Da Real World
Throughout the entirety ofDa Real World, Missy Elliott is determined to redefine the meaning of the negative, female-targeted b-word (the album was originally going to be titledShe's a Bitch). Inverting the term to represent a woman who knows what she wants, Missy exhibits her new attitude by aggressively showcasing her strong songwriting skills and superb vocal talents. Her lyrics are relatively simple, but perfectly complement the syncopated orchestrations of the often-imitated, never-duplicated producerTimbaland. Climactic strings dance around the voices of Missy,Nicole, andOutkast's Big Boi on "All N My Grill" and on "Busa Rhyme" a punctuating tone accentuates the dark confessions of featured MCEminem. A plethora of guests pepperDa Real World, but the multifaceted Missy is never outshone.--Celine Wong