Aaliyah worked with record producersTimbaland andMissy Elliott for her second album,One in a Million (1996), which sold three million copies in the United States and more than eight million copies worldwide. In 2000, Aaliyah made her acting debut in the action filmRomeo Must Die, alongsideJet Li. She contributed to the film's soundtrack, which was supported by her single "Try Again." The song topped theBillboard Hot 100 solely throughairplay, becoming the first in the chart's history to do so. After completing the film, Aaliyah subsequently filmed her starring role inQueen of the Damned (which was released posthumously), and released her third album,Aaliyah (2001), which topped theBillboard 200. The album spawned the singles "We Need a Resolution," "Rock the Boat," and "More Than a Woman."
On August 25, 2001, at the age of 22, Aaliyah was killed in aplane crash along with eight other people on board, when the overloaded aircraft she was traveling in crashed shortly after takeoff. The pilot was later found to have traces of cocaine and alcohol in his body and was not qualified to fly the aircraft designated for the flight. Aaliyah's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the aircraft's operator, which was settled out of court. After her death, Aaliyah's music has continued to achieve commercial success, aided by several posthumous releases, including the compilation albumsI Care 4 U (2002) andUltimate Aaliyah (2005). She has sold 8.1 million albums in the US and an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide.
Early life
Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born on January 16, 1979, inBrooklyn, New York,[3] the younger child of Diane and Michael "Miguel" Haughton, a warehouse worker.[4][5] She was of African-American, Jamaican, and Native American descent.[6][4][7][8] Her name is the feminine form of the Arabic "Ali," meaning "highest, most exalted one, the best."[9][10] Aaliyah was fond of her name, calling it "beautiful" and saying she was "very proud of it" and strove to live up to her name every day.[9] When she was five years old, her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she was raised along with her older brother,Rashad.[11][12] In Detroit, her father began working in the warehouse business, one of his brother-in-lawBarry Hankerson's widening interests. Her mother stayed home and raised her and her brother.[13] Her mother enrolled her in voice lessons at an early age.[3] Eventually, she started performing at weddings, church choir, and charity events.[14] Aaliyah attended aCatholic school, Gesu Elementary, where in first grade she was cast in the stage playAnnie which inspired her to become an entertainer.[15][16]
Aaliyah's mother was a vocalist, and her uncle Hankerson was an entertainment lawyer who had been married toGladys Knight.[12] As a child, Aaliyah traveled with Knight and worked with an agent in New York City to audition for commercials and television programs, includingFamily Matters.[17] After failing to land a role on the show she continued her acting through the Gesu Players.[18] In 1989 at age ten she appeared onStar Search, where she performed "My Funny Valentine".[19] Aaliyah chose to begin auditioning. Her mother made the decision to drop her surname.[13][20] She auditioned for several record labels and at age 11 appeared in concerts alongside Knight.[12][21] After attending a Gladys Knight concert with music executiveSuge Knight, and seeing Aaliyah perform on stage, rapperTupac Shakur wanted to sign her to a record deal.[22]
Aaliyah attended Detroit schools and believed she was well-liked, but she was teased for her short stature. By age 15, however, she came to love her height. Her mother told her to be happy she was small and complimented her. Although some children disliked Aaliyah, she determined, "You always have to deal with people who are jealous, but there were so few it didn't even matter. The majority of kids supported me, which was wonderful." Even in her adult life, she considered herself small. She had "learned to accept and love" herself and added: "the most important thing is to think highly of yourself because if you don't, no one else will."[9]
During her audition for acceptance to theDetroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, Aaliyah sang "Ave Maria" in Latin.[23] Aaliyah held a 4.0 grade-point average when graduating from high school. She reflected: "I wanted to keep that 4.0. Being in the industry, you know, I don't want kids to think, 'I can just sing and forget about school.' I think it's very important to have an education, and even more important to have something to fall back on." She considered a future career teaching music, music history or drama if she did not make a living as a recording artist because, as she reasoned, "when you pick a career it has to be something you love."[9]
Career
1991–1995:Age Ain't Nothing but a Number
After Hankerson signed a distribution deal withJive Records, he signed Aaliyah to hisBlackground Records label at the age of 12.[24][25] Hankerson later introduced her to recording artist and producerR. Kelly,[21] who became Aaliyah's mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer of her first album, recorded when she was 14.[3][25] Aaliyah's debut album,Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, was released under her mononym "Aaliyah", byJive andBlackground Records on May 24, 1994; it debuted at number 24 on theBillboard 200 chart, selling 38,000 copies in its first week.[26] It peaked at number 18 on theBillboard 200 and it was certified two timesPlatinum by theRIAA.[27][28] To date the album has sold over 3 million copies in the US.[29] In Canada, the album was certified gold byMusic Canada for 50,000 copies in shipments.[30] In 2014,Vibe magazine estimated that the album had sold six million copies globally.[31]
Upon its release,Age Ain't Nothing But a Number received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Some writers noted that Aaliyah's "silky vocals" and "sultry voice" blended with Kelly'snew jack swing helped defineR&B in the 1990s.[32][33] Her sound was also compared to that of female quartetEn Vogue.[32][34] Christopher John Farley ofTime magazine called the album a "beautifully restrained work," noting that Aaliyah's "girlish, breathy vocals rode calmly on R. Kelly's rough beats."[35]Stephen Thomas Erlewine ofAllMusic felt that the album had its "share of filler", but described the singles as "slyly seductive."[3] He also wrote that the songs on the album were "frequently better" than that of Kelly's second studio album,12 Play.[3] The single "At Your Best (You Are Love)" was criticized byBillboard for being out of place on the album and for its length.[36]
The first single released from her second studio album, "If Your Girl Only Knew" was described as a sassy, organ-infused song.[40] Aaliyah was noted for having "smoother, more seductive, and stronger" singing.[41]
