Da Real World is the second studio album by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, released on June 22, 1999, by East West, Elektra, and The Goldmind. The album is noted for adding a raunchier and darker style to Elliott's music, as well as including the overt political use of the term "bitch". The album features guest appearances from B.G., Juvenile, Lil' Mo, Nicole, Beyoncé, Eve, Eminem, Lady Saw, Da Brat, Aaliyah, Big Boi of Outkast, Lil' Kim, MC Solaar, and Redman.

Da Real World
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 22, 1999 (1999-06-22)
Recorded1998–1999
StudioMaster Sound Studios
(Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Genre
Length62:00
Label
ProducerTimbaland
Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott chronology
Supa Dupa Fly
(1997)
Da Real World
(1999)
Miss E... So Addictive
(2001)
Singles from Da Real World
  1. "She's a Bitch"
    Released: April 20, 1999
  2. "All n My Grill"
    Released: September 13, 1999
  3. "Hot Boyz (Remix)"
    Released: November 9, 1999

The album debuted at number ten on the US Billboard 200 chart.[1] The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[2] It spawned the singles "She's a Bitch", "All N My Grill", and "Hot Boyz (Remix)".

Background

edit

Originally titled She's a Bitch, Elliott commented on the choice for the title as a positive way of expressing herself as a "strong woman in power"; she also stated that she felt very pressured while recording this album, and explained that she was afraid of experiencing a sophomore slump.[citation needed] Elliott dedicated the album to the victims of the Columbine High School massacre.[citation needed]

Singles

edit

On March 4, 1999, "She's a Bitch" was sent to local radio stations in the United States as the lead single for the album. Elliott went on to release two additional singles: "All n My Grill" and "Hot Boyz (Remix)", featuring Eve, Nas, and Lil' Mo.

Critical reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[4]
The Guardian     [5]
Los Angeles Times    [6]
Muzik     [7]
NME7/10[8]
Pitchfork8.0/10[9]
Q     [10]
Rolling Stone     [11]
Spin8/10[12]

Da Real World received critical acclaim from music critics. Keith Farley of AllMusic declared it an "excellent follow-up" and added that "it's clearly a Missy Elliott album in most respects, with Timbaland's previously trademarked, futuristic-breakbeat production smarts laced throughout."[3] Entertainment Weekly felt that "Da Real World marks steps in several right directions — both for rap and for understanding the never-ending battle of the sexes."[4]

Touré of Rolling Stone compared the album to George Lucas's epic space opera Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) and wrote: "Da Real World is much-anticipated and futuristic, with a hype that outstrips the reality. The concept is more interesting than the execution." He added that "even if Da Real World isn't a successful one, the album, somewhat, recalls Queen Latifah."[11]

Commercial performance

edit

Da Real World debuted at number ten on the US Billboard 200 chart, becoming Elliott's second top-ten debut and staying on the chart for a total of 39 weeks.[1] On February 4, 2000, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over a million copies in the United States.[2] As of November 2015, the album has sold 1,068,000 copies in the US.[13]

Track listing

edit

All songs produced by Timbaland. Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[14]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mysterious" (Intro) 1:07
2."Beat Biters"4:24
3."Busa Rhyme" (featuring Eminem)5:01
4."All n My Grill" (featuring Big Boi and Nicole Wray)
4:44
5."Dangerous Mouths" (featuring Redman)
3:29
6."Hot Boyz"
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
3:36
7."You Don't Know" (featuring Lil' Mo)
4:48
8."Mr. D.J." (featuring Lady Saw)
4:30
9."Checkin' for You (Interlude)" (featuring Lil' Kim)
2:09
10."Stickin' Chickens" (featuring Aaliyah and Da Brat)
4:55
11."Smooth Chick"
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
4:18
12."We Did It"
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
3:51
13."Throw Your Hands Up (Interlude)" (featuring Lil' Kim)
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
  • Jones
1:18
14."She's a Bitch"
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
4:00
15."U Can't Resist" (featuring Juvenile and B.G.)4:37
16."Crazy Feelings" (featuring Beyoncé)
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
4:34
17."Religious Blessings" (Outro) 0:39
Total length:62:00
Europe bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
18."All n My Grill" (featuring MC Solaar and Nicole Wray)
  • Elliott
  • Mosley
4:47
Total length:66:47

Sample credits[14]

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Certifications for Da Real World
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[28] Platinum 1,068,000[13]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Release dates and formats for Da Real World
Region Date Format Label
United States June 22, 1999
United Kingdom June 24, 1999

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Billboard Chart History – Missy Elliott". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "RIAA Certifications – Missy Elliott". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Farley, Keith. "Da Real World – Missy Elliott". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Browne, David (June 25, 1999). "Da Real World". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  5. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (June 25, 1999). "Danger mouth". The Guardian.
  6. ^ Weingarten, Marc (June 20, 1999). "Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott; 'Da Real World'; Gold Mind/EastWest". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  7. ^ Crysell, Andy (August 1999). "Missy Elliott: Da Real World (EastWest)". Muzik (51): 79.
  8. ^ Patterson, Sylvia (June 19, 1999). "Missy Elliott – Da Real World". NME. Archived from the original on October 16, 2000. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  9. ^ Hope, Clover (October 27, 2024). "Missy Elliott: Da Real World". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "Missy Elliott: Da Real World". Q. No. 155. August 1999. p. 103.
  11. ^ a b Touré (July 8, 1999). "Missy Elliott: Da Real World". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  12. ^ Seymour, Craig (August 1999). "Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott: Da Real World". Spin. Vol. 15, no. 8. p. 150. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Trust, Gary (November 22, 2015). "Ask Billboard: Missy Elliott's Career Album Sales". Billboard. Los Angeles, California: Valence Media. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Da Real World (booklet). Elektra, The Goldmind. 1999.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8398". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  16. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Missy Misdemeanor Elliott – Da Real World" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  17. ^ "Lescharts.com – Missy Misdemeanor Elliott – Da Real World". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Missy Misdemeanor Elliott – Da Real World" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Missy Misdemeanor Elliott – Da Real World". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Missy Misdemeanor Elliott – Da Real World". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  22. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  23. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  24. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  25. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  26. ^ "1999 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-56. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  27. ^ "British album certifications – Missy Elliott – Da Real World". British Phonographic Industry.
  28. ^ "American album certifications – Missy Elliott – Da Real World". Recording Industry Association of America.
edit