Miss E...So Addictive

by

Missy Elliott

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When Missy Elliott's sophomore album came in the form of "Da Real World," many fans were disappointed. She returned in 2001 with her third album, the majestic "Miss E...So Addictive." She silenced the critics and became one of the biggest female Hip-Hop stars of all time in the process. From the minute you play this CD you see a much tougher and independent Missy, who is taking no s**t from no one, and living her life the best way she knows how - through music. We're taken on a journey of discovery and revelation, along with aspects of love, sex, partying, drugs and much more.

The album opens with "So Addictive (Intro)" which features Tweet. Missy introduces her new superstar on the first track wonderfully with a 50 second cut about not needed drugs to get high. We then move onto the absolutely funky "Dog In Heat." I knew from the minute I heard this song that I loved it because it's such a hip-swayer! You just can't help but sway your head from side to side as you groove to Method Man's explicit rap, before you grind to Missy's catchy verses. The chorus is explosive, and this so should have been a single! "One Minute Man" follows, which was the big hit of summer 2001. Ludacris is awesome on this, and it's one of Missy's all-time classic joints. "Lick Shots" is definitely an album highlight with some crazy lyrics and some hilarious beats. The album's lead single, "Get Ur Freak On," follows. With one of the most addictive beats in history, this is truly a classic and possibly the greatest Hip-Hop song ever.

"Scream A.K.A Itchin'" sees Missy rapping like no tomorrow, before breaking out into opera after a few seconds! It sounds crazy, and it is - but in that absolutely amazing way. You can feel your bones jumping to this song, it's just incredible. "Old School Joint" is a brilliant song which sees Missy go back to the old school. She prepares young listeners before who could snigger at the reputation of old school music, but by the end she knows they've caught the groove and the beat. It's a fast song, and the beat flows brilliantly. "Take Away" features Ginuwine, and is a ballad! You'd never think of Missy doing a slow song in a love way, but of course she pulls it off and it's just a great chill-out track. "4 My People" is one of the greatest tunes of Missy's career. The verses seem to bounce up and down with the chorus, before Eve jumps in for one of the funniest raps I've ever heard. She's so out of control and rude that you can't help but laugh.

"Bus-A-Bus Interlude" features Busta Rhymes and it's absolutely hilarious. "Whatcha Gon' Do" features Timberland on vocals along with Missy, and it's the craziest song on the album. The way the murmurs are used as the beat is genius. "Step Off" features one of the most memorable baselines on the album. A soft Far Eastern beat infuses the song, with a sort of modern hi-tech computer whizz-kid feel. It's very strange, but it sounds so catchy and perfect. "X-tasy" is the song with drugs references, and features a swirling and soft beat that makes you feel like you're on drugs! "Slap! Slap! Slap!" features Da Brat and Jade. The beat is of Missy going, "Mmmm...yeah!" It's annoying at first, but it gets better. Then it stops and it's just another typical and brilliant cut. "I've Changed - Interlude" features Lil' Mo, before we are treated to a fabulous Remix of One Minute Man to close the album out.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

There must be about ten different Import version of this album, featuring so many different songs in different orders. This doesn't matter really, because all you need to know is that this was one of the greatest albums of 2001, and Missy really ripped the Hip-Hop rule book apart a bit more. Lauryn Hill did this with 1998's "The Miseducation Of" and so did Missy with "Miss E...So Addictive," but in totally different ways on different subjects. This is possibly my favourite R'n'B/Hip-Hop album ever and I recommend you buy it straight away! Easily Missy's greatest album.