In February 1996, Aaliyah was featured on theKris Kross single "Live and Die for Hip Hop", which also featuredJermaine Dupri (the song's producer) and rapperDa Brat.[42] That year, Aaliyah leftJive Records and signed withAtlantic Records.[21] She worked with record producersTimbaland andMissy Elliott, who contributed to her second studio album,One in a Million.[12] Elliott recalled Timbaland and herself being nervous to work with Aaliyah, since Aaliyah had already released her successful debut album while Elliott and Timbaland were just starting out. Elliott also feared she would be a diva, but reflected that Aaliyah "came in and was so warming; she made us immediately feel like family."[43] The album yielded the lead single "If Your Girl Only Knew", which peaked at number 11 on theBillboard Hot 100[37] and topped theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for two weeks.[37] It also generated the singles "Hot Like Fire" and "4 Page Letter".One in a Million peaked at number 18 on theBillboard 200,[27] and was certifieddouble platinum by the RIAA on June 16, 1997, denoting shipments of two million copies.[28] The album went on to sell 3 million copies in the US[29] and over eight million copies worldwide.[44][45] The year after her album was released, Aaliyah was featured onTimbaland & Magoo's debut single, "Up Jumps da Boogie".[46]
In 1999, Aaliyah landed her first big-screen acting role inRomeo Must Die.[55] She starred opposite martial artistJet Li, playing a couple who fall in love amid their warring families.[55] Released on March 24, 2000, the movie grossed US$18.6 million in its first weekend, ranking number two at the box office.[56][57] Aaliyah purposely stayed away from reviews of the film to "make it easier on" herself, but she heard "that people were able to get into me, which is what I wanted."[58] In contrast, some critics felt there was no chemistry between her and Jet Li, as well as viewing the film as too simplistic.[59] This was echoed by Elvis Mitchell ofThe New York Times, who wrote that while Aaliyah was "a natural" and the film was conceived as a spotlight for both her and Li, "they have so little chemistry together you'd think they're putting out a fire instead of shooting off sparks.[60]
Aaliyah in 2000
In addition to acting, Aaliyah served as an executive producer of thefilm's soundtrack, for which she contributed four songs.[61] "Try Again" was released as a single from the soundtrack; the song topped theBillboard Hot 100, making Aaliyah the first artist to top the chart based solely onairplay; this led the song to be released in a 12-inch vinyl and 7-inch single.[37][62] The music video won theBest Female Video andBest Video from a Film awards at the2000 MTV Video Music Awards.[63] It also earned her aGrammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocalist.[64] The soundtrack went on to sell 1.5 million copies in the United States.[29]
After completingRomeo Must Die, Aaliyah began to work on her second film,Queen of the Damned. She played the role of an ancientvampire, Queen Akasha, which she described as a "manipulative, crazy, sexual being".[25] Filming both Romeo Must Die andQueen of the Damned delayed the release of the album. Aaliyah had not intended for her albums to have such a gap between them. "I wanted to take a break afterOne in a Million to just relax, think about how I wanted to approach the next album. Then, when I was ready to start back up, "Romeo" happened, and so I had to take another break and do that film and then do the soundtrack, then promote it. The break turned into a longer break than I anticipated."[65] Ultimately, she filmedQueen of the Damned and recorded her third album at the same time so that it could be released in 2001.[65] Aaliyah enjoyed balancing her singing and acting careers. Though she called music a "first" for her, she also had been acting since she was young and had wanted to begin acting "at some point in my career", but "wanted it to be the right time and the right vehicle" and feltRomeo Must Die "was it".[29] Connie Johnson of theLos Angeles Times argued that Aaliyah having to focus on her film career may have caused her to not give the album "the attention it merited."[66]
During the recording stages for the album, Aaliyah's publicist disclosed that the album's release date was most likely in October 2000.[67] Eventually, she finished recording the album in March 2001; after a year of recording tracks that began in March of the previous year.[68]Aaliyah was released five years afterOne in a Million on July 17, 2001,[3] and it debuted at number two on theBillboard 200, selling 187,000 copies in its first week.[69] The first single from the album, "We Need a Resolution", peaked at number 59 on theBillboard Hot 100.[37] The week after Aaliyah's death, her third album rose from number 19 to number 1 on theBillboard 200.[70] "Rock the Boat" was released as a posthumous single. The music video premiered onBET'sAccess Granted, and it became the most viewed and highest rated episode in the history of the show.[71] The song peaked at number 14 on theBillboard Hot 100.[72] Promotional posters forAaliyah that had been put up in major cities such as New York and Los Angeles became makeshift memorials for grieving fans.[73] In February 2002, the album was certified double Platinum by theRIAA.[28]
"More than a Woman" and "I Care 4 U" were released as posthumous singles and peaked within the top 25 of theBillboard Hot 100.[72] "More than a Woman" reached number one on the UK singles chart making Aaliyah the first female deceased artist to reach number one on the UK singles chart.[74][75] "More than a Woman" was replaced byGeorge Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" which is the only time in the UK singles chart's history when a dead artist has replaced another dead artist at number one.[76]
Aaliyah was signed to appear in several future films, including a romantic film titledSome Kind of Blue,[77] and aWhitney Houston–produced remake of the 1976 filmSparkle.[7] Houston recalled Aaliyah being "so enthusiastic" about the film; the project was shelved after she died.[78] Before her death, Aaliyah filmed some scenes for the sequels ofThe Matrix as the characterZee.[79] A portion of her role inThe Matrix Reloaded was filmed; these unused scenes were included in the tribute section of theMatrix Ultimate Collection series.[80]
Timbaland's stuttering, idiosyncratic productions challenged Aaliyah to reveal her artistic personality more than she had on R. Kelly's smoother musical settings.[34]
Aaliyah had thevocal range of asoprano,[21] and with the release of her debut albumAge Ain't Nothing but a Number, writer Dimitri Ehrlich ofEntertainment Weekly compared her style and sound to R&B groupEn Vogue.[81] Ehrlich also expressed that Aaliyah's "silky vocals are more agile than those of self-proclaimed queen of hip-hop soulMary J. Blige."[81] In her review for Aaliyah's second studio albumOne in a MillionVibe magazine, music criticDream Hampton said that Aaliyah's "deliciously feline" voice has the same "pop appeal" asJanet Jackson's.[82] According toRolling Stone "the most remarkable thing about Aaliyah's voice, besides its flexibility and crisp range, was its almost preternatural poise — she always seemed to be holding her power in reserve, to know every side of the scenarios she described".[83] While, Siân Pattenden fromMixmag stated that, "She doesn't try to toss the caber with vocal athleticism. There's no shouting, screeching, wailing or jazz-style noodling. Everything is underplayed: Ms Haughton's range is displayed by the slightest high-octave backing and tiniest harmonies".[84]
