Missy Elliott - This is Not a Test

There's a reason rap enthusiasts breathlessly await new Missy albums. Maybe it's because her work is so uninhibited--who else but Missy would marvel at the magic of, er, self-love gadgets like she does on "Toyz"? And tastefully too! Perhaps most A-list rap stars don't need sexual aids to get their groove on, but Missy's looking out for the 95 percent of the female rap population who might not look like Halle Berry. Some would apologetically rock fake hair extensions, but Missy celebrates them on "Let Me Fix My Weave." The self-deprecation continues on the jazzy "I'm Not Perfect." But This Is Not a Test is not all about Miss E. With her beat-wizard buddy Timbaland, she's on a crusade to revitalize what they feel is a stagnating commercial rap marketplace. It reaches its apex on "Wake Up" (featuring Jay-Z), where she reminds us that wearing big Liberace chains and driving high-end sport utility vehicles is not all that important. Sure, most of the guest collaborations here either sound unpolished or unnecessary, but, like Bahamadia, Missy's one of the few modern-day femcees who would rather push envelopes than lick 'em. Despite its title, this album does test rap's experimental boundaries with much success. --Dalton Higgins Amazon.com

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I remember when Missy was on 106 & Park promoting this album, they asked her how she got the album done so fast. Missy bluntly replied that her record label made her. (It was released, more or less, just a year after Under Construction. For some reason, instead of trying to promote that excellent album, they stopped everything and made her go back and record another. It goes to show you just how dumb the people at Elekatra Records were. Since then, the record label has fallen to pieces and their artists have been handed over to Atlantic Records. Sylvia Rhone, who used to be the head of Elektra, went to Motown Records and is screwing up eveything there,too.)

So probably even Missy knows this is not her best work. The prodcution is nice and I can listen to the whole album without skipping a song, but some just sound plain and rushed. Missy starts doing some of her own production on here, which is alright. Even Timbaland's beats do not sound as fresh.

Don't get me wrong... I really like this album, and if anybody else recorded it, it would've been fine. I'm just expressing that this is not her best work ever. As I said before, I can listen to the whole album without skipping, so it is good. (I am not being generous with the rating, it's really four stars.) I would recommend buying this, maybe used, but buy Da Real World or Under Construction before. Those are her two best in my opinion. This is definitely nothing near to her worst, though.
December 9, 2006

2nd Time Around

Missy came back again with another knockout album. This Is Not A Test is a true testament that life doesn't revolve around material things, but having a good time, and having God in your life and making sure you are still grounded and having family and friends is important. The tracks are not stellar by any means, but they are funny and danceable. Some of the songs that she sings are mediocre- due to the limitness of her alto, but she can sing with as much conviction as a dead cocateau. Overall, I like the whole album, not one of her best, but it's better than the first 3! Grade: B- May 16, 2006

Not Her Best, But Not Bad

While THIS IS NOT A TEST! is definitely not the highlight of Missy Elliott's discography, it is by no means a bad album. This is still signature Missy with her R&B balladry and alternative rap "freshness". The production is flawless and the arrangements are as unpredictable as ever. Missy spits rhymes and croons sultry ballads. Yet, THIS IS NOT A TEST! does have its high points as well as low points.

As per the other Missy Elliott's albums, the album begins with an intro which in this instance features Mary J. Blige. Then when proceed into "Pass That Dutch", one of the albums better tracks, but it isn't stellar by any means. It lacks the hit quality that songs like "Get Ur Freak On" (MissE...So Addictive) or "Work It" (Under Construction) had. It is still fun nonetheless.

The next song is "Wake Up" which features Jay-Z. While the background arrangment and drum programming are cool, the song has flaws. Missy's rhyme is fine, but Jay-Z surprisingly delivers a rather average if not mediocre performance, a surprise for the great Hov. Either way, the hook to this selection is surprisingly catchy, which saves it.

Skipping "fillers" such as "Keep It Moving" feat. Elephant Man and "Is This Our Last Time" feat. Fabolous, the next mega moment of THIS IS NOT A TEST! is "I'm Really Hot". This is by far the highlight of the album. Not only is it signature Missy, its hook is really catchy making it easily comparable to "Get Ur Freak On" and "Work It". This makes the album worth it. Following it is a not too shabby, fun duet with R. Kelly called "Dats What I'm Talkin'About" in which Missy goes into R&B diva mode with the great Pied Piper of R&B himself. Sure, it can't compare to the classicism of say "Take Away" which feature Missy & Ginuwine (MissE...So Addictive), but it is again, a better track.

"Don't Be Cruel" is okay, yet it doesn't hold its own against tracks such as "I'm Really Hot". "Toyz" is fine as well, but you begin to see diminishing quality, which makes THIS IS NOT A TEST! slightly weaker than Missy's previous titles. Still, as "I'm Really Hot" states... "radio says I'm killin' 'em"; That statement couldn't be truer, even on this lesser effort. Missy is what creativity is about and what music is about; she tries not to conform which makes her different and makes each and every album she releases very unique, engaging, and exciting. I've already reviewed and listened to THE COOKBOOK and Missy raises the bar, just as she did on previous albums. Either way, this is still a 3.5 to 4 star album for me. I highly recommend Missy! July 8, 2005

I really like this album.

This album is very hilarious and fun to dance to. Missy is so gifted. I really think she could be a comedian if she wasn't an EMCEE. Her singing isn't bad either. I was really impressed with this album. I didn't give it five stars because I can skip several songs on this CD, but otherwise I was very impressed. Her standout songs are Pass That Dutch, I'm Really Hot, Dats What I'm Talkin' About, Toyz, Don't Be Cruel, and Let it Bump. If the CD wasn't filled with moaning I'd give it 5 stars. June 24, 2005

Test for Missy

I remember this album when I was in the 11th grade. This album is boisterous and the beats are tight. I love this CD. This album was to set aside all prior achievements,and free herself of any pre-conceived notions as to what the album should sound like. This album was not an exception. Timbaland produced the bulk of this album. The album adds some new moves to her game,including a nod to the kind of '60's black activism. She offered a hip hop remisx to the black power movement,threading some socially conscious food-for-thought amongst the album's songs. Her trademark ciphering an instinctual ability to build characters out of the strangest sounds and atmospherics is in full display on the album. The album also reflect some past nuggets. This album has been certified Platinum. Remember,this was 2003-2004. June 15, 2005

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