Under Construction - Missy Elliott
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
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  1. All Music Guide
    90
    One of the best rap LPs of the year.
  2. PopMatters
    50
    Unfortunately, a talented producer doesn't a great album make, as is the case with the shabby Under Construction.
  3. Pitchfork
    72
    A good record with some incredibly sick production work.
  4. Q Magazine
    80
    Fortunately, Elliott and Timbaland's idea of old school is rather unorthodox. [Jan 2003, p.121]
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  5. Uncut
    70
    When she's raised the stakes so high, anything less than the reinvention of music comes as a disappointment. [Jan 2003, p.122]
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  6. Mojo
    80
    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]
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  7. Rolling Stone
    80
    Under Construction, uninhibited and unpredictable, is her best yet.
  8. The A.V. Club
    80
    In the long shadow of death, Elliott and Timbaland's funky, feisty, infectious music joyously celebrates life.
  9. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    '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.
  10. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    With each album, Elliott has grown more confident and individualistic, not to mention more bizarre.
  11. Blender
    100
    Tempering futurism with retro-rap here, [Timbaland and Missy] feed the old through the new and refresh both. [#12, p.142]
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  12. Dot Music
    60
    '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.
  13. Playlouder
    80
    This is better than anyone could have expected.
  14. E! Online
    100
    Even with all the drama, Construction is Elliott's sturdiest creation yet.
  15. Launch.com
    70
    As good overall as the tracks here are, that bit about familiarity breeding contempt rings true.
  16. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    80
    Strange and wonderful.
  17. Mixer
    80
    Clever and catchy at every turn. [Jan 2003, p.74]
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  18. Ink Blot Magazine
    80
    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.
  19. Salon.com
    90
    Missy scores the highest marks in the qualities shared by all gifted rappers: rhymes, flow, cleverness and style.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. sM
    9
    It took me a while to like this album as a whole. But it's hit.
  2. JoshuaK
    10
    This CD is not only hott, but sends a good message! Missy has a great heart and spreads her love as much as possible!
  3. JaneS
    9
    This album is so good. If I could I would buy 10 more of them. Missy you did it again!
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