Aaliyah herself said her vocal styling consisted of her singing softly while utilizing her falsetto.[85] She further explained saying, "My signature style is breathy, tone-y, airy. It's simple but I can ride a crazy track."[86] Although she frequently sang in a softer tone, there were moments when she utilized other facets of her voice. "Never Givin' Up" (1996) and "The One I Gave My Heart To" (1997) are a few stand-out vocal highlights.[87]Daryl Simmons the producer of "The One I Gave My Heart To", recalled Aaliyah doingopera vocal warm-up exercises in preparation for the songs recording.[87] While commenting on her doing opera vocal warm ups Simmons mentioned, "It was the furthest thing I would have ever thought that she could do. It just blew my mind."[87] The song's writer,Diane Warren praised her vocals on the song, saying: "It showed her vocal range, and I know a couple of people thought she wouldn't be able to do that song. I thought, 'No, she'll be able to do that."[87]Variety echoed a similar sentiment as Warren, saying "The One I Gave My Heart To" "showcased Aaliyah's ability to hit higher notes."[88] Discussing her approach on "Never Givin' Up" producer Craig King said, "lyrically and vocally she just took you to places that you didn't know she could go".[87]
Musical style
From the very beginning, she opted "for an edgier, more mature sound", and her songs were often uptempo and at the same time often dark, revolving around "matters of the heart".[16][89] She "easily straddled the hip-hop and pop worlds, never projecting the frilliness of her ingénue peers".[16] After her R. Kelly–produced debut album, Aaliyah worked with Timbaland and Missy Elliott, whose productions were moreelectronic.[90] The duo "mixed choppy, nervous rhythms over loops of computer-generated backing tracks, and incorporating harmonies which – within the genre's limited horizons – seemed daring".[25] They also created, the "Freeze-and-stop style of singing on top of bass-heavy instrumentals" which became Aaliyah's signature style.[18] In 2001, Aaliyah called her sound "street but sweet", pairing feminine vocals with a gritty urban rhythm track.[91] In another interview she further spoke about her artistry, saying, "I love to fuse other types of music with my own".[92] She explored a wide range of genres such asR&B,[93][94]pop,[94][95]hip hop,[95][96]funk,[93][96]soul,[95] anddance-pop.[97][98] Altogether, Aaliyah's music can be described asalternative R&B,progressive soul, andneo soul, according toTime's Farley.[99]
Aaliyah released "musically risky singles into a notoriously fickle pop market", without being "concerned about conforming to the stereotypes of the marketplace".[100] Her songs "gracefully walk a line between commerciality and experimentation".[100] Aaliyah's records tend to have a "crisp production" and "staccato arrangements" that "extend genre boundaries" while containing "old-school" soul music.[101] Kelefah Sanneh ofThe New York Times called her "a digital diva who wove a spell with ones and zeroes", and writes that her songs comprised "simple vocal riffs, repeated and refracted to echo the manipulated loops that create digital rhythm", as Timbaland's "computer-programmed beats fitted perfectly with her cool, breathy voice to create a new kind of electronic music."[102]
InThe New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), Keith Harris said of her lyrical content that "When it came to sexual availability, she was between En Vogue maliciously taunting 'You're never gonna get it' and Tweet blankly cooing 'Oops, there goes my shirt.'"[103] Lyrically, "Her first two albums carefully toed the line between adolescence and adulthood, displaying a woman exploring the terrain of love, trust, and lust; one who exuded a playful innocence while hinting at a more sultry side."[104] Aaliyah did not usually write her own lyrics.[21] The only time she had a hand in writing is on the song "Death of a Playa" from the "Hot Like Fire" single (1997).[105] She co-wrote that song with her brother Rashad Haughton, and "it reflects Aaliyah's dark perspective on romance".[105] Of her role in crafting her music, Aaliyah said, "I like to have the final say but I was trained as a singer, actress and dancer, the interpreter, bringing other people's words to life. I need the songs to reflect me in one way or another".[21]
As her albums progressed, writers felt that Aaliyah matured, calling her progress a "near-flawless declaration of strength and independence".[101][106]ABC News noted that her music was "evolving from the punchy pop-influenced hip hop and R&B to a more mature, introspective sound", on her third album.[107]NME called her third album "radical" and said that it was "intended to consolidate her position as U.S. R&B's most experimental artist".[108]Stephen Thomas Erlewine ofAllMusic described her albumAaliyah as "a statement of maturity and a stunning artistic leap forward", and called it one of the strongest urban soul records of its time. She portrayed "unfamiliar sounds, styles and emotions", but managed to please critics with the contemporary sound it contained.[109] Ernest Hardy ofRolling Stone felt that Aaliyah was displaying stronger technique, giving her best vocal performances on the album.[101]
According to directorPaul Hunter from day one, "Aaliyah wanted her videos to stand out from clips by other R&B singers".[116] He stated, "You can watch programming all day and see a certain type of video by female artists, "Then when one of hers comes on its something special, something different to look at. That's what she was about."[116] Christopher John Farley fromTime stated that Aaliyah's "videos, for the most part, are about mood, not about storylines... Her videos are usually lushly shot and infused with sexual tension, though not in overt and obvious ways".[116]
Alisha Acquaye fromTeen Vogue felt that, "There's much to gather while watching an Aaliyah music video" in fact, she thinks that watching them is "actually an understatement".[117] Acquaye further explained, "There's a state of hypnosis you submit to as she envelops you through sight and sound, tugging at your heartstrings. Between a sequence of sensual, strong movements, infectious instrumentals, and intuitive lyrics that spark emotions of desire, sex, and empowerment, you are enraptured in Aaliyah's physical presence".[117]
Most of Aaliyah's videos included dance routines. While discussing her video choreographyBillboard mentioned that she "coined the smooth choreography andtomboyish style that would inspire [R&B]'s future generations for years to come".[118]Vibe praised several videos saying, "Looking back on her videos like "Try Again" and "Are You That Somebody," Aaliyah's talent in all of those techniques of dancing are apparent, as she's able to hit every syncopated word and beat with ease as if she's moving on air".[119] Kyann-Sian Williams fromNME named "Are You That Somebody?" as a visual that, "pushed the boundaries when it came to dance breaks in music videos".[120] Williams declared, "Until that time, dance breaks were usually reserved for boybands like *NSync and the Backstreet Boys, but Aaliyah claimed it for R&B stars too".[120]
Public image
