Album Review: Missy Elliott - Iconology

After a 14-year hiatus, Grammy-winning hip-hop icon Missy Elliott returns with an enjoyable, five-song EP, Iconology, which celebrates her career.  

Following her sixth studio album, The Cookbook (2005), Grammy-winning rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer Missy Elliott essentially went missing in action.  Sure, the female hip-hop artist had done more than enough over the course of six albums to solidify her ‘iconic’ status, but for hardcore fans like myself, it was a loss not hearing female rap’s most prolific voice anymore.  There was one particular notable reason for the extended hiatus, a battle with Graves’ disease.  After receiving long overdue recognition with MTV’s VMAs Video Vanguard Award, Elliott sweetened the experience by dropping her first multi-song project in 14 years, Iconology . Comprised of five songs, Iconology shows the different facets of Elliott’s iconic artistry over the years.

“Different kind of chick (Chick), we are not the same (The same) / I raised all these babies, call me Katherine Jackson (‘Son).” The key piece of Iconology is the opener, ✓ ‘Throw It Back.’ This is a contemporary hip-hop record, particularly in regard to the sleek nature of the production work.  As far as the content, the repetitive chorus, is a perfect example how Missy Elliott ‘fits the bill of’ simplistic, flex-driven nature that rap employs.  Even with a simple approach, Elliott also reflects back, schooling a new group of listeners who may not be aware of her accomplishments, hence, throwing it back (“Watch me throw it back”).  Making ‘Throw It Back’ even more alluring is the accompanying music video which is arguably better than the song itself.

‘Cool Off’ goes even dumber, giving off those danceable Missy Elliott vibes.  Like ‘Throw it Back,’ the flex continues as she asserts, “Back in this bitch, Missy hoppin’ out the sunroof / I got ‘bout hundred coupes, shooters with me, hundred troops.” Also like ‘Throw it Back,’ the hook is repetitive, built more on its energy than depth: “Cool off / Cool off, cool off, cool off.”  Give her credit on the second verse for referencing her own song (‘Lose Control’) and Jay-Z, while on the third verse, she references her fisheye lens video for ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’.

So, how does Iconology stack up? First and foremost, it’s just a blessing to hear Missy Elliott back in the game.  That’s the big takeaway from this five-song EP.  Is this Elliott at her most classic or finest? No, of course not.  None of the songs dare approach the classicism of her gems, but who expected them to in the first place.  Still, Iconology is enjoyable through and through its brief runtime, with ‘Throw it Back’ being the crowning achievement, while ‘Why I Still Love You’ shows she’s still got mad singing chops.  Not a classic, but a welcome comeback.