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Iconology (EP)

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Iconology
A profile photo of Elliott with long, winding hair spelling "Missy" on a purple background
EP by
Missy Elliott
ReleasedAugust 23, 2019 (2019-08-23)
Recorded2018 – April 2019[1]
Genre
Length14:49
Label
Producer
  • Missy Elliott
  • Wili Hendrix
  • Angel Lopez
  • Timbaland
  • Federico Vindver
Missy Elliott chronology
Respect M.E.
(2006) 		Iconology
(2019)
Singles from Iconology
  1. "Throw It Back"
    Released: August 23, 2019[3][4]
  2. "DripDemeanor"
    Released: October 22, 2019[5]
  3. "Why I Still Love You"
    Released: January 17, 2020[6]
  4. "Cool Off"
    Released: April 21, 2020[7]

Iconology is the first extended play (EP) by American hip hop artist Missy Elliott, released on August 23, 2019. It is her first body of work since her 2005 album The Cookbook and her first release since Respect M.E.[8] The EP features a variety of musical genres that cover the breadth of her career as an artist and has received favorable reviews from critics.[9] It was released at a time when Elliott returned to music following a lengthy hiatus.

Background

[edit]
Missy Elliott
@MissyElliott
 Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird

At midnight tonight I'm dropping a collection of new songs! Let's #ThrowItBack to a time when music just felt good and made us want to dance! Sincerely, Dr. Melissa "Missy" Elliott #ICONOLOGY

August 22, 2019[10]

In June 2018, Mona Scott-Young mentioned that she was working with Elliott on a new project but gave no further details on the nature of it or when it would be publicly available.[11] Elliott had generally avoided public performances or recordings outside of guest appearances or occasional singles due to her diagnosis with Graves' disease[12] along with a fear that she was musically irrelevant;[13] Iconology follows the March 2019 release of her collaboration with Lizzo, "Tempo".[8] The following month, Elliott mentioned that she was finished recording an album but said that she would release details later.[1] By June, she was calling the project ME7 and announced the track "Summer" would be on it; she confirmed that she was working with Timbaland again.[14]

Composition

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Musically, Iconology is a pop,[2][15] hip hop and R&B EP reminiscent of Elliott's previous work.[15][16] The opening track, "Throw It Back" contains "trap snares and a serpentine bassline",[15] which along with the second track, "Cool Off", were described as "woozy, futuristic romps" containing "distorted bass lines and frenetic production".[16] Lyrically, "Throw It Back" contains references to Elliott's history, as well as previous collaborators Tweet and Heavy D.[15] Maura Johnson of Entertainment Weekly described "Cool Off" as calling "back to hip-hop’s two-turntables-and-a-mic early days".[15] "DripDemeanor" has been described as a slow jam that explores Elliott's "sensuous side".[15][16] Musically, it contains "plush synths [that] skip-step underneath" the song's beat.[15] "Why I Still Love You" is a doo-wop song with gospel influences[16] and jazz influence[17] that lyrically chronicles the singer's "conflicted emotions about holding on to a cheating lover". The EP closes with an a cappella version of "Why I Still Love You".

Elliott was motivated to write uplifting music to counter mainstream trends and encourage more dance music to feel good.[18]

Promotion

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Elliott announced the album via social media as a surprise release several hours prior to the album release.[8] Additionally, Elliott was set to be honored at the MTV Video Music Awards as well as performing at the ceremony for the first time in 16 years.[19][20] Upon release of the album, Elliott also released the lead single, "Throw It Back", with a music video[3][4] featuring Teyana Taylor.[21] "DripDemeanor" was released as the album's second single on October 22.[22][5] "Why I Still Love You" was released as the third single on January 17, 2020.[6] "Cool Off" was released as the fourth single from the EP on April 21, 2020.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[23]
Entertainment WeeklyB[15]
HipHopDX3.9/5[2]
The Line of Best Fit9/10[17]
NME[24]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[25]
Pitchfork4.6/10[26]
PopMatters[27]
Rolling Stone[25]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Iconology received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 73 out of 100 from ten critic scores.[9] Album of the Year assessed the critical consensus as a 67 out of 100.[28] Jem Aswad of Variety gave the EP a positive review, calling it "more like a hearty appetizer than a full meal" and noting, "And although the passage of time has inevitably made her sound evoke feelings of nostalgia, these songs are also completely now".[29] Entertainment Weekly's Maura Johnson gave Iconology a B, calling it "a bit of a letdown" but made up of strong material.[15] In the Los Angeles Times, Gerrick D. Kennedy calls the EP "a brief reminder of the performer’s genius".[16] Anika Reed of USA Today reacted to the record positively, writing "the project brings back the Missy fans know and love, with booming bass beats that are the perfect backdrop to showcase her lyrical prowess".[30]

Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic gave a mixed review, praising the basic musicality but criticizing it for lacking the experimentation of Elliott's earlier career and saying that the release is "perplexing" with each song "feel[ing] driven by a desire to make a point".[31] In NME, Will Lavin described the record as a "a versatile mixed bag" but criticised it for not being a full-length release.[24] Shannon Miller of The A.V. Club agreed with other reviewers that the EP is too brief to satisfy fans but instead argued that the release is a sampler of many of Elliott's styles and wrote that the music "serve[s] as further reassertion of her lasting impact on the industry as a whole... [and] works to further cement her indelible imprint on popular entertainment".[32] Aaron Williams of Uproxx also compared this work to Elliott's 2002 album, Under Construction and her other musical influences while emphasizing her originality on this release.[33]

In the Mail & Guardian, Zaza Hlalethwa takes the opportunity to review Elliott's career through Iconology and the VMA award, noting how Elliott's signature vocal delivery has influenced further artists and her music video aesthetic remains unique, even among other musicians who have followed since her debut; the reviewer asserts that the work "pushes no boundaries" while still showcasing the artist's strengths.[34] Paul Thompson of Vulture gave a brief, mixed review that praises her vocal work but calls the first two opening tracks "replacement-level trap numbers".[35] Dan Weiss of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the EP 3.5 out of five stars, calling it "an exceedingly slapdash and minimal release... rush-released to cash in on Missy Elliott's Video Vanguard honor" but praising the actual content, including Elliott's vocal performance on the a capella track.[25] Rob Sheffield also emphasized the greatness of Elliott as an artist and ends his Rolling Stone review, "It’s a vital reminder of why we’ve been missing her so much. And of why she'll always be welcome back."[36] Fred Thomas of AllMusic called the album, "a brief and somewhat awkward sampling of various genre exercises, all fun and lively but nowhere near the excellence of Elliott's best" and the editorial staff of the site gave it three out of five stars.[23]

After the site declared the release one of the most anticipated of the year in January,[37] Pitchfork's Stephen Kearse gave the EP a score of 4.6 out of 10, calling it rushed and stating, "There's nothing insightful or fun about Missy looking back rather than ahead, especially when she's already released two compilation records during her hiatus."[26] PopMatters' Elisabeth Woronzoff gave the album eight out of 10, echoing the desire for more work from Elliot, calling this a "welcomed returned and a hopeful teaser for upcoming projects".[27]

Track listing

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes.[38]

  1. "Throw It Back" (Michael Aristotle, William Jared Buggs, Missy Elliott, and Quintin Ernest Talbert) – 3:13
  2. "Cool Off" (Aristotle, Buggs, Elliott, Talbert) – 2:15
  3. "DripDemeanor" (Corte Ellis, Elliott, and Timothy Mosley) – 3:52
  4. "Why I Still Love You" (Elliott and Timbaland) – 2:49
  5. "Why I Still Love You" (Acapella) (Elliott and Timbaland) – 2:40

Personnel

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  • Missy Elliott – lead artist, songwriter, production on "DripDemeanor"
  • Brandon Black – synth bass, vocoder on "DripDemeanor"
  • Chris Godbey – engineering
  • Wili Hendrix – production on "Throw It Back" and "Cool Off"
  • Angel Lopez – co-production on "Why I Still Love You" and "Why I Still Love You" (Acapella)
  • Glenn Schick – mastering
  • Sum1 – vocals on "DripDemeanor"
  • Timbaland – production on "DripDemeanor", "Why I Still Love You", and "Why I Still Love You" (Acapella)
  • Federico Vindver – co-production on "Why I Still Love You" and "Why I Still Love You" (Acapella)
  • Finis "KY" White – mixing

Charts

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Chart performance of Iconology
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[39] 52
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 68
US Billboard 200[41] 24
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[42] 15

