The Cookbook

by

Missy Elliott

Edit

Missy Elliot is back with her sixth album as she continues to change the game. The Cookbook is another installment in Missy's ever creative classic catalog. Simple. If Missy needs an introduction by now well you just need to hit the hip hop history books ( or my older reviews of her albums!). The first single released off the album LOSE CONTROL featuring R&B vixen Ciara and hype man Fatman Scoop is possibly the most energetic song Missy has done so far in her career. Can you say Crunk? I can...CRUNK. That song right there is so fire...another addition to Missy's greatest hits collection (I'm bout to make me one!). Everybody here get it outta control get yo back off the wall cause misdemeanor said so! hey hey hey....sorry had a 'moment' right there. The rest of the album delivers as well in classic Missy fashion...the only thing different about this release is that Missy only enlists Timbaland for a measly two tracks. We need more Timbaland...please come out of retirement! However Missy gets the job done producing and the people she enlisted do a great job. Scott Storch (he's becoming one of my favorites with every track) steals the show on Meltdown with a very smooth production and Missy completely rips it up & down as she talks about "relationsips". This song is a classic. The Neptunes drop by and continue with their great beats for On & On. Missy's flow on this song is so tight; she is so unique, funky, catchy, versatile and amazing. She and Lauryn Hill are the best female rappers ever in the game. There's almost no comparison. Almost every song is bumpin, a head nodder. Remember When, 4 My Man, Can't Stop (I don't know what the others are talking about this song is riding!), Click Clack, and Time & Time Again are my favorites. Missy definitely delivers on this offering and I'm going back for seconds AND thirds! Damn I'm greedy! 5 stars.

I have always been a fan of Missy Elliot, that is until she came out with The Cookbook. Throughout the whole CD I had to keep reminding myself of who I was listening to. All I have to say about her sixth album is new look and definitly new sound.

Compared to her other five albums this one was most definitly a disappointment. Not only did The Cookbook lack that presence from beat specialist producer Timberland but it also lacked that certain lyrical content that Missy is known for. This album was filled with slow jam type of songs and a very poor use of sampling. All throughout track 10 "Cant Stop", I was thinking to myself that the song just was not right without Amerie voice on the track. Also the beat for the track titled "We Run This" is one that I would associate more with Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air instead of a hit single from Missy Elliot. Some people may say that you need to try something new every once and a while but in Missy's case she should have stuck to the old.

The songs that were actually tolerble to listen to were somewhat similar to her previous songs. The track "Lose Control" had to have been the best song on the album but may as well ben titled Work It Part II. The beats were somewhat similar and so were the music videos. Some of the other tracks were okay...Joy, Meltdown and Mommy.

After hearing singles like Work It, Gossip Folks, Pass That Dutch, Lick Shots, Get Ur Freak On, and I could go on nameing some of her classical hits, but I have to say I was just disappointed with this album and the lack of radio and club banging Missy hits.

Those that gave this CD a good review either have not listened to any of Missy's first couple of albums or are just completly tone deaf. All in all I would not recommend this album to anyone over her pervious ones. Even though this may have been the worst I have faith that Missy can come back with some more club banging hits in the coming years.

Like I said before new looking Missy and new sound.....where is TIMBERLAND?????