Aaliyah

Aaliyah

Early Life and Career Beginning

Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born on January 16, 1979, in Brooklyn, New York, to Diane and Michael Haughton. She was of African-American, Jamaican, and Native American descent. When she was five years old, her family relocated to Detroit, Michigan, where she was raised alongside her older brother Rashad. Her mother enrolled her in voice lessons at an early age, and she began performing at weddings, church events, and charity functions. Inspired by a first-grade role in the stage play Annie at her Catholic school, Gesu Elementary, Aaliyah pursued entertainment professionally. At age ten in 1989, she appeared on Star Search performing "My Funny Valentine," and subsequently performed in concerts alongside Gladys Knight, her uncle Barry Hankerson's ex-wife. By age 11, after attending a Gladys Knight concert, rapper Tupac Shakur expressed interest in signing her to a record deal.

Debut Album and R. Kelly Era

At age 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records. Hankerson introduced her to R. Kelly, who became her mentor and the lead songwriter and producer of her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994), recorded when she was 14. The album debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200, selling 38,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at number 18, ultimately achieving double platinum certification with over 3 million copies sold in the US. Critics praised her "silky vocals" and "sultry voice" that blended with Kelly's new jack swing production. However, allegations of an illegal marriage between Aaliyah (15) and Kelly (27) in August 1994 led to the marriage's annulment in February 1995 and her departure from Jive Records. She subsequently signed with Atlantic Records.

Artistic Evolution and Timbaland Collaboration

Aaliyah's second album, One in a Million (1996), marked a significant artistic evolution through collaborations with producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott. The album peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200, sold 3 million copies in the US and over 8 million worldwide, and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. Elliott noted that Aaliyah was warm and welcoming despite being an established artist, making them feel like family. The album's lead single "If Your Girl Only Knew" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for two weeks. Timbaland and Elliott's production introduced the "freeze-and-stop style of singing on top of bass-heavy instrumentals" that became Aaliyah's signature. In 1997, she graduated with a 4.0 GPA from the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, majoring in drama.

Acting Career and "Try Again"

In 2000, Aaliyah made her acting debut in Romeo Must Die opposite Jet Li, contributing four songs to the film's soundtrack. Her single "Try Again" became historic as the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on airplay, earning her Grammy and MTV Video Music Award nominations. The accompanying music video won Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The Romeo Must Die soundtrack sold 1.5 million copies in the US. Simultaneously, she filmed Queen of the Damned, playing vampire Queen Akasha, while recording her third album.

Third Album and Legacy

Aaliyah's self-titled third album was released on July 17, 2001, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 with 187,000 first-week sales. Following her death, the album rose to number one. Singles "We Need a Resolution," "Rock the Boat," "More Than a Woman," and "I Care 4 U" achieved posthumous success, with "More Than a Woman" reaching number one on the UK singles chart, making Aaliyah the first deceased female artist to achieve this milestone. The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA in February 2002.

Death and Posthumous Impact

On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah died in a plane crash at age 22 when the overloaded Cessna 402 she was traveling in crashed shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas. The aircraft was carrying one more passenger than certified and was 700 pounds overloaded. The pilot, Luis Morales III, had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system and was not qualified to fly the aircraft. Aaliyah's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit that was settled out of court. Since her death, Aaliyah has sold 8.1 million albums in the US and an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide, cementing her legacy as the "Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop."