Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001) was an American singer, actress, dancer, and model.

She is known for her works that has redefined contemporary R&B, pop and hip hop,earning her the nicknames the "Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop".

Date of Birth January 16, 1979

Place of Birth New York City, U.S.

Date of Death August 25, 2001, (aged 22)

Place of Death Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands, The Bahamas.

Cause of Death Airplane crash

Years active 1989–2001

Genres

R&B

Alternative R&B

Pop

progressive soul

neo soul

LABELS

Blackground Records

Jive Records

Atlantic Records

Virgin Records

Associated acts

Missy Elliott

R. Kelly

Early Life (Age 5-10)

Aaliyah's mother enrolled Aaliyah in voice lessons at an early age. When Aaliyah was five years old, her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she was raised along with her older brother, Rashad. She attended a Catholic school, Gesu Elementary, where in first grade she was cast in the stage play Annie, which inspired her to become an entertainer. In Detroit, her father began working in the warehouse business, one of his brother-in-law Barry Hankerson's widening interests. Her mother stayed home and raised Aaliyah and her brother.

She was born in Brooklyn and raised in Detroit, and as a child, Aaliyah traveled with Knight and worked with an agent in New York to audition for commercials and television programs, including Family Matters; she went on to appear on Star Search at the age of ten.

Aaliyah chose to begin auditioning though her mother made the decision to drop her surname.She auditioned for several record labels and at age 11 she appeared in concerts alongside Knight.

she first gained recognition at the age of 10, when she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight.

At the age of 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records. Hankerson introduced her to R. Kelly, who became her mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer of her debut album

Debut Album



Released May 24, 1994

Recorded January 1993 –Feb.1994

Studio Chicago Recording Co.

Genre R&B, Pop

Tracks 12

Length 48:54

Label Blackground,BMGRecords

Producer R. Kelly (exec.)

"Age Ain't Nothing But A Number" Tracklist

Aaliyah's debut album, "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number" , was released under her mononym "Aaliyah", by Jive and Blackground Records on May 24, 1994; the album debut at number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 74,000 copies in its first week.It ultimately peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and sold over three million copies in the United States, where it was certified two times Platinum by the RIAA.In Canada, the album sold over 50,000 copies and was certified gold by the CRIA.Aaliyah's debut single, "Back & Forth", topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three weeks and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The second single, a cover of The Isley Brothers' "At Your Best (You Are Love)", peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also certified Gold by the RIAA.The title track,"Age Ain't Nothing But A Number", peaked at number 75 on the Hot 100. Additionally, she released "The Thing I Like" as part of the soundtrack to the 1994 film A Low Down Dirty Shame.

The album sold three million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After facing allegations of an illegal marriage with Kelly, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records.

Aaliyah worked with record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott for her second album, One in a Million, which sold three million copies in the United States and more than eight million copies worldwide. In 2000, Aaliyah appeared in her first film, Romeo Must Die. She contributed to the film's soundtrack, which spawned the single "Try Again". The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 solely on airplay, making Aaliyah the first artist in Billboard history to achieve this goal. After completing Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah filmed her role in Queen of the Damned, and released, in 2001, her self-titled third and final studio album, which topped the Billboard 200.

°° Other Studio Albums

ONE IN A MILLION



Recorded August 1995 – July 1996

Released August 13, 1996

Studio

Vanguard Studios (Detroit)

Pyramid Studios (Ithaca)

Genre R&B,hip-hop, soul, pop.

Length 73:18

Label Blackground Records, Atlantic Records

Producers Jomo Hankerson,Timbaland,Missy Elliott,Carl-So-Lowe, J. Dibbs,Jermaine Dupri.

Singles from "ONE IN A MILLION"

"If Your Girl Only Knew"

"Got to Give It Up"

"One in a Million"

"4 Page Letter"

"Hot Like Fire"

"The One I Gave My Heart To"

It debuted at number 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 180,000 copies in its first week, and later peaked at number 18. Within several months, the album proved Aaliyah's breakthrough and a major milestone in the careers of Elliott and Timbaland, being certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).One in a Million has sold over three million copies in the United States and eight million worldwide

The album opens with an "alarm call" from the jungle-inspired intro "Beats 4 Da Streets", featuring commentary from Missy Elliott. Throughout the intro, Elliott repeatedly calls Aaliyah's name and tells her to wake up. She also mentions that "You’ve just now entered into the next level the new world of funk" while various sounds such as echoing amid bells, blippy synths, and heavy bass are playing in the background.