Aaliyah focused on her public image while protecting her private life. She felt that it was "important ... to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack".[121]USA Today said, "Her slinky vocal style and eye-popping videos made her a crossover star, while her persistent protection of her privacy added an air of intrigue about her".[16] According to Aaliyah, "I put a lot of pressure on myself to be true to myself and not let anything else influence me to do what someone else is doing. Being a little edgy and sexy is me. My image isn't a put-on. I'm happy to put over that dark edge in my videos, because it's always been there. I used to wear my sunglasses or have my hair over one eye a lot more when I was younger. [Now] I'm happy with all aspects of myself."[92]
She often wore baggy clothes and sunglasses, stating that she wanted to be herself.[122] Aaliyah also wore black clothing, starting a trend for similar fashion among women in United States and Japan.[21][123] In 1998, she hired a personal trainer to keep in shape, and exercised five days a week and ate diet foods.[124] As her career progressed, "she went through so many fashion revamps".[125] For example, when she changed her hairstyle, Aaliyah took her mother's advice and covered her left eye, much likeVeronica Lake.[126] The look has become known as her signature and been referred to as fusion of "unnerving emotional honesty" and "a sense of mystique".[127] In regards to her fashion choices, writer Jeff Lorez described her as a "model of understatement".[92] According to Lorez, "She's beautiful, but hardly in a high-gloss, supermodel way—more like a really good-looking girl next door. And rather than bling-blinging her ice in a ghetto-fabulous manner befitting her Trumped-up surroundings, she blings on the down-low: A subtle bracelet here, a winking pendant there, offset by her simple black jeans and matching sweater. Trés cool".[92] Former TRL host Carson Daly said that she was "cutting edge, always one step ahead of the curve and that the TRL audience looks to her to figure out what's hot and what's new".[59]
Aaliyah was often praised for her "clean-cut image" and "moral values".[128]Robert Christgau ofThe Village Voice wrote of Aaliyah's artistry and image, "she was lithe and dulcet in a way that signified neither jailbait nor hottie—aningenue whose selling point was sincerity, not innocence and the obverse it implies."[129]Emil Wilbekin, toldCNN: "Aaliyah is an excellent role model because she started her career in the public eye at age 15 with a gold album,Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. And then her second album,One in a Million went double platinum. She had the leading role inRomeo Must Die, which was a box office success. She's won numerous awards, several MTV music video awards, and aside from her professional successes, many of her lyrics are very inspirational and uplifting. She also carried herself in a very professional manner. She was well-spoken. She was beautiful, but she didn't use her beauty to sell her music. She used her talent. Many young hip-hop fans greatly admire her."[130]
She was also seen by others as asex symbol and did not have a problem with being considered one. "I know that people think I'm sexy and I am looked at as that, and it is cool with me," she stated. "It's wonderful to have sex appeal. If you embrace it, it can be a very beautiful thing. I am totally cool with that. Definitely. I see myself as sexy. If you are comfortable with it, it can be very classy and it can be very appealing."[85] Aaliyah also felt though her image was "risque and sexy", it was important to remain respectable because she wanted to make songs that everyone could relate to without it being vulgar.[86] When she participated in fashion designerTommy Hilfiger's All America Tour Tommy Jean ads, she wore boxer shorts, baggy jeans and a tube top. Hilfiger's brother,Andy, called it "a whole new look" that was "classy but sexy".[123] The single "We Need a Resolution" was argued to have transformed "the once tomboy into a sexy grown woman".[131]
Personal life
In a 1995 interview withHoney, Aaliyah stated that she wasCatholic and she attended church whenever she was at home.[132] In 2001, she toldVibe magazine that she was mostly a homebody and liked "the simple things in life."[59]
Family
Aaliyah's family played a major role in the course of her career.[59] Beginning in 1995, Aaliyah's father Michael Haughton served as her personal manager, and her mother assisted him. Aaliyah's brother Rashad Haughton and her cousin Jomo Hankerson were with her when she worked.[133] After her father became ill, her brother Rashad became her manager.[59]
Aaliyah was known to have usually been accompanied by members of her family. Her brother Rashad stated that the filming of "Rock the Boat" was the only time her family was not present during a video shoot. In October 2001, Rashad said: "It really boggles everyone [that] from Day One, every single video she ever shot there's always been myself or my mother or my father there. The circumstances surrounding this last video were really strange because my mother had eye surgery and couldn't fly. That really bothered her because she always traveled. My dad had to take care of my mom at that time. And I went to Australia to visit some friends. We really couldn't understand why we weren't there. You ask yourself maybe we could have stopped it. But you can't really answer the question. There's always gonna be that question of why."[134] Her friendKidada Jones said in the last year of Aaliyah's life, her parents had given her more freedom and she had spoken about wanting a family.[135]
Illegal marriage
Aaliyah reportedly developed anintimate relationship with Kelly during the recording of her debut album. She toldVibe magazine in 1994 that she and Kelly would "go watch a movie" and "go eat" when she got tired and would then "come back and work". She described the relationship between her and Kelly as "rather close."[136] In December 1994, Aaliyah told theChicago Sun-Times that whenever she was asked about being married to Kelly, she urged them not to believe "all that mess" and that she and Kelly were "close" and "people took it the wrong way".[137]
With the release ofAge Ain't Nothing but a Number, rumors circulated about a relationship between Aaliyah and R. Kelly,[21][138] including the allegation that they hadsecretly married without her parents' knowledge.[139][140]Vibe magazine later revealed a marriage certificate that listed the couple married on August 31, 1994, in Sheraton Gateway Suites inRosemont, Illinois.[140] Aaliyah,who was 15 at the time, was listed as 18 on the certificate; R. Kelly was 27. The marriage wasannulled by her parents in February 1995, but the pair denied the allegations, saying that neither was married and that the certificate was a forgery.[138][140]
Jamie Foster Brown in the 1994 issue ofSister 2 Sister wrote that "R. Kelly told me that he and Aaliyah got together, and it was just magic." Brown also reported hearing about a sexual relationship between them. "I've been hearing about Robert and Aaliyah for a while—that she was pregnant. Or that she was coming and going in and out of his house. People would see her walking his dog, 12 Play, with her basketball cap and sunglasses on. Every time I asked the label, they said it was platonic. But I kept hearing complaints from people about her being in the studio with all those men." Brown later added "at 15, you have all those hormones and no brains attached to them".[141]
