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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Under Construction
by Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott reunites once again with super-producer Timbaland on this, her fourth studio album. The lead single is "Work It," a huge success even before the album's release. Guests on the disc include Jay-Z, Ludacris, Beyonce Knowles, TLC and Method Man.
| LABEL: |
Elektra/Asylum |
| RELEASE DATE: |
12 November 2002 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Rap, Dance, Urban |

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
100
E! Online
Even with all the drama, Construction is Elliott's sturdiest creation yet.

100
Blender
Tempering futurism with retro-rap here, [Timbaland and Missy] feed the old through the new and refresh both. [#12, p.142]
90
Salon.com
Missy scores the highest marks in the qualities shared by all gifted rappers: rhymes, flow, cleverness and style.

90
All Music Guide
One of the best rap LPs of the year.

83
Entertainment Weekly
With each album, Elliott has grown more confident and individualistic, not to mention more bizarre.

80
Ink Blot Magazine
Unlike most of her peers, she knows that fun is really the fifth element of hip-hop, and she keeps finding thrilling new ways to make this music danceable and fun.

80
Q Magazine
Fortunately, Elliott and Timbaland's idea of old school is rather unorthodox. [Jan 2003, p.121]
80
Mixer
Clever and catchy at every turn. [Jan 2003, p.74]
80
The Onion (A.V. Club)
In the long shadow of death, Elliott and Timbaland's funky, feisty, infectious music joyously celebrates life.

80
Rolling Stone
Under Construction, uninhibited and unpredictable, is her best yet.

80
Mojo
It's the first time in the history of the Missy-Timbaland team-up where, having delivered the goods early on and earned the space to do whatever theheck they like, they tread water instead of pushing things forward. [Album of the Month, Jan 2003, p.90]
80
Playlouder
This is better than anyone could have expected.

80
New York Magazine
Strange and wonderful.

80
New Musical Express
'Under Construction' is stuck all over with shocks and surprises, more than enough to keep the rogue-scientist glitchmasters who mutated 'Get Ur Freak On' in mischief for months.

72
Pitchfork
A good record with some incredibly sick production work.

70
Uncut
When she's raised the stakes so high, anything less than the reinvention of music comes as a disappointment. [Jan 2003, p.122]
70
Launch.com
As good overall as the tracks here are, that bit about familiarity breeding contempt rings true.

60
Dot Music
'Under Construction' isn't a retro album, so much as it's informed by both new and old. But it also isn't beyond question whether this return to roots doesn't conceal a lack of inspiration.

50
PopMatters
Unfortunately, a talented producer doesn't a great album make, as is the case with the shabby Under Construction.


The average user rating for this album is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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