The second track "Hot Like Fire" is described as a "panting minimalist controlled-blaze baby-maker" with suggestive lyricsOn "Hot Like Fire" Aaliyah "hums and moans promises to her new bae that his patience will be rewarded".

The third track "One in a Million" is an ethereal club ballad with seductive trip hop and drum and bass influences and it features "shimmering" synths and crickets within its production. On "One in a Million", Aaliyah "communicates love and commitment to her man.

The fourth track "A Girl Like You" is a hip hop-inspired track with a "standard 90s boom-bap beat" where Aaliyah "holds her own" against guest-rapper Treach from Naughty by Nature. During the chorus both Aaliyah and Treach do a "cute back-and-forth" "I'm looking for a guy like you." "Yeah, you know me, I hope." "I hope you feel it in your knees." "Oh yes indeed.

The fifth track "If Your Girl Only Knew" is a funk and pop song, and it has been described by critics as being "teasingly witchy". On "If Your Girl Only Knew", Aaliyah chides a man for hitting on her when he already has a girlfriend.The song features heavy keyboard and organ work along with live drums and a thumping bass line. The sixth and seventh tracks "Choosey Lover" and "Got to Give It Up" are both remake covers to songs performed by The Isley Brothers and Marvin Gaye, respectively, with the latter featuring a guest appearance from rapper Slick Rick On "Got to Give It Up" Aaliyah places her falsetto "toe to toe against the liquid overlapping rhyme scheme of hip hop's ultimate storyteller Slick Rick".

For the eighth track "4 Page Letter", Aaliyah tells her "crush to keep an eye out for the mailman" because she has sent him a love letter;[15] also on the song she recalls and follows her parents' advice.

One in a Million was ranked at number 90 on Rolling Stone's "100 Best Albums of the '90s". It was also listed as one of 33 urban albums in the magazine's list "The Essential Recordings of the '90s". In a retrospective review of the album, Slant Magazine said One in a Million was "undoubtedly one of the most influential R&B albums of the '90s", and credited it for establishing "Aaliyah and the Timbo family as undeniable hip-hop forces

Aaliyah



Released July 7, 2001

Recorded 1998 – March 2001

Studio

Magic Mix

Music Grinder

Westlake (Los Angeles)

Manhattan Center

Soundtracks Sony (New York)

Sing Sing (Melbourne)

Genre R&B,neo soul, pop, dance-pop.

Tracks Fifteen (15)

Length 61:10

Label Blackground, Virgin.

Producers Bud'da, Eric Seats, J. Dub, Rapture,Timbaland.

On release, Aaliyah received highly positive reviews and charted at number two on the US Billboard 200, but sold diminishingly afterwards. When Blackground and Virgin wanted a high-charting single to increase the album's sales, Aaliyah shot a music video for the song "Rock the Boat" in the Bahamas, but died in a plane crash during a return flight to the US on August 25. After her death, sales of the album greatly increased and led it to the top of the Billboard 200, eventually reaching more than 13 million copies sold worldwide. Released during a period of peak activity in R&B, Aaliyah has since been cited by critics as one of the genre's best and influential records from this era.

I CARE 4 U



Released December 10, 2002

Recorded 1993–2001

Studio Battery, Chung King, Manhattan Center

Genre R&B, dance-pop

Tracks 17 (Seventeen)

Length 72:56

Label Blackground, Universal

ProduceTeddy Bishop,Bud'da, Bryan-Michael Cox, Kevin Hicks.

I Care 4 U debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 and atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 290,669 copies in the first week.In its second wek, the album fell to number six on the Billboard 200 and to number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 280,000 copies. In its third week, the album fell to number number ten on the Billboard 200 and rose back to the top of Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 176,000 copies. In its fourth week, the album rose to number nine on the Billboard 200, selling 138,000 copies, with total first-month sales of 884,669 copies. The album topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for seven non-consecutive weeks.I Care 4 U was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 15, 2003, and has sold over 1.6 million copies in the country.