In his 2011 bookThe Man Behind the Man: Looking from the Inside Out, Demetrius Smith Sr., Kelly's former tour manager, revealed that Kelly married Aaliyah after she told him that she was pregnant.[142] In the 2019 documentarySurviving R. Kelly, Smith described how he helped Aaliyah forge the necessary documents to show she was 18 to marry Kelly.[143] Smith also said he was "not proud" of his role in facilitating their marriage.[144] Additionally, the documentary revealed that Jovante Cunningham, a former backup dancer, claimed to have witnessed Kelly having sex with Aaliyah on his tour bus.[145]
Aaliyah admitted in court documents that she hadlied about her age. In May 1997, she filed suit in Cook County seeking to have all records of the marriage expunged because she wasnot old enough under state law to get married without her parents' consent. It was reported that she cut off all professional and personal ties with Kelly after the marriage was annulled and ceased contact with him.[139] In a 2014 interview, Aaliyah's cousin Jomo Hankerson said that she "got villainized" for her relationship with Kelly and the scandal over the marriage made it difficult to find producers for her second album. "We were coming off of a multi-platinum debut album and except for a couple of relationships withJermaine Dupri andPuffy, it was hard for us to get producers on the album." Hankerson also expressed confusion over why "they were upset" with Aaliyah given her age at the time.[146]
Aaliyah was known to avoid answering questions about Kelly after the professional split. During an interview with Christopher John Farley, she was asked whether she was still in contact with him and would ever work with him again. Farley said Aaliyah responded with a "firm, frosty 'no'" to both questions.[147]Vibe magazine said Aaliyah changed the subject anytime "you bring up the marriage with her".[59] A spokeswoman for Aaliyah said in 2000 that when "R. Kelly comes up, she doesn't even speak his name, and nobody's allowed to ask about it at all."[148] Kelly later said that Aaliyah had opportunities to address their relationship after they separated professionally but chose not to.[149] In 2019,Damon Dash revealed toHip Hop Motivation that Aaliyah did not even speak of her relationship with Kelly in private; he tried multiple times to discuss it with her, but she would only say that Kelly was a "bad man".[145] Dash said he was unable to watchSurviving R. Kelly because its interviews with visibly traumatized girls struggling to discuss their encounters with Kelly reminded him of how Aaliyah behaved when trying to recount her relationship with Kelly.[145] Dash later appeared inSurviving R. Kelly, Part II in 2020.[150]
Other allegations were made about Kelly regarding underage girls in the years after Aaliyah's death, and their marriage was used as an example of his involvement with them.[151] He has refused to discuss his relationship with her, citing her death. "Out of respect for her, and her mom and her dad, I will not discuss Aaliyah. That was a whole other situation, a whole other time, it was a whole other thing, and I'm sure that people also know that."[152] In 2016, Kelly said that he was as in love with Aaliyah as he was with "anybody else."[153] Aaliyah's mother, Diane Haughton, reflected that everything "that went wrong in her life" began with her relationship with Kelly.[137]
After the documentarySurviving R. Kelly aired in January 2019, pressure from the public using theMute R. Kellyhashtag escalated andRCA Records dropped Kelly from the label.[154] In February 2019, Kelly was indicted on ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.[155] In July 2019, he was arrested on federal charges of sex crimes,human trafficking, child pornography,racketeering, andobstruction of justice.[156] When his trial began in August 2021, Kelly faced 22 federal criminal charges that involved allegedly abusing 11 girls and women between 1994 and 2018.[157] Aaliyah's illegal marriage to Kelly was heavily featured in the court case.[158] On September 27, 2021, a federal court jury found Kelly guilty of nine counts includingracketeering,sexual exploitation of a child,kidnapping, bribery,sex trafficking, and a violation of theMann Act. The judge ordered that Kelly remain in custody pending sentencing, which was set for May 4, 2022.[159] On June 29, 2022, Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison.[160][161]
Relationship with Damon Dash
Aaliyah was dating the co-founder ofRoc-A-Fella Records, Damon Dash, at the time of her death. Although they were not formally engaged, Dash claimed the couple had planned to marry in interviews given after Aaliyah's death.[162][163] In the summer of 2000, Aaliyah was introduced to Dash by his accountant and they formed a friendship.[164][165] Aaliyah never publicly addressed their relationship as anything but platonic.[59] Due to their hectic work schedules, Aaliyah and Dash were separated for long periods of time.[165] Jay-Z mentioned Aaliyah and Dash in the remix of her song "Miss You", released in 2003.[166] In August 2021, Dash toldEntertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier, "I was reflecting [that] there hasn't been one day since she's passed, not one in the 20 years, that I haven't either heard her name, heard her record, or seen a picture of her ... Every single day she's present in my life and I feel lucky for that."[167]
On August 25, 2001, at 6:50 p.m. (EDT), Aaliyah and some employees of her record company boarded a twin-engineCessna 402 light aircraft at theMarsh Harbour Airport inAbaco Islands, the Bahamas, to travel toOpa-Locka Airport in Florida after they completed filming the video for "Rock the Boat".[168] They had a flight scheduled the next day, but with filming finishing early, Aaliyah and her entourage were eager to return to the US and decided to leave immediately. The designated airplane was smaller than theCessna 404 on which they had originally arrived, but the whole party and all the equipment were accommodated on board.[169] The plane crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff, about 200 feet (60 m) from the end of the runway.[168] Aaliyah and the eight others on board—pilot Luis Morales III, hair stylist Eric Forman, Anthony Dodd, security guard Scott Gallin, family friend Keith Wallace, make-up stylist Christopher Maldonado, andBlackground Records employees Douglas Kratz and Gina Smith—were killed.[170]
The passengers had grown impatient because the Cessna was supposed to arrive at 4:30 pm. EDT, but did not arrive until 6:15 pm.[171] Another charter pilot, Lewis Key, said he overheard passengers arguing with their pilot, Luis Morales, before takeoff, adding that Morales warned them that there was too much weight for a "safe flight". Key added: "He tried to convince them the plane was overloaded, but they insisted they had chartered the plane and they had to be in Miami Saturday night."[172] Key indicated that Morales gave in to the passengers and that he had trouble starting one of the engines.[173]
According to findings from an inquest conducted by the coroner's office in the Bahamas, Aaliyah had "severe burns and a blow to the head" in addition to severe shock and a weak heart.[174] The coroner theorized that she went into such a state of shock that even if she had survived the crash, her recovery would have been nearly impossible given the severity of her injuries.[175] The bodies were taken to the morgue atPrincess Margaret Hospital inNassau, where they were kept for relatives to help identify them. Some of them were badly burned.[176]
