Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliott is a pioneering icon. The Queen of Hip-Hop, her first three albums in particular are nothing short of outstanding, going from “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and on to the incredible “Get Ur Freak On”, which leads off this best of collection.

As with many ‘greatest hits’ compendiums, Respect M.E. features singles rather than any of the standout album cuts that have peppered Missy Elliott’s work. It also substitutes the Basement Jaxx remix of “4 My People” for the original, which simply isn’t as punchy. The E-heavy album, Miss E...So Addictive is still one of her finest releases, and is well-represented here.

Southern rapper Ludacris makes highlight guest spots on both “Gossip Folks” and “One Minute Man” (one of the best songs Timbaland has ever produced), one of the first cuts that Misdemanor really sang on, with the beat jumping out of the pack and the hook pulsating and insistent. It’s a formula that she’s repeated insistently since slimming down, save for brilliant work-outs like “Work It”.

Of course, all the groundbreaking production work she did for Aaliyah is missing from Respect M.E.. But this is not about Missy Elliott the multi-tasking empire-building genius, but Miss E the artist – in which she’s the ground-breaking female rapper, taking things where no others have gone before her.