Da Real World is the second studio album by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, released on June 22, 1999 by 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.
The album debuted at number ten on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 131,000 copies.[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)", and has sold 2 million units worldwide.
Background
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. Elliott dedicated the album to the victims of the Columbine High School massacre.
Singles
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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[4] |
| The Guardian | [5] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [6] |
| Muzik | [7] |
| NME | 7/10[8] |
| Q | [9] |
| Rolling Stone | [10] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
| Spin | 8/10[12] |
Da Real World received 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."[10]
Commercial performance
Da Real World debuted at number ten on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 131,000 copies in its first week, becoming Elliott's second top-ten debut.[1] The album stayed 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
All songs produced by Timbaland. Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[14]
| No. | Title | Writer(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" (featuring Lil' Mo) |
| 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" |
| 4:18 |
| 12. | "We Did It" |
| 3:51 |
| 13. | "Throw Your Hands Up (Interlude)" (featuring Lil' Kim) |
| 1:18 |
| 14. | "She's a Bitch" |
| 4:00 |
| 15. | "U Can't Resist" (featuring Juvenile and B.G.) |
| 4:37 |
| 16. | "Crazy Feelings" (featuring Beyoncé) |
| 4:34 |
| 17. | "Religious Blessings" (Outro) | 0:39 | |
| Total length: | 1:04:09 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18. | "All n My Grill (Remix)" (featuring MC Solaar and Nicole Wray) |
| 4:47 |
| Total length: | 1:08:56 | ||
Sample credits[14]
- "Busa Rhyme" contains an interpolation of "Play That Funky Music", written by Rob Parissi.