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Album Review
by SashaS
13-5-2001
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| Missy E |
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Missy Elliott: 'Miss E... So Addictive '
(Elektra)
When Missy Elliott drops discs, everybody listens
Most music, and hip-hop in particular, is imbalanced genderwise and it takes a woman like Missy 'Misdemeanour' Elliott to feminise it, wrestle it free from the WWF of rap-brethren and turn it into something trancscendent. 'Miss E... So Addictive' is the lady's third album and confirms her status as the genre's trendsetter par eminence.
'Miss E', it's claimed, ain't about dem circular sweeties but a metaphorical pointer to the assorted ways we all attempt to escape reality. Her co-trippers are Timbaland with his ever-fresh techniques, while Redman, Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z and Ludicris simply play into her hands. And this record isn't only episodically brilliant but has a higher purpose in mind...
Which can be paraphrased something like -a populace with drugged up delusions and high on lust and sex can still be redeemed. Blimey. Opener 'Dogs In Heat' teems with the proverbial wanton seed over a mighty Prince-Iike funk basis and there's sexuality-forthought galore in 'One Minute Man', offered in two versions. 'Lick Shots' killer electro-groove and the anthemic 'Get Ur Freak On' push the envelope in earnest.
In short, 'Missy E' gets well down and dirty, bypassing risque platitudes with something far more tangible and exciting to modern tastes. And when everything corporeal is exhausted she turns to God on concluding track 'Higher Ground' pleading not to be judged by the songs she sings or for missing a Sunday service.
The only pedestrian track is a ballad 'Take Away', but this actually serves to emphasise how outstanding the rest of the material is. With all due respect to other pretenders circling her crown, ' Missy E' is top of the rap tree, the work of a talent in her prime. And what a prime it is.
(8/10)
SashaS
13-5-2001
'Missy E... So Addictive' is released 14 May on Elektra / East West
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