'Under Construction'

There's something refreshing about Missy Elliott's "Under Construction."

For one, I think she raps in order to do more rapping. I don't think she's looking to do movies or TV. She's not going to endorse Vitamin Water or Dr Pepper. She's also successful enough to be able to release albums when she wants.

Two, she raps about what she likes or knows. She doesn't try to play hard or purport some gangsta image in order to sell more records or whatever. With that said, Elliott ain't exactly deep or anything. She cares about one thing and one thing only:

Sex.

And she is not ashamed of it and even admits that sex tends to get swept under the rug out of convenience. It's true. There's no one action that is thought about and acted upon more than sex that is talked about the least. Hell, there's public service announcements urging parents to talk about sex.

Although I think Elliott's a little egotistical with her diatribes about being peaceful and remembering all the people that have died. You know, from September 11 to Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.