It's really not that difficult to hurdle the sophomore blues provided you're an excellent songwriter and performer, that you have the same, equally excellent producer behind the scenes who contributed to the first album, and most importantly, that you haven't tampered with the hit-making formula from the first. Thankfully,
Da Real World is clearly a
Missy Elliott album in most respects, with
Timbaland's previously trademarked, futuristic-breakbeat production smarts laced throughout. The churchgoing
Elliott has often remarked that she wishes she didn't need profanity to get attention, and the album accordingly includes satirical nods to other clichéd notions of hip-hop -- the single "She's a Bitch" is the best example, wherein
Elliott reappropriates the insult to refer to strong females. She also takes on the cartoonish
Eminem for "Bus a Rhyme," a track that turns out to be one of the best on the album.
Da Brat and
Aaliyah make repeat appearances, and
Redman and
OutKast's
Big Boi also contribute to this excellent follow-up. ~ Keith Farley