As the subsequent investigation determined, the aircraft was overloaded by 700 pounds (320 kg) when it attempted to take off, and was carrying one more passenger than it was certified for.[177] TheNational Transportation Safety Board reported, "The airplane was seen lifting off the runway, and then nose down, impacting in a marsh on the south side of the departure end of runway 27."[178] The report indicated that the pilot was not approved to fly the plane. Morales falsely obtained his FAA license by showing hundreds of hours never flown, and he may also have falsified how many hours he had flown to get a job with his employer,Blackhawk International Airways.[179] Additionally,toxicology tests performed on Morales revealed traces ofcocaine and alcohol in his system.[180]
Aaliyah's brother Rashad delivered the eulogy and described his sister as giving him strength: "Aaliyah, you left, but I'll see you always next to me and I can see you smiling through the sunshine. When our life is over, our book is done. I hope God keeps me strong until I see her again." He read the names of the other victims of the crash and concluded by asking mourners to pray for them as well. As Diane Haughton and the mourners left, they sang Aaliyah's song "One in a Million".[186]
Posthumous releases
2001–2014:Queen of the Damned, compilations, and single releases
Immediately after Aaliyah's death, there was uncertainty over whether the music video for "Rock the Boat" would ever air.[187] It made its world premiere onBET'sAccess Granted on October 9, 2001. She won two posthumous awards at theAmerican Music Awards of 2002; Favorite Female R&B Artist and Favorite R&B/Soul Album forAaliyah.[188] Her second and final film,Queen of the Damned, was released in February 2002. Before its release, Aaliyah's brother, Rashad, re-dubbed some of her lines during post-production.[189] It grossed US$15.2 million in its first weekend, ranking number one at the box office.[190] On the first anniversary of Aaliyah's death, a candlelight vigil was held inTimes Square; millions of fans observed amoment of silence; and throughout the United States, radio stations played her music in remembrance.[191] In December 2002, a collection of both previously unreleased and released material was issued as Aaliyah's first posthumous album,I Care 4 U. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the Aaliyah Memorial Fund, a program that benefits the Revlon UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program and Harlem's Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.[192] It debuted at number three on the USBillboard 200, selling 280,000 copies in its first week.[193] The album's lead single, "Miss You", peaked at number three on theBillboard Hot 100[72] and topped theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three weeks.[194] In August of the following year, luxury fashion houseDior donated profits from sales in honor of Aaliyah.[195]
In April 2005, Aaliyah's second posthumous album, a double CD+DVDbox set titledUltimate Aaliyah, was released in the United Kingdom by Blackground Records.[196] A documentary movieAaliyah Live in Amsterdam was released in 2011, shortly before the tenth anniversary of Aaliyah's death. The documentary, byPogus Caesar, contained previously unseen footage shot of her career beginnings in 1995 when she was appearing in the Netherlands.[197]
In March 2012, music producer Jeffrey "J-Dub" Walker announced that the song "Steady Ground", which he produced for Aaliyah's third album, would be included in a posthumous Aaliyah album. Aaliyah's brother Rashad denied Walker's claim.[198] On August 5, 2012, Blackground Records released the track "Enough Said" which was produced by Noah "40" Shebib and features Canadian rapperDrake.[199] Four days later, Jomo Hankerson claimed a posthumous album was being produced that would feature new production by Timbaland and Missy Elliot, who both later denied being involved with the project.[200][201] The album was scheduled to be released by the end of 2012 byBlackground Records, but its release was shelved.[202][201] In June 2013, Aaliyah was featured on the track "Don't Think They Know" byChris Brown, which appears on Brown's sixth studio album,X.[203] Timbaland voiced his disapproval for "Enough Said" and "Don't Think They Know" in July 2013, but later apologized to Chris Brown, explaining that Aaliyah and her death were a "very sensitive subject".[204][205]
In May 2015, Aaliyah was featured on theTink track "Million", which contained samples from her song "One in a Million".[206] In September 2015,Aaliyah byXyrena, an official tribute fragrance, was announced.[207] On December 25, 2015,Timbaland released the mixtapeKings Stay Kings which includes the unreleased Aaliyah song "Shakin" featuring rapper Strado.[208] In June 2018,MAC Cosmetics released a cosmetics collection inspired by Aaliyah, The Aaliyah for Mac collection which was priced at $250 and sold out within minutes.[209][210] MAC andi-D Magazine partnered up to release a short film titled "A-Z of Aaliyah" which coincided with the launch.[211] On August 21, 2019, theMadame Tussauds museum unveiled a wax figure of Aaliyah at their Las Vegas location, modeled on her appearance in the "Try Again" music video.[212] Four days later, Aaliyah's family announced that they were in talks with record companies to discuss the future of her discography.[213]
In March 2021,Funko Pop! released an Aaliyah figurine.[214] In August 2021, Blackground Records announced that Aaliyah's recorded works would be re-released on physical, digital, and streaming services in a deal between the label andEmpire Distribution.[215] Aaliyah's estate issued a statement in response to the announcement, denouncing the "unscrupulous endeavor to release Aaliyah's music without any transparency or full accounting to the estate".[215]One in a Million was reissued on August 20.[216][217] After the album's re-release,One in a Million re-entered theUK Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40 at number eight.[218] In the US, the album reached the top ten on theBillboard 200 for the first time at number ten, selling 26,000album-equivalent units in the week ending of August 26.[219]Aaliyah was reissued September 10, 2021.[220] After the album's re-release,Aaliyah re-entered theUK Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40 at number seven[221] and re-entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number 13.[222] In celebration of the reissue, Blackground released an animated commercial titled "It's Been A Long Time" (in a similar style to the album's original 2001 commercial), directed by Takahiro Tanaka, showing Aaliyah resurrecting her music from out of a large underground vault.[223] Compilation albumsI Care 4 U andUltimate Aaliyah were reissued October 8, 2021.[224]Ultimate Aaliyah peaked at number 8 on the UK R&B Albums Chart Top 40[225] and charted for the first time in the US at number 41 on theBillboard 200.[226]
