UB Celebrates Aaliyah on Birthday | Commentary from Friend Ivan Matias

Aaliyah Haughton was born on January 16, 1979 in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of five, her family moved to Detroit where she started what seemed to be a promising career. Only time would tell if this upcoming star would live up to that aspiration and her name, which means “highest, most exalted one” in Swahili. This bright and rising star started her career with a voice that could be compared to those of Toni Braxton and Janet Jackson.

Aaliyah‘s talent was recognized at a young age when her mom secured the services of a voice teacher before the young girl even enrolled in school. Young Aaliyah spent her pre-teen years between singing in school plays and auditioning for various TV projects.

At the age of 9, she appeared on the television show Star Search where she sang My Funny Valentine as an homage to her mom. Just two years later, she went on a five-night stint singing with Gladys Knight‘s troupe in Las Vegas.

At this early stage in her career, Aaliyah already had relative success and some good connections to continue her rise to the top of Hollywood‘s fame. Her uncle Barry Hankerson was the CEO of the artist management company Blackground Enterprises.

In 1992, she met with R&B; artist R. Kelly, who quickly took Aaliyah under his wing as they started working on various songs and recording projects.

Aaliyah made her official debut when she was introduced at the Urban Network’s Power Jam conference in February 1994. She was featured in a special showcase that was headlined by R. Kelly.

The gold “Back And Forth” was the lead single. The song is a midtempo groove that features soft, velvety vocals by Aaliyah, R. Kelly, wrote and produced the entire project.

The original June 14th, 1994 release date her debut album “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” was moved up to May 24th. “‘Back And Forth‘ has permeated the consciousness of the young public, and because it has picked up steam so quickly, MTV jumped on board faster than we thought, which led to our decision to drop the album sooner,” stated Barry Weiss, VP/GM for Jive Records at the time.

“Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number,” Aaliyah‘s 1994 debut album, was released through Zomba subsidiary Jive Records and sold 1.1 million units out the gate The album peaked at #3 and #18 on the Top R&B Albums chart and The Billboard 200, respectively.

“Back & Forth” and the remake of the Isley Brothers‘ classic “At Your Best (You Are Love),” which were #l and #2 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, respectively. The singles peaked at #5 and #6 on the Hot 100 Singles chart.

Barry Weiss stated R. Kelly‘s creative influences can be felt, but he didn’t let his presence overpower Aaliyah‘s own identity. “On a couple of tracks, he does some chanting and a little rapping, but he felt it wasn’t appropriate to do more – like a duet. Because the two are years apart in age. But it’s something that could eventually happen.” (the irony)

Rumors were spreading that Aaliyah had something going on with R. Kelly, an allegation that both parties eventually denied. She toured the world pulling big crowds in Japan, Europe, South Africa, and in the US.

Aaliyah decided to return home and pursue her studies in Performing Arts, while majoring in Dance.

Her time was devoted to performing as she made collaborative projects with Junior M.A.F.I.A., Kris Kross, and she appeared on the Notorious B.I.G.’s video for “One More Chance.” She also recorded the sultry “Are You Ready?” for the Sunset Park soundtrack.

Aaliyah eventually decided to return to the studio to record her second album. She decided she wanted something different from her debut album.

Veteran producers Jermaine Dupri, Jay Dibbs, Vincent Herbert, and Kay Gee and a newcomer at the time Timberland, produced half of the albums tracks. R. Kelly was not involved with “One In A Million.” “We wanted Aaliyah to keep growing, so we didn’t want to have the same suspects on her new project,” stated Atlantic‘s Eddie Santiago at the time.

Aaliyah was more involved with “One In A Million” than she was on her first album, taking co-writing credits and assisting in the creative direction of the project. “I wanted to maintain my smooth street musical image but wanted to be funky and hot yet sophisticated,” stated a then 17-year-old Aaliyah.

Eddie Santiago described “If Your Girl Only Knew,” the lead single, as “a very funky midtempo track, with lots of heavy retro keyboard and organ work, along with live drums and a thumping bassline.” The video featured cameo appearances by Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s Little Kim, 702, and Blackground acts Both Ends and Cashmere.

With a new direction and sound musically and vocally, Aaliyah would also spruce up her image.

Released in the summer of 1996, One in a Million brought Aaliyah to the next level in the industry standards, and she was not considered a side act anymore.

She reached #1 on the R&B; singles chart with her single “If Your Girl Only Knew.” The album was certified double platinum after only ten months on the market, putting Aaliyah among the superstars of the music industry.

Aaliyah Spoke to HITS about Recording “One In A Million.”

What do you remember most from making this album?
I’d have to say the relationship with Timothy [Tim-balandl. I Because we built a friendship outside of just working. I made a lot of friends, and had a really good time with everybody, but we had a really great chemistry. I met Missy through him. We continued to work together when my album was done. I’m on Tim’s album and Missy’s album, so the friendship that blossomed was unexpected. We got really close, the three of us, so we ended up doing more than we were scheduled to do for the album. We had a lot of fun working together.

