The Cookbook

Missy Elliott's sixth and final studio album, The Cookbook, was released on July 4, 2005, through The Goldmind Inc. and Atlantic Records. The album marked a three-year gap since her previous release, Under Construction, and found Elliott in a reflective yet playful mood. It blends her signature futuristic pop rap with R&B and funk influences, creating a diverse set of 16 tracks. The album was produced primarily by Missy Elliott, with additional production from Craig Brockman, Nisan Stewart, and Warryn Campbell, among others.

The lead single Lose Control, featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop, became a club anthem, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. Its Dave Meyers-directed video won the Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video in 2006. Second single Teary Eyed underperformed, peaking at number 110 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Bubbling Under), while We Run This reached number 48. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling approximately 138,000 copies in its first week, and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The RIAA certified it platinum in 2005, and as of 2006, it had sold over 1.3 million copies domestically and 2 million worldwide.

Critics gave the album generally positive reviews. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 74 out of 100 based on 22 reviews. Rolling Stone awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, praising its futuristic bounce and sharp lyrics. Entertainment Weekly rated it a B+, calling it her most cohesive album in years. AllMusic gave it 4 out of 5 stars, noting that Elliott sounds reinvigorated. However, The Guardian gave it 3 out of 5 stars, stating some tracks feel like filler. Pitchfork rated it 7.2 out of 10, highlighting Lose Control and My Struggles as standout tracks. The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, losing to Kanye West's Late Registration, and was also nominated for Best R&B/Soul Album at the 2006 Soul Train Music Awards.[edit]