Destiny’s Child front-princess Beyonce Knowles makes like a ”Rock Steady”-era Aretha Franklin on her funky debut solo tune, ”Work It Out,” from the forthcoming ”Austin Powers in Goldmember” soundtrack. The Neptunes-produced retro-thumper (the duo is everywhere) lets the ambitious blonde grunt, wail, and moan about how ”brothas gotta work it out.” It also proves that the singer, best known for riding poppy staccato beats, can get deep into a groove.

Grade: A-