Missy Elliott: Under Construction

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Funky, sexy, silly and sad - that's the fourth album from Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It's also her best yet.

Elliott and production collaborator Timbaland have always managed a couple of cracking tracks on past offerings - such as the brilliant Get Ur Freak On from Miss E ... So Addictive - here, they just keep coming. That's right from the single Work It with its vintage electro beats and a well-placed elephant's honk behind hilarious come-hither lyrics. There are also great dollops of reinvented old-school funkiness on the soul-shaped Back in The Day (with Jay Z) and Funky Freshed Dressed. And whether it's Method Man (on Bring the Pain) or Beyonce Knowles (on Nothing Out There which nearly out-Destiny's Destiny's Child in its vocal arrangement) she makes smart use of her guest list.

Though Can You Hear Me, a collaboration with TLC and a tribute to the late Aaliyah (who Elliott produced) and Lisa Left Eye Lopes sure kills the fun factor. Oh well. The rest of Under Construction is terrific - and further evidence that she's the smartest and sassiest of the hip-hop divas.

Label: Elektra