It’s pretty bold to take on a song like “Got To Give It Up.”
It’s my tribute to Marvin. I’m not trying to outdo him. I just wanted to do the song as a tribute to him as an incredible artist, someone I listened to when I was younger. It was my rendition of it; we changed somethings around. But I love the song, and I loved him.

I understand you’ve started writing songs with your brother, Rashaad.
Yes, we did one song together; we didn’t put it on th album, because we’re really experimenting right now. In seeing if I’m comfortable with it. He’s very comfortable with it—he’s an incredible writer, and studying film in college right now, and he works with me on a lot of other things. He came up with the concept for the “4-Page Letter” video. But we’re still experimenting; maybe in the future.

What would you do if you had the chance to record something really different?
I’d probably do a rock song. I like rock, alternative music. My brother got me into that as well. I love Soundgarden. Chris Cornell’s dope — “Black Hole Sun,” that’s my song. I like Oasis, Alanis Morissette, a lot of different alternative artists. If I had a chance to do something totally different, I think I’d try it out and see what happens.

She was soon featured in Elle, Seventeen and Cosmopolitan, and turned her talent towards Hollywood when she recorded singles for the soundtracks of Dr. Dolittle and Anastasia, with the song “Journey to the Past.” She performed the latter at the Academy Awards, making her one of the youngest ever performers of an Oscar nominated song.

Her acting debut was in 2000’s “Romeo Must Die”, in which she portrayed the daughter of a mobster and co-starred Hong Kong‘s action hero, Jet Li. The movie, which was described as a hip-hop reworking of Romeo and Juliet, wasn’t a huge blockbuster, but the budding actress received critical acclaim, and it was evident that more film roles were on the way.

Her hit single from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack, “Try Again,” garnered Aaliyah 2 Grammy nominations and the 2000 MTV awards for Best Female Video and Video From a Film.

Aaliyah had just completed filming for the lead role in “The Queen of the Damned”, an adaptation of the Anne Rice novel, when she was killed in a plane crash that took the lives of eight others on Saturday, August 25th, 2001, on the way to Miami from the Bahamas.

Aaliyah was 22-years-old when she was in the Bahamas shooting a music video.

Walt “Q -Bear” Banks, PDWMOJ-FM Minneapolis, stated at the time: “She’s one of those young artists whose career had just started to bloom. It was like she developed herself to the point where she was starting to be visible to a wider audience. A lot of teenagers looked up to her, and a lot of older artists looked at her and said, ‘She a young cutie who was very mature-acting.’ It’s crazy that she is gone at such a young age. She will be well missed in the music industry, but at the same time, you could see the talent she had in her short movie career. She had more in front of her than just a career in music.”

The self-titled Aaliyah, the singer’s third album, was released in July 2001, and debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard magazine album chart.

The album would go on to sell over 10 million world-wide; lead by the hit singles “Rock The Boat, “More Than A Woman” and “We Need A Resolution.”

UB’s Ivan Matias, Who Was Friends With Aaliyah; Penned this Letter.

There are few times in life when you come across someone and know instantly that you are in the presence of greatness. Aaliyah was just that. A genuine, sweet, unpretentious spirit that drew me to her from our first meeting. Her warmth & infectious smile made those around her feel as if they’d known her forever. She needed no particular reason or benefit for being nice to me or others, she just was.

Aaliyah was approachable & relatable yet, maintained a mystique that made her that much more intriguing. When we’d go out, fans would swarm. She’d excuse herself, take pictures, never refuse an autograph, answer questions & without missing a beat; pick up where our conversation left off. As we’d walk away, she’d sometimes mention to me how beautiful a fan was or how moved she was by something they’d said.

“During my lifetime, I’ve encountered some of the biggest celebrity’s in the world from performing at the Grammy’s with Mariah Carey to regularly working out with Princess Diana in Chelsea Harbor. I’ve seen the “effect” fame has had on many. Aaliyah was NOT changed by her celebrity. She understood & appreciated success & all that came with it; while not allowing it to turn her into someone she wasn’t.”

Aaliyah was the perfect name for her as she embodied it’s meaning. When I first learned of her passing, I was devastated & paralyzed with profound sorrow. She was just beginning to flourish & rise to super-stardom. I knew that her untimely death meant the world would never get to experience the depth of her talent, charm, charisma and unparalleled beauty; inside & out.

Looking back, I see myself as blessed & lucky to have known her. I feel like one of the chosen one’s to have had her in my life. Many search a lifetime & never get to experience that kind of spirit. In a world where people’s motive & ways are constantly put into question, my time with & memories of Aaliyah remind me how special a life can be, when you live it as she did. The quality & impact of her short years with us will never be forgotten.

Aaliyah was truly “One in a Million”. R.I.P Baby Gurl. I love & miss you.

– Ivan Matias (Songwriter/Producer/Artist)

Today we Celebrate Aaliyah Haughton on What Would Have Been Her 45th Birthday!