Led by the 80s-inspired club theme song “Lose Control,” Missy Elliot‘s The Cookbook was one of the best pop albums of 2005. Despite its strong start, the album faded from the charts due to the poor performance of project’s released singles. While the album did not meet the same success as the rapper’s previous efforts, The Cookbook is an energetic concoction of lyrical wit and sonic bliss.

The Cookbook was the perfect demonstration of Missy’s talents and diverse influences. Gracefully, the album has multiple personalities–it combines the sounds of early rap ,  pleasant R&B mid-tempos, futuristic hip-hop bangers and even a touch of the Caribbean. What could of turned out to be an inconsistent and sloppy collection of songs is an album that sucessfuly transports listeners into the core of Missy’s  eclectic, unique and in-your-face creativity.

ALSO LISTEN TO: “My Stuggles”, “Click Clack,” “Can’t Stop,” “Bad Man”

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