It was 1994 I was about 7 almost 8 years old when I vividly remember being in my childhood bedroom watching television in Washington, DC when I discovered BET and seeing Aaliyah’s first music video for “Back and Forth”. I saw this beautiful young girl in her flannel shirt, her hat, baggy jeans, and combat boots. You think she’s so cool, smooth, and pretty. I remember even BET put the pronunciation of Aaliyah’s name to make sure we all pronounced it correctly. You needed to because she was no doubt a boss babe, a princess, and just an amazing soul. I often read how Aaliyah’s drive, her work ethic, tenacity, and dedication it was kept her going in this business. She just had overwhelming potential to be so much in the entertainment industry. I can see a clothing line, sunglasses, boots, sneakers, and even another make up line dedicated in her honor. There’s so much her music catalogue has and offers too. I was listening to some of my favorite hits of hers and I remember just the feeling of listening to her music growing up in my childhood and teen years. We were blessed to have her touch the music industry and she offered all that she has within those 7 years she was physically active in the entertainment and music industry as an actress, singer, songwriter, and performer.
Her legacy will continue to touch many young women and men in the industry who have learned about her life story, and how she wanted to just be remembered as a fantastic performer who set trends and touched countless lives all around her.
I hope that her family and her record label will release more material unheard music from her because the fans we all loved her so much and what she brought in all of our lives as a recording artist.
On August 25th, 2021 there will be a re -release of her sophomore album this week to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her passing and the 25th anniversary of “One in a million” which debuted at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts on September 14th, 1996 and sold 40,500 copies the first week and that album was on the Billboard charts for a year and 3 months until February 1997.
Now her first single, “One in a million” from her sophomore album will be streamed on August 27, 2021 her uncle who was responsible and played a large part in her career. Had sole control of her music. He agreed to permission for her music to be released with her family from her estate to be streamed digitally online on all music software streaming services.
As I get older I see the impact as an adult that she has on the R&B, hip-hop, and music community, the generation of the 90s and 2000s has embraced her and love her style, her music, her movies as well. When you lose one of your heroes who influenced you to want to become a singer, recording artist, and writer yourself it touches your heart. I remember see her performing at the 2000 Hot 97 Summer Jam concert too.
I was definitely a fan from a little girl and as a young woman I still admire her and respect her. I see artists like Ciara, Jhene Aiko, H.E.R, and Snoh Alegra remind me of Aaliyah. Even pop artists were inspired her lyrics and her fashion sense as well. So we cannot forget the “Princess of R&B” of the late 90s and early 2000s who was an amazing angel.
Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and all social media platforms for upcoming new music and her classic hits to be released digitally.
