Heavy waits: albums that are long overdue

Missy Elliott, 'Block Party'

Years in development: three

Years since last album: three

Delays are the name of the game in hip-hop these days, and Missy E will not be left out. “Block Party” was supposed to start bumpin’ boom boxes as early as last summer, but the usual studio tinkering, marketing snags and who-knows-what-else have thus far pushed the “Party” back to at least February 2009.