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MISSY ELLIOTT - "THE COOKBOOK" - (GOLDMIND/ATLANTIC)
On her latest effort, "The Cookbook," Missy Elliott continues to up the ante in terms of production and sheer entertainment value. Her previous experience as a record producer means that she is just as comfortable at a mixing board as she is in front of a microphone.
The album's liner notes suggest that "The Cookbook" is laid out to resemble a full-course meal, from the starters and sides of the tracks "Joy" and "Partytime" that begin the CD, to the liquid refreshers of "My Man," "Teary Eyed" and "Bad Man" that end the record, Elliott serves as your musical Emeril, hitting just about every note with her own signature version of "Bam!"
Standout tracks include "Irresistible Delicious" (which benefits from the always smooth rhymes of veteran rapper Slick Rick), the decidedly adult-oriented "Meltdown" (there is a warning sticker on the CD's cover), and "We Run This," which features a sample from the Sugarhill Gang's "Apache" that eventually gives way to what sounds like a college marching band.
Other guests on "The Cookbook" include Mary J. Blige, Grand Puba, Ciara, Fat Man Scoop, Mike Jones, and even "American Idol Season 3" winner, Fantasia. Despite the illustrious guest list at this musical smorgasbord though, it is still Elliott who comes out on top.
Sure, she could have chosen to remain just a really stellar...