Aaliyah

Aaliyah's debut album, "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number," was released in 1994 and was a commercial success. However, it became controversial due to her alleged marriage to R. Kelly, who was the album's main songwriter and producer. Aaliyah later severed ties with Jive Records and signed with Atlantic Records. She continued to achieve success with her subsequent albums, including "One in a Million" (1996) and the self-titled "Aaliyah" (2001). She also ventured into acting with roles in films like "Romeo Must Die" (2000) and "Queen of the Damned" (2002).


Tragically, Aaliyah's life was cut short when she died in a plane crash in the Bahamas on August 25, 2001, at the age of 22. Her death was a significant loss to the music and entertainment industry, and she is remembered as a talented and influential artist.


Aaliyah's collaboration with Timbaland and Missy Elliott on her second album, "One in a Million" (1996), marked a significant shift in her musical style and contributed to the album's success. The album achieved considerable commercial success both in the United States and globally.


In 2000, Aaliyah ventured into acting with her debut film, "Romeo Must Die," and also contributed to the film's soundtrack. Her single "Try Again" from the soundtrack topped the Billboard Hot 100, making history as the first song to achieve this solely through airplay.


Following her acting debut, Aaliyah starred in "Queen of the Damned," although the film was released posthumously. In July 2001, she released her eponymous third album, "Aaliyah," which debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured hit singles like "Rock the Boat," "More Than a Woman," and "We Need a Resolution" (featuring Timbaland). Tragically, Aaliyah's promising career was cut short by her untimely death later that year.


Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born on January 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, New York City, to Diane and Michael "Miguel" Haughton. She had an older brother named Rashad. The family later moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Aaliyah was raised. Her father worked in the warehouse business, and her mother stayed at home to care for Aaliyah and her brother.


At the age of five, Aaliyah's family moved to Detroit, where she spent her formative years. Her father, working in the warehouse business, became involved in the interests of his brother-in-law Barry Hankerson. Aaliyah's mother enrolled her in voice lessons early on, and she began performing at various events, including weddings, church choir, and charity functions. Aaliyah attended Gesu Elementary, a Catholic school, where her involvement in a stage play at the age of six, playing Annie, sparked her desire to become an entertainer.


Aaliyah's mother was a vocalist, and her uncle Barry Hankerson was an entertainment lawyer who had previously been married to Gladys Knight. Aaliyah's family connections in the entertainment industry played a role in her early exposure to the world of music and show business.


As a child, Aaliyah traveled with Gladys Knight and worked with an agent in New York City to audition for commercials and television programs, including "Family Matters." Although she did not secure a role on "Family Matters," Aaliyah continued her acting pursuits through the Gesu Players. In 1989, at the age of ten, she appeared on the talent show "Star Search," performing "My Funny Valentine." Aaliyah made the decision to drop her last name during this time.


Aaliyah's early exposure to the entertainment industry included auditions for various record labels. By the age of 11, she was performing in concerts alongside Gladys Knight. Throughout her childhood, Aaliyah had a variety of pet animals, including ducks, snakes, and iguanas. She humorously noted that her cousin Jomo had a pet alligator, but that was something she wasn't willing to handle.


Aaliyah attended schools in Detroit and, despite being teased for her short stature during her early years, she eventually came to embrace her height. By the age of 15, she had developed a love for her petite stature. Her mother played a significant role in boosting her confidence, telling her to be happy about being small and offering compliments. Although Aaliyah experienced teasing from some children, she noted that the majority of kids supported her, which she found wonderful.


In her adult life, Aaliyah continued to see herself as small but had learned to accept and love herself. She emphasized the importance of thinking highly of oneself because, as she believed, if you don't, no one else will. This perspective reflected her self-assured and positive outlook on personal identity and self-worth.


At the age of 12, Aaliyah was signed to Blackground Records by her uncle Barry Hankerson, who had secured a distribution deal with Jive Records. Hankerson, in turn, introduced Aaliyah to R. Kelly, a recording artist and producer, who became her mentor and took on the role of lead songwriter and producer for her first album. Aaliyah's debut album, "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number," was released under her mononym "Aaliyah" on May 24, 1994. It debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 38,000 copies in its first week. The album peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and received a two-times Platinum certification from the RIAA. In Canada, it was certified gold by Music Canada for shipments of 50,000 copies.


The album continued to perform well over the years, with estimated global sales reaching six million copies by 2014, according to Vibe magazine. "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" showcased Aaliyah's talent and set the stage for her future success in the music industry.


