This is Not a Test

ELLIOTT MISSY 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