LTIMATE AALIYAH



Released May 10, 2005

Recorded 1993 – March 9, 2001

Genre R&B pop hip hop

Label Blackground (US), Believe Music and Recall (UK), Snapper (Netherlands), Avex Trax

Tracks SIX (6)

Producer R. Kelly,Timbaland, Bud'da, Rockstar, Rapture, E. Seats.

Taking up

✔ Taking up "The One I Gave My Heart To"



Released September 16, 1997

Recorded Summer 1996

Genre Pop R&B

Length 4:30 (album version)

4:24 (video version)

3:53 (radio mix)

Label Blackground, Atlantic

Songwriter(s)

Diane Warren

Producer(s)

Daryl Simmons (album version)

Guy Roche (single version)

Commercially "The One I Gave My Heart To" performed well peaking within the top 10 at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending on November 15, 1997. The song was just as successful on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart also peaking within the top 10 at number 8 on the week ending on December 6, 1997. The song also peaked within the top 20 at number 18 on Billboards Dance Club charts on the week ending on February 28, 1998. On October 21, 1997, the song was certified Gold by the RIAA.Towards the end of 1997 it was reported by Billboard that the song had sold over 900,000 copies in the United States.

Chart performance

"The One I Gave My Heart To" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the issue week of October 4, 1997 at number 24.In the song's seventh week on the chart it reached its peak at number 9, making it the highest-charting single from the album.In the same issue week of October 4, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 18.

Eventually the song reached it peaked within the top 10 ten weeks later after its first charting at number 8 on December 6, 1997.The song also peaked within the top ten on the Rhythmic charts at number 8 on November 15, 1997. On the Billboard Dance charts the song peaked within the top 20 at number 18 on February 28, 1998. on October 21, 1997 "The One I Gave My Heart To" was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of over 900,000 copies sold.

Internationally the song was a moderate success peaking within the top 40 at number 30 on the UK official charts on November 22, 1997. On the UK official Dance single chart the song also peaked within the top 40 at number 25 on November 16, 1997.Also on November 16, 1997 the song peaked within the top 5 at number 3 on the UK official R&B charts. Elsewhere in Europe "The One I Gave My Heart To" peaked within the top 20 at number 16 in the Netherlands on the Tipparade chart on February 6, 1998. In the Oceania region of the world the song peaked within the top 40 at number 28 in New Zealand on December 7, 1997.

✔ Taking up "Miss You"



Released November 16, 2002

Recorded Late 1999

Studio Sony Music (New York City, New York)

Genre R&B pop

Length 4:05

Label Blackground, Universal

Songwriter(s)

Johnta Austin, Teddy Bishop, Ginuwine

Producer(s) Teddy Bishop

✔Taking up "MORE THAN A WOMAN"



Released October 29, 2001

Recorded 2001

Studio Manhattan Center (New York City, New York)

Genre Pop, electro hip-hop

Length 3:49

Label Blackground,Virgin

Songwriter(s) Timbaland, Stephen Garrett

Producer(s) Timbaland

Considered as one of her best songs because of it's commercial success,"MORE THAN A WOMAN" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Aaliyah's first song to do so, while reaching the top ten in Scotland. In the US the song experienced moderate success, where it peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It is a pop, electro and hip hop song, it was one of three records Timbaland produced for Aaliyah and features digital strings, harsh-sounding synthetic bass, and guitar sounds. The song incorporates an uncredited sample from Syrian singer Mayada El Hennawy's 1993 song "Alouli Ansa". Lyrically, the track expresses a female's promise to be "MORE THAN A WOMAN" to her love interest.

Aaliyah performed the song on Live with Regis & Kelly on July 18, 2001, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 25, 2001, which was her last performance before her death.

"MORE THAN A WOMAN" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in the 45th Annual Grammy Awards.

In the United States, "MORE THAN A WOMAN" entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number seventy one on February 2, 2002.The song eventually peaked at number twenty-five in its ninth week on the chart.The song stayed on the chart for a total of twenty-four weeks. It also peaked within the top 20 on the dance club charts at number 11 during its 6th week on the chart, while peaking within at number 7 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in its 24th week on the chart.On June 15, 2002, "More Than a Woman" peaked at number 19 on the Mainstream Top 40. Meanwhile, on April 27, 2002, the song peaked at number 12 on the Rhythmic chart. At the end of the year, "More Than a Woman" was ranked at number fifty-eight on Billboard's 2002 year-end chart.In the Oceania region, the song peaked within the top 40 at number 37 on March 10, 2002, in Australia

