the hardest ever recorded by a woman, with ridiculously submissive promises such as to wash her mans clothes and scold his [explicit]P>Missy doesn't bother, she lets her guests work it out. Her dependence on guest artists has always been the sore point on her albums, but Under Construction boast the fewest she's ever had. For a woman who gets constantly criticized for rapping, it's those cuts that are the strongest. She's fine with the bangers, almost cocksure, but not so confident with the ballads. That probably explains why she throws an entire song to Destinys Child's Beyoncé (Nothing out there for me). It also explains why the other ballads, Pussycat and Can you hear me, sound awkwardly passé for such a forward leaping artist.

But if the ballads flounder, the slammers slam. Work It and the album that surrounds it is 21st Century funk. ...In short it's the next thing, not just in Hip-hop or black music, but in sound itself.

This Cd has [good] tracks on it! It's not the best Missy Cd, Da Real World Still Holds That Honer, but it beats Miss E...So Addictive. So Addictive had good beats and some good songs, but editing or not saying the curse words in the songs, is not Missy. This cd is more like the true Missy.

Go To The Floor - Great track with a tight beat.
Bring The Pain - ... I love it, the beat is tight and old school.
Gossip Folks - Go Missy! ... This is an awesome song, Ludacris kicks [butt] on it.
Work It - Well Know and Catchy as all of Missy's Songs are.
Back In The Day - featuring Jay-Z, describes what 'true' hip hop is (was).
Funky Fresh Dressed - With Ms. Jade, Woooh, This one of the best tracks on here. I love it and the beat!
P***ycat - This song is an awesome song. Tweet completes this song.
Nothing Else Out There - Featuring Beyonce. A pretty good song, not the best.
Slide - Not a very good song the beat is kinda weak.
Play That Beat - Good Old School Song.
Ain't That Funny - Cool Song. Cool Beat.
Can You Hear Me - Featuring T-boz and Chile from TLC. This song is really sad, it's dedicated to the late Aalyiah and Left-Eye and the other hip-hop artists (B.I.G. & 2pac. for example)
Work It (Remix) - features 50 Cent. Ummmm It's practicaly the same as the orginal, not a real good song. the orginal is better.

This Cd has a lot of Old School on it, Missy did a great job at bringing back Old School, I highly recomend this cd!!