Under Construction Pt II (Vinyl) (Reissue)

The second part of a record that Timbaland apparently began with Missy Elliott's Under Construction, this one may have a few similarities -- the stylistic bent and the production finesse certainly -- but the replacement of an energized rapper like Missy with a mush-mouthed mess like Magoo (Timbaland's usual henchman) could be an immediate deal-breaker. Fortunately for fans of the most exciting producer in hip-hop (superstar favorites Neptunes are to Timba little more than what a pop princess like Britney Spears is to the intriguing, multitalented Pink), Timbaland keeps Magoo in the background while offering a wide-ranging set of backing tracks with limber percussion, speaker-rattling subbass, and very little else.

Under Construction, Pt. II is the most spartan record of his solo career. Timbaland's still very proprietary with his sound, warning off biters with "Don't Make Me Take It There," "That Sh** Ain't Gonna Work," and "Can We Do It Again," then cautioning bootleggers with the sure hit "Cop That Disc" (the only track that features Missy). Aside from Missy and Bubba Sparxxx, Timba's actually the best rapper on display, much improved from his previous solo shots or his infrequent rhymes on other artists' records.