"Age Ain't Nothing But a Number" received generally favorable reviews from music critics upon its release. Critics noted Aaliyah's "silky vocals" and "sultry voice," which, when combined with R. Kelly's new jack swing, was seen as influential in defining R&B in the 1990s. Her sound was also compared to that of the female quartet En Vogue. Christopher John Farley of Time magazine described the album as a "beautifully restrained work," highlighting Aaliyah's "girlish, breathy vocals" riding on R. Kelly's "rough beats." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic acknowledged that while the album had its "share of filler," the singles were "slyly seductive" and, in his opinion, often better than those on Kelly's second studio album, "12 Play."


Despite the positive reception, the single "At Your Best (You Are Love)" faced criticism from Billboard for being out of place on the album and for its length.


In 1996, Aaliyah made a transition from Jive Records to Atlantic Records. Her second studio album, "One in a Million," released under Atlantic Records, saw her collaboration with record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott. Despite initial nervousness from Timbaland and Elliott, Aaliyah welcomed them warmly, creating a collaborative and familial atmosphere. The album's lead single, "If Your Girl Only Knew," peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for two weeks. Other notable singles from the album include "Hot Like Fire" and "4 Page Letter."


"One in a Million" reached number 18 on the Billboard 200 and earned double-platinum certification from the RIAA on June 16, 1997, indicating shipments of two million copies. The album achieved sales of 3 million copies in the US and over eight million copies worldwide. Aaliyah was also featured on Timbaland & Magoo's debut single, "Up Jumps da Boogie," a year after the release of her album.


In 1997, Aaliyah graduated with a remarkable 4.0 GPA from the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, where she pursued a major in drama. Concurrently, she initiated her acting career by playing herself in the police drama television series "New York Undercover." Aaliyah continued to engage in philanthropy by participating in the Children's Benefit Concert, a charity event at the Beacon Theatre in New York.


During this period, Aaliyah became the spokesperson for the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation, and her association with the brand led to significant sales, with over 2,400 pairs of the red, white, and blue baggy jeans she wore in their advertisements. She also performed the Christmas carol "What Child Is This?" at the annual Christmas in Washington television special in December 1997.


Aaliyah contributed to the soundtrack album for the animated film "Anastasia," where she performed a cover version of "Journey to the Past," earning songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Aaliyah's rendition was showcased at the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony, making her the youngest singer to perform at the event. Additionally, in 1998, she released the song "Are You That Somebody?" featured on the "Dr. Dolittle" soundtrack. The song reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Aaliyah her first Grammy Award nomination.


In 1999, Aaliyah secured her first significant role in a major film with "Romeo Must Die." This action film featured her alongside martial artist Jet Li, portraying a couple entangled in love amidst their feuding families. The movie, released on March 24, 2000, achieved substantial success, grossing $18.6 million in its opening weekend and securing the second spot at the box office.


For Aaliyah, the experience was one of deliberate distance from reviews to ease the process for herself. While she deliberately refrained from reading reviews, she heard that people were able to connect with her character, which was her intention. However, some critics expressed reservations, citing perceived lack of chemistry between Aaliyah and Jet Li and characterizing the film as overly simplistic. Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times, for instance, remarked that Aaliyah was "a natural" and the film was conceived as a showcase for both her and Li, but they lacked the necessary chemistry, likening their interaction to putting out a fire rather than generating sparks.

References

1.  DJ Vlad (June 25, 2017). "Buckshot on Working with Eminem, Eminem Almost Signing to Duck Down". Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021 – via YouTube.
2. a b "10 Craziest Things We Learned From the Aaliyah Lifetime Movie". Rolling Stone. November 17, 2014. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
3. a b c d e f Huey, Steve. "Aaliyah Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
4. a b Sutherland 2005, p. 1.
5. ^ 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. ISBN 978-0-19-860669-7. Aaliyah (16 Jan. 1979–25 Aug. 2001), singer, actress, and model, was born Aaliyah Dana Haughton to Michael Haughton, a warehouse worker, and Diane Haughton in Brooklyn, New York.
6. a b "Vibe Magazine's Emil Wilbekin: Remembering Aaliyah". CNN. August 27, 2001. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
7. ^ Ali, Rasha (February 21, 2017). "Aaliyah's 'Queen of the Damned' 15th Anniversary: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Vampire Thriller". The Wrap. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2019.

a b c d e Sutherland 2005, pp. 2–4.