Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Timbaland (rap vocals, programming); Brandy, Wyclef Jean, Candice "Gg" Nelson, Beenie Man (vocals); Magoo, Bubba Sparxxx, Sebastian, Missy Elliott, Attitude, Frank Lee White (rap vocals); Bill Pettaway, Kevin "Phantom" Rudolf (guitar); Hannon Lane, Steven "Lenky" Marsden (keyboards); Baker Boyz (vinyl scratches); Raje Shwari (background vocals). | | Recorded at The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, Florida. | | In the five years prior to 2003, few people had as much of an impact on the direction of hip-hop as Virginia-born producer Timbaland. In late 2002, he crafted a masterpiece with Missy Elliott's UNDER CONSTRUCTION, featuring fresh takes on the trademark swirling and frenetic beats that graced many of the more engaging rap records of the previous years. A sequel of sorts, UNDER CONSTRUCTION PART II officially pairs Timbaland with his frequent partner, the distinct-voiced Magoo, but, predictably, a number of stars also come out (including Wyclef Jean, Brandy, and Beenie Man), even though the show is truly stolen by the beats. | | A dead-on satire of NWA, "Straight Outta Virginia" opens up the affair, and the record is drenched in the history of hip-hop; within the first five minutes, references to classics from the Sugarhill Gang and Special Ed sneak in. Missy adds an intro to the party on "Cop That Sh**," and Timbaland's voice twin, Bubba Sparxxx, lends a hand to the party track "Shenanigans." Timbaland & Magoo are pitch-perfect vocal foils, and when combined with the former's production acumen and guest stars, the result is UNDER CONSTRUCTION PART II, a satisfying and intelligent hip-hop record. |
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| Entertainment Weekly (11/21/03, pp.86-7)
- "...[Timbaland is] hip-hop's most talented producer....[The album features] bass lines as big as semis and bubbling, hopscotching drum patterns that scramble like Walter Payton..." - Rating: BQ (2/04, p.106)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "[S]ome of the most abstract yet commercial funk ever constructed..." Mojo (Publisher)
(1/04, pp.96-7)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "[Straight Outta Virginia] provides UNDER CONSTRUCTION with a visceral opening thrill. 'Indian Flute', from the same album, is a sublime concoction." |
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