On August 25, 2021, Barry Hankerson revealed in an interview withBig Tigger forWVEE that a posthumous album titledUnstoppable would be released in "a matter of weeks". The album was said to feature Drake,Snoop Dogg,Ne-Yo, Chris Brown,Future and use previously unreleased vocals from before Aaliyah's passing.[227] On December 17, 2021, Background Records released the posthumous Aaliyah single "Poison" featuringThe Weeknd.[228][229] On January 4, 2022, Hankerson claimed thatUnstoppable would be released later that month, however, it did not see a release and there was no related announcement from the label.[230][231] In January 2024, Blackground Records hinted in an Instagram post that the release was "coming".[232]
On January 16, 2025,Mattel released an Aaliyah Barbie Doll modeled on her appearance in the "One in a Million" music video.[233] On May 2, 2025, Blackground Records 2.0 released the single "Gone", by Aaliyah, with former collaboratorTank. The single was released exclusively to the record label's streaming app, BLKStream,[234] but saw a wider release to streaming and digital download sites on August 1, 2025.[235][236] "Gone" peaked at number one on the Adult R&B Airplay Chart,[237] becoming Aaliyah's first number one on that chart;[238] "Gone" also peaked at number 13 on the R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart.[239][240] A 2D music video was released on August 1, 2025, along with the announcement of a "3D holographic experience" provided by theMeta Quest app Soapbox[241][242]
Legacy
Aaliyah has been credited for helping redefineR&B,pop andhip hop in the 1990s, "leaving an indelible imprint on the music industry as a whole."[2][243] According toBillboard, she revolutionized R&B with her sultry mix of pop,soul and hip hop.[95] Peter Piatkowski fromPopMatters, stated, "Much like Janet Jackson's Control set a template of sorts for dance-pop divas in the 1980s, Aaliyah's patented brand of Black pop, which was a mélange of hip-hop, electropop, and soul, set a standard against which other young urban-pop singers were judged".[244] In a 2001 review of her third album, Ernest Hardy fromRolling Stone professed that Aaliyah's impact on R&B and pop has been enormous.[101] Steve Huey of AllMusic wrote Aaliyah ranks among the "elite" artists of the R&B genre, as she "played a major role in popularizing the stuttering, futuristic production style that consumed hip-hop and urban soul in the late 1990s."[245] Critic Bruce Britt stated that by combining "schoolgirl charm with urban grit, Aaliyah helped define the teen-oriented sound that has resulted in contemporary pop phenom's like Brandy, Christina Aguilera and Destiny's Child".[53]
Described as one of "R&B's most important artists" during the 1990s,[246] her second studio album,One in a Million, became one of the most influential R&B albums of the decade.[40] Music criticSimon Reynolds cited "Are You That Somebody?" as "the most radical pop single" of 1998.[247] Kelefah Sanneh ofThe New York Times wrote that rather than being the song's focal point, Aaliyah "knew how to disappear into the music, how to match her voice to the bass line",[247] and consequently "helped change the way popular music sounds; the twitchy, beat-driven songs ofDestiny's Child owe a clear debt to 'Are You That Somebody'."[102] Sanneh asserted that by the time of her death in 2001, Aaliyah "had recorded some of the most innovative and influential pop songs of the last five years."[102] Music publicationPopdust called Aaliyah an unlikely queen of the underground for her influence on the underground alternative music scene.[248] The publication also mentioned that the forward-thinking music Aaliyah made withTimbaland and the experimental music being made by many underground alternative artists are "somewhat cut from the same cloth".[248] While compiling a list of artists that take cues from Aaliyah,MTV Hive stated that it's easy to spot her influence on underground movements like dubstep, strains of indie pop, and lo-fi R&B movements.[249] Erika Ramirez, an associate editor ofBillboard, said at the time of Aaliyah's career "there weren't many artists using the kind of soft vocals the ways she was using it, and now you see a lot of artists doing that and finding success". Ramirez argued that Aaliyah's second albumOne in a Million was "very much ahead of its time, with the bass and electro kind of R&B sounds that they produced", and that the sound, "really stood out" at its time, was being replicated.[250]
There has been continuing belief that Aaliyah would have achieved greater career success had it not been for her death. Emil Wilbekin mentioned the deaths ofThe Notorious B.I.G. andTupac Shakur in conjunction with hers and added: "Her just-released third album and scheduled role in a sequel toThe Matrix could have made her anotherJanet Jackson orWhitney Houston".[251] Director ofQueen of the DamnedMichael Rymer said of Aaliyah, "God, that girl could have gone so far" and spoke of her having "such a clarity about what she wanted. Nothing was gonna step in her way. No ego, no nervousness, no manipulation. There was nothing to stop her."[252] On July 18, 2014, it was announced thatAlexandra Shipp replacedZendaya for the role of Aaliyah for theLifetime TV biopic movieAaliyah: The Princess of R&B, which premiered on November 15, 2014.[253] Zendaya drew criticism because people felt that she was too light skinned and did not greatly resemble Aaliyah.[254] She voiced her strong respect for Aaliyah before dropping out of the project.[255] She explained her choice to withdraw from the film in videos on Instagram.[256] Aaliyah's family has been vocal in their disapproving of the film. Her cousin Jomo Hankerson stated the family would prefer a "major studio release along the lines" ofWhat's Love Got to Do with It, the biopic based on the life ofTina Turner. Aaliyah's family has consulted a lawyer to stop Lifetime from using "any of the music, or any of the photographs and videos" they own and Jomo Hankerson claimed the TV network "didn't reach out."[257] On August 9, 2014, it was announced that Chattrisse Dolabaille and Izaak Smith had been cast as Aaliyah's collaborators Missy Elliott and Timbaland.[258] Dolabaille and Smith both received criticism for their appearances in comparison with that of Missy Elliot and Timbaland.[259] Despite negative reviews,[260] the film's premiere drew 3.2 million viewers, becoming the second highest rated television movie of 2014.[261]
On August 17, 2021,Atria Books (an imprint ofSimon & Schuster) publishedKathy Iandoli'sBaby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah, a biography that draws on interviews with Aaliyah's friends, mentors and family, and document how her career influenced a new generation of artists. It has not been authorized by the Haughton family.[262][263] On August 5, 2022,Beyoncé released "The Queens Remix" to her single "Break My Soul", in which she name-drops Aaliyah, along with other cultural icons.[264][265] On June 14, 2023, Aaliyah was the subject of the documentarySuperstar: Aaliyah, which was broadcast on ABC. The documentary included interviews with Damon Dash, Barry Hankerson,Sevyn Streeter,Will.i.am,Justine Skye, and author Kathy Iandoli, and discussed Aaliyah's life, career and legacy.[266][267]
Aaliyah has sold 8.1 million albums in the United States and an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide.[268][269][270][271][272] Throughout the years, she has earned severalhonorific nicknames, including "Princess of R&B",[273] "Pop Princess",[274] and "Queen of Urban Pop",[275] as she "proved she was a muse in her own right".[276] While Ernest Hardy ofRolling Stone dubbed her the "undisputed queen of the midtempo come-on".[25] She also has been referred to as a pop and R&B icon for her impact on those genres.[277][278]