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Miss2Bees (June 1, 2019). "Missy Elliott Says She's 'Finished' Recording Her Upcoming Album". The Source. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c Garrett, Ural (August 27, 2019). "Review: Iconology Proves Missy Elliott Can Still Craft High-Level Hip Hop with Slick Pop Sensibilities". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "First Stream: New Music From Taylor Swift, Missy Elliott, Brockhampton & More". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Missy Elliott drops surprise 'Iconology' EP and new single 'Throw It Back'". ABC News. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Hahn, Rachel (January 16, 2020). "From Supremes-Era' 60s Glamour to '80s Punk, Missy Elliott Does It All in Her New Video". Vogue. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Sinha, Charu (April 21, 2020). "Missy Elliott Is a Work of Art in 'Cool Off' Music Video". Vulture. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Miller, Shannon (August 22, 2019). "Missy Elliott Is Releasing a New Album at Midnight, So Sleep Can Go to Hell". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Iconology by Missy Elliott Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic.
  10. ^ Missy Elliott [@MissyElliott] (August 22, 2019). "At midnight tonight I'm dropping a collection of new songs! Let's #ThrowItBack to a time when music just felt good and made us want to dance! Sincerely, Dr. Melissa "Missy" Elliott #ICONOLOGY" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Love & Hip Hop Executive Producer Mona Scott-Young to Release First Novel". Variety. June 13, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  12. ^ Jones, Marcus (August 22, 2019). "Missy Elliott Is Dropping Her First Collection of Songs in Over a Decade". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  13. ^ "Kesha, Major Lazer and Missy Elliott: What We Know About New Music". Billboard. August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  14. ^ "Missy Elliott and Timbaland Have a Song Called 'Summer' on the Way". Vibe. June 28, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i Johnson, Maura (August 23, 2019). "On Iconography, Missy Elliott Is Still Blazing a Trail for Pop Weirdness". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  16. ^ a b c d e Kennedy, Gerrick D. (August 22, 2019). "Missy Elliott's Iconology Marks the Triumphant Return of a Hip-Hop Visionary". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  17. ^ a b Mahalingam, Udit (August 26, 2019). "Missy Elliott Is Back and More Potent Than Ever". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  18. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (August 29, 2019). "Missy Elliott Talks VMAs Afterglow: 'People Are Wanting to Hear Some Missy!'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  19. ^ Harmata, Claudia (August 22, 2019). "Missy Elliott Reveals She's Dropping Surprise Album Iconology at Midnight in Advance of VMAs". People. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  20. ^ Low, Elaine (August 12, 2019). "Missy Elliott to Receive Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at 2019 VMAs". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  21. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (August 23, 2019). "Missy Elliott Drops 'ICONOLOGY' Project and 'Throw It Back' Video". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  22. ^ Miller, Shannon (October 17, 2019). "Send the Kids to Bed Early: Missy Elliott Drops the Leather-Clad Music Video for 'DripDemeanor'". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  23. ^ a b Thomas, Fred. "Iconology – Missy Elliott". AllMusic. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  24. ^ a b Lavin, Will (August 26, 2019). "Missy Elliott – Iconology EP Review". NME. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  25. ^ a b c Weiss, Dan (August 29, 2019). "Album Reviews: Missy Elliott, Bon Iver, Rodney Crowell". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  26. ^ a b Kearse, Stephen (August 31, 2019). "Missy Elliott: Iconology Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  27. ^ a b Woronzoff, Elisabeth (September 5, 2019). "Missy Elliott Remains Relevant and Just as Revolutionary as Ever on Iconology". PopMatters. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  28. ^ "Missy Elliott –Iconology". Album of the Year. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  29. ^ Aswad, Jem (August 23, 2019). "EP Review: Missy Elliott's Iconology". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  30. ^ Reed, Anika. "Missy Elliott claims her icon status with new 'Iconology' EP, 'Throw It Back' music video". USA Today. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  31. ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (August 26, 2019). "Missy Elliott Is Reclaiming Her Legacy". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  32. ^ Miller, Shannon (August 27, 2019). "Missy Elliott, Iconology, and the Impact of Belated Praise". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  33. ^ Williams, Aaron (August 28, 2019). "Missy Elliott's Iconology Proves She's Still as Innovative as Ever". Uproxx. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  34. ^ Hlalethwa, Zaza (August 28, 2019). "Missy Elliot Reasserts Her Reign". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  35. ^ Thompson, Paul (August 28, 2019). "The Return of Missy Elliott, Icon". Vulture. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  36. ^ Sheffield, Rob (August 30, 2019). "Missy Elliott's Iconology Reminds Us Why She's One of the All-Time Greats". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  37. ^ Kim, Michelle (January 4, 2019). "The 33 Albums We're Most Excited for in 2019". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  38. ^ Iconology (liner notes). Atlantic Records. 2019.
  39. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  40. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Missy Elliott – Iconology %5BEP%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  41. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  42. ^ "Missy Elliot Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
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