The Cookbook

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Missy's back with her 6th album The Cookbook. The first single, 'Lose Control' features R&B princess Ciara and hip-hop motivator Man Scoop. Album also features additional production by long time friend and collaborator Timbaland and The Neptunes. Special guests include Tweet, Fantasia, Slick Rick, Mike Jones, Mary J Blige, Grand Puba and Lil Kim. Atlantic. 2005. .com ---- With The Cookbook, the innovative Missy Elliott proves to the masses she is a musical mad scientist whose artistic abilities are unparalleled and without peer. Elliott is a quadruple threat: rapper, singer, songwriter and producer; add that to her woman-empowered lyrics and Missy's ability to be a musical and mental role model is inarguable. As a producer, Missy Elliott knows how to build a great project by incorporating the best talent available, an easy task since so many want to work with her. Not surprisingly, The Cookbook is filled with a world-class guest list. That very large list includes American Idol winner Fantasia ( /exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/275334/%24%7B0%7D ), cRunk&B queen Ciara ( /exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/299307/%24%7B0%7D ), old-school rapper Slick Rick ( /exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/69698/%24%7B0%7D ), dancehall sensation M.I.A. ( /exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/299149/%24%7B0%7D ) (on the drumline-heavy "Bad Man") and the current queen of soul, Mary J. Blige ( /exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/74645/%24%7B0%7D ). In a reversal of roles, "My Struggles" finds Missy singing "Ya'll don't really know my life, y'all don't really know my struggles" while Mary J. raps over a sample of herself from "What's The 411." One unexpected surprise is Missy sings out more than on previous releases. The bare-s "Remember When" is a definite standout, a 70's-inspired slow jam highlighted by her honest lyrics, sweet falsetto and jazz-affected tones. The beautiful melancholy of "Teary Eyed" is another standout, an amen-inducing testament to a relationship gone wrong and the beginning of the healing process. To hear Missy sing with full rawness and no bravado is a further testament to her talents and will likely bring an even larger audience into her fold. -- Denise Sheppard