At the2001 MTV Video Music Awards, Aaliyah was honored byJanet Jackson,Missy Elliott,Timbaland,Ginuwine and her brother, Rashad, who all paid tribute to her.[279] Also during 2001, the United StatesSocial Security Administration ranked the name Aaliyah as one of the 100 most popular names for newborn girls.[280] In 2003, Aaliyah was ranked as one of "The Top 40 Women of the Video Era" inVH1'sThe Greatest series.[281] Also, in 2003 in memory of Aaliyah, theEntertainment Industry Foundation created the Aaliyah Memorial Fund to donate money raised to charities she supported.[282] In 2008, she was ranked at number 18 onBET's "Top 25 Dancers of All Time".[283] In December 2009,Billboard ranked Aaliyah at number 70 on its Top Artists of the Decade,[284] while her albumAaliyah was ranked at number 181 on the magazine's Top 200 Albums of the Decade.[285] In 2010,Billboard listed her as the tenth most successful female R&B artist of the past 25 years, and 27th most successful R&B artist overall.[286] In 2011,Essence ranked her at number 14 on its 50 Most Influential R&B Starts list.[287] In 2012, VH1 ranked her number 48 on their "Greatest Women in Music".[288] In 2014,NME ranked her at number 18 on its 100 most influential artist list.[289] In August 2018,Billboard ranked Aaliyah at number 47 on their Top 60 Female Artists of All-Time list.[290] In 2020, the publication included her on its list of the 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time.[118]Rolling Stone ranked her at number 40 on their 200 Best Singers of All Time list.[83] In September 2023, she was inducted into theNational Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.[291] In March 2025,Billboard ranked Aaliyah at number 47 on its Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century list.[292] In June the publication ranked her at number 40 on its the "75 Best R&B Artists of All Time" list.[293]
^Christian, Margena A. (February 24, 2022). "Aaliyah".Aaliyah (16 Jan. 1979–25 Aug. 2001), singer, actress, and model.American National Biography. Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.013.20818.ISBN978-0-19-860669-7.Aaliyah (16 Jan. 1979–25 Aug. 2001), singer, actress, and model, was born Aaliyah Dana Haughton to Michael Haughton (1951-2012), a warehouse worker, and Diane Haughton in Brooklyn, New York.
^abEx, Kris (December 1996)."Got To Give It Up".Vibe. New York: 126. Archived fromthe original on February 10, 2022. RetrievedJune 21, 2022.Aaliyah's fresh sound is a brick-layered foundation with a rubbery synth-bass that incorporates actual old-school funk and R&B.
^abLisi, Brian (August 25, 2016)."A look at Aaliyah's first and last TV appearances on the 15th anniversary of her tragic death".New York Daily News.Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. RetrievedMay 26, 2022.Only 22 years old when a plane carrying her and eight others crashed shortly after takeoff, Aaliyah Dana Haughton has been heralded for not just amassing major achievements at such a young age, but for incorporating elements of R&B, pop and hip-hop into her music in a way that would define the sound of an entire decade.
^abcdPrince, David J. (December 23, 2009)."The Decade in Music: Top 50 Moments".Billboard.Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. RetrievedMay 26, 2022.With Timbaland and Missy Elliott in her production corner, the 22-year-old was a muse who revolutionized R&B with her honey-coated voice and sultry mix of pop, soul and hip-hop.
^abFlick, Larry (May 30, 1998)."Reviews & Previews – Singles".Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 22. p. 27. RetrievedJune 13, 2022.This time, she fronts the first single from "Dr. Doolittle" and it's a welcome return to her Funk/Hip-Hop roots.
^Russell, Baillie (August 8, 2001)."Aaliyah: Aaliyah".The New Zealand Herald. Archived fromthe original on December 11, 2015. RetrievedJune 13, 2022.As its 15 tracks thump, click and stutter with inventive, state-of-the-art dancepop, Aaliyah's voice weaves through the sparse but punchy arrangements with a mix of sultriness.
^King, Jason (February 2003)."Revolutions".Vibe. New York: 136. Archived fromthe original on November 30, 2021. RetrievedJune 21, 2022.Although I Care 4 U is missing such beloved tracks as "If Your Girl Only Knew" and "Rock the Boat", it still gathers some of the most adventurous dance-pop of the last 10 years.
^abLang, George (August 31, 2001)."Promising singer worthy of posthumous praise".The Oklahoman.Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. RetrievedJune 21, 2022.her principal idols were Sade, whom she tried to emulate on much of her mid-tempo material like "Rock da Boat," and Trent Reznor, whose industrial influence was felt on the final album's closer, the genre-bending What If.
^Drennen, Eileen M.; Murray, Sonia; Hamilton, Doug; Dollar, Steve; Henry, Derrick; Janich, Kathy; DeVault, Russ (August 9, 1996). "Home Entertainment The Latest in Music, Videos And Books New Music Mini Reviews Review".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Cox Enterprises. p. G.06.Actually, she's a streetwise Jackson with a far more soulful song selection. The gritty beats just don't stop on 'One in a Million,' which, a la Jackson, has one track after another aching for sensual choreography.
Flick, Larry (March 14, 1998)."Reviews and Previews – Singles".Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 11. p. 22. RetrievedJune 14, 2022.Jeep siren Aaliyah's transformation into a pop princess is complete with the release of this Oscar-nominated theme to the film "Anastasia".
Frydenlund, Zach (October 2, 2014)."Check Out the First Trailer for Lifetime's "Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B" Biopic".Complex.Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. RetrievedJune 15, 2022.During the quick clip, Shipp is seen playing the late pop princess in scenes where she is at dance rehearsal, in the studio, and in an argument with her mother while Iggy Azalea's song, "Goddess," serves as the soundtrack for the trailer.
"Ep. 166 | Episode Summary, Highlights, and Recaps". VH1. Archived fromthe original on October 22, 2012. RetrievedMarch 31, 2012.But Aaliyah Dana Houghton, the reigning Queen of Urban Pop, wasn't sitting still. She was hard at work, shooting her next video, when a plane crash ended her life on August 25
Hodges, Michael (August 25, 2017)."Grapevine: MAC Aaliyah collection coming in 2018".The Detroit News.Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. RetrievedJune 15, 2022.Petitions circulated last year demanding that the "Queen of Urban Pop," whom Essence magazine says was a loyal MAC customer before her death at 22 on a plane in the Bahamas, get her own line and the cosmetics giant responded.
Mayo, Nicki (August 25, 2017)."What's your favorite Aaliyah song?".Associated Press.Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. RetrievedJune 15, 2022.Aaliyah Haughton will always be remembered as the "Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop." She's trending today on social media because it's the anniversary of her death.
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