Missy Elliott ready to "Party" again

Rapper Missy Elliott is gearing up to release her first album in three years. Tentatively titled "Block Party" and due in August, the oft-delayed Atlantic release is the follow-up to 2005's "The Cookbook," which sold a relatively disappointing 645,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Her best-seller is 2002's "Under Construction" which sold 2.1 million copies.

Tracks on the new album, Elliott's seventh, include the drum-heavy "Hip-Hop Don't Die"; the sensual "Milk & Cookies," on which Elliot lightheartedly harmonizes about her capabilities in the bedroom; and first single "Best Best."

To help reintroduce Elliott to the marketplace, Atlantic included two new songs, "Ching-a-Ling" and "Shake Your Pom Pom," on the "Step Up 2 the Streets" soundtrack in March. The tracks, which will be reprised on "Block Party," have already sold a combined 296,000 copies digitally.

Elliott will also release a promotional album in mid-summer, "Fanomenal," which was titled by fans in an online vote and will include exclusive tracks and videos. And, in keeping with the new album title's theme, Elliott will host a couple of block parties around the July 4 and Labor Day weekends.

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