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Music debates occur each day, whether or not on the barbershop sounding off on one of the best emcees of all time, going to bat on social media over why Brandy is way more than “Ray J’s sister,” or just arguing within the groupchat over who had one of the best album launch this previous Friday. However, one of the vital revisited conversations relating to the hierarchy of pop stars is the query of who’s worthy of carrying the coveted titles of “King,” “Queen,” “Prince,” “Princess,” “Icon” and everybody’s favourite: “Legend.”
Today (January 16), many internationally shall be celebrating a type of honorific title-holders in music who sadly left us far too quickly over 20 years in the past. However, the essence of R&B/pop phenom Aaliyah Dana Haughton (1979 – 2001) remains to be immensely felt within the music business to this very day, notably on what would’ve been her forty seventh birthday.
With that stated, completely satisfied heavenly birthday to the Princess Of R&B!
RELATED: ‘Surviving’ To Singing: Why Aaliyah’s Voice Still Matters
With the voice of a hummingbird, dance strikes that’ve been describe by business consultants as “fluid like water,” music manufacturing that was actually a long time forward of her time and a persona that had each single one that crossed her path describe it as “angelic,” Aaliyah actually embodied a spirit that was destined to make soul music, albeit for a short while. Within these 7 years she was lively within the business although, Baby Girl laid down a musical legacy that has since impressed numerous artists after her reign to hold on a legacy that was limitless past phrases.
With assist from principal producers Timbaland, Missy Elliott, the late Static Major and, sure, even a disgraced former R&B king that doesn’t need to be mentioned — see how simple that was! — Aaliyah created many timeless data that may all the time tug at your heartstrings. Need a heartbreak anthem? She actually has a tune titled “Heartbroken” off her game-changing 1996 sophomore album, One In A Million. If love is definitely in your aspect, you may go from “Street Thing” off her 1994 debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number, to the cool-chill of “All I Need” from her posthumously-released 2002 LP, I Care 4 U.
…Oh, and people are simply the deep cuts!
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As Baby Girl’s legacy expands even additional into new eras — R&B chart-topper SZA’s new music video for SOS single “Kill Bill” gives an artistic nod to Aaliyah’s 2001 Japanimation commercial — we wished to verify the world knew precisely why it’s correct to deem Aaliyah as a legend of R&B.
In her short-yet-impactful profession, Aaliyah’s music has influenced a legion of soul music followers on a stage that matches that of predecessors like Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, whereas additionally setting the blueprint for successors like Rihanna, Jhené Aiko and even the solo profession of Beyoncé to flourish.
Join alongside within the birthday festivities as we jam to those 10 timeless Aaliyah songs that show why the everlasting “Princess Of R&B” can also be an authorized music legend:
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