LIFE-TIME DISCOGRAPHY

Studio albums
3

Compilation albums
2

Video albums
3

Music videos
24

Singles
26

Soundtrack albums
9





Awards and nominations

Award
Wins
Nominations

American Music Awards
3
5

BET
0
6

Billboard
0
8

Grammy
0
5

MOBO
1
1

MTV VMA
2
7

Soul Train
1
7

Totals

Wins
14

Nominations
73

FILMOGRAGPHY



At the time of her death, Aaliyah was working on several film appearances to be released back-to-back. One of these was a remake of the 1976 film Sparkle, produced by Whitney Houston. Houston would later say that Aaliyah was interested in being in the film to the point of being "enthusiastic". After she died, Houston shelved the project because her lead had "gone to a better place." The film was later completed in 2011, with Jordin Sparks replacing Aaliyah. Aaliyah had filmed part of her role in 2003's The Matrix Reloaded and was scheduled to appear in its sequel The Matrix Revolutions. Nona Gaye was recast in the role.

DEATH

On August 25, 2001, at 6:50 p.m. (EDT), Aaliyah and the members of the record company boarded a twin-engine Cessna 402 light aircraft at the Marsh Harbour Airport in Abaco Islands, the Bahamas, to travel to the Opa-Locka Airport in Florida, after they completed filming the music video for "Rock the Boat".

The plane crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff, about 200 feet (60 m) from the end of the runway.

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, and Blackground Records employees Douglas Kratz and Gina Smith—were all killed.

The passengers had grown impatient because the Cessna was supposed to arrive at 4:30 p.m. EDT, but did not arrive until 6:15 p.m. ED,

The aircraft designated for the return flight was smaller than the one on which they had originally arrived, but it still had room to take on the whole party and all of their equipment. Charter pilot Lewis Key claimed to have overheard passengers arguing with the pilot, Luis Morales III, prior to take off, adding that Morales warned them that there was too much weight for a "safe flight". The Pilot 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.

ACCIDENT (CRASH)

The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, about 200 feet (60 m) from the runway.Aaliyah and seven of the eight others on board were killed instantly. The other passenger, a security guard, died shortly afterwards and, according to paramedics, spent his last moments worrying about Aaliyah's condition.

Music Legacy

Aaliyah has been credited for helping redefine R&B, pop and hip hop in the 1990s, "leaving an indelible imprint on the music industry as a whole."According to Billboard, she revolutionized R&B with her sultry mix of pop, soul and hip hop. In a 2001 review of her eponymous album, Rolling Stone professed that Aaliyah's impact on R&B and pop has been enormous.

On People's Mind

On August 24, 2017 MAC Cosmetics announced that an Aaliyah collection will be made available in the summer of 2018. The Aaliyah for Mac collection was released on June 20 online and June 21 in stores, along with the MAC collection, MAC and i-D Magazine partnered up to release a short film titled "A-Z of Aaliyah" which coincided with the launch.The short film highlighted and celebrated the legacy of Aaliyah with the help of select fans who were selected to be a part of the film through a casting call competition held by Mac and i–d magazin The Aaliyah for Mac collectors box was sold at $250 and it sold out within minutes during the first day of its initial release.

On August 21, 2019, the Madame Tussauds museum revealed a wax figure of Aaliyah at their Las Vegas location. The lifesize figure was modelled on Aaliyah's iconic "Try Again" outfit and makeup.

20 Years Rembrance

Today marks her 20th anniversary of tragic death with over 40,000 #Aaliyah post on Facebook Alone and a WIKIPEDIA front-page post.

Though today marks 20 years since her passing, we’re reminded - by the unfading resonance of her music, and her continued influence on today’s artists - just how much Aaliyah gave to the culture even in such a short time.

Iconic style and one of the most promising young voices on the scene - #Babygirl brought something to the stage that was, dare we say, One in a Million. - APOLLO THEATER

R.I.P to Aaliyah and all other lives that were lost exactly 20 years Ago.

What's your favorite #Aaliyah track?

Sources ;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaliyah

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Aaliyah

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_Ain%27t_Nothing_but_a_Number

https://fb.watch/7CBRklV0AF/

Her "Romeo must die" movie with Jet Li... Prefer that one best.