Product Description

Me'Shell Ndegeocello's fourth solo outing comes from an artist whose work is nothing short of visionary. Considering that COOKIE was shelved for a period before being released, the set nevertheless sounds as fresh and contemporary as anything currently being pumped out of the urban music scene. Ndegeocello continues her amalgam of bass-driven jazzy R&B, funk, and hip-hop, adding in occasional world music touches (aswith the Indian-influenced outro in "Trust").
"Priorities 1-6" smoothly captures a Maxwell vibe, while both "Earth" and "Barry Farms" jam on slinky Prince-like grooves, repletewith sexually charged lyrics. As physical as Me'Shell's lyrical focus gets, it holds equal court with social, spiritual, and political statements. In the opening cut, "Dead Nigga Blvd. Pt. 1", she sings, "Just because civil rights is law doesn't mean that we all abide". COOKIE also has an eclectic ensemble of guests. Caron Wheeler lends her soulful voice tothe jazzy "Criterion", fellow four-stringer Marcus Miller weighs in on Funkadelic's "Better By The Pound", while the remix of "Pocketbook" boasts a who's who collaboration of heavy hitters including Rockwilder, Tweet, Redman, and Missy Elliot.

Track Listing

1. Dead Nigga Blvd
2. Hot Night
3. Blah Blah Blah Dyba Dyba Dyba
4. Priorities 1 To 6
5. Pocketbook
6. Barry Farms
7. Trust
8. Akel Dama (Field Of Blood)
9. Earth
10. Better By The Pound
11. Criterion
12. GOD FEAR MONEY
13. Jabril
14. Dead Nigga Blvd
15. 6 Legged Griot Trio (Weariness)
16. Pocketbook - Ndegeocello, Meshell & Redman/Tweet

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45758 in Music
• Released on: 2002-11-04
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
After the spartan folk-soul detour that was 1999's Bitter, Meshell N'Degeocello's fourth album, Cookie: The Athropological Mixtape marks the welcome return of the ethereal grooves and softly spoken wisdom that made the socially concerned bass player possibly the most underrated artist of modern R&B.

A revolutionary soul singer in the true, society challenging sense, Cookie once again has N'degeocello eloquently pondering her favourite subjects: Black stereo types, sexual fulfilment, religion, social oppression and the evil of multinational corporations are all high on the lyrical agenda. Such socio-political banner waving may not be most people's idea of blissed-out listening, but N'degeocello's genius lies in the delivery.

Borrowing heavily from Gil Scott Heron's blue-print, her spoken word poetry and seductive choruses, sung in the voice of a spaced-out angel to equally hazy soul, jazz and ghetto funk make the civil rights rhetoric of "Dead Nigga Blvd. (Pt. 1)" and "Pocket Book"'s advice for a balanced life, as soothing as they are wise. Better still, the otherworldly sway, hushed melody and graphic murmur of "Trust", depicts sexual ecstasy with a tender beauty that the majority of R&B artists couldn't even begin to imitate. --Dan Gennoe

Customer Reviews

The original "organic" soulster!
Once again - greatness from the bald headed diva!!

Me'Shell is truly an understated genius - who has surprisingly managed to go all this time relatively unnoticed. This album combines the best of ndegeocello, fantastic bass licks from the talented bassist, controversial yet hard hitting lyrics, the low sensuous alto voice, and brilliant musicianship. Cameo's from Marcus Miller - adding his touch of bass and clarinet, Caron Wheeler (remember her from Soul II Soul), Talib Kweli, and yes the ever present Missy Elliot who's production of "pocketbook" surprisingly manages to fit in with the rest of the album.

Why other colleagues in the "organic soul" field haven't jumped at the opportunity to work with Me'Shell is beyond me, as is the question as to why she remains largely underground.

If you're new to her music this is the best CD to start your collection with!