Aaliyah

Aaliyah was a beloved American singer, actress, and model, who is credited with helping to redefine R&B, pop, and hip hop in the 1990s, earning her the nicknames “Princess of R&B” and “Queen of Urban Pop.” Her smooth, sultry vocals, combined with her innovative musical style and “street but sweet” fashion sense, made her one of the most influential artists of her generation before her tragic death at the age of 22.

Listen to an introduction about Aaliyah

Name: Aaliyah Dana Haughton

Date of Birth: January 16, 1979

Date of Death: August 25, 2001

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, U.S. (Raised in Detroit, Michigan)

Family:

Parents: Michael “Miguel” Haughton (father), Diane Haughton (mother)
Spouse: None
Children: None
Relatives: Rashad Haughton (brother), Barry Hankerson (uncle, founder of Blackground Records)

Profession: Singer, Actress, Model

Nationality: American

College or University Attended: Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts (graduated with a 4.0 GPA)

Biography and What Famous For:

Aaliyah emerged on the music scene at a young age. She was signed to her uncle’s label, Blackground Records, and Jive Records at just 12 years old. She was introduced to R. Kelly, who became her mentor and the lead songwriter/producer for her debut album.

Her first album, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number (1994), was released when she was 15 and quickly became a multi-platinum hit, driven by singles like “Back & Forth.” Controversy arose surrounding her illegal marriage to the much older R. Kelly, which was later annulled.

Aaliyah redefined her sound and image with her second album, One in a Million (1996), collaborating with the then-unknown production duo Timbaland and Missy Elliott. This partnership was revolutionary, blending futuristic, stuttering beats with Aaliyah’s fluid vocals on hits like “If Your Girl Only Knew” and “One in a Million.” The album solidified her status as a musical innovator.

In 2000, she made her film debut in Romeo Must Die, which also spawned her first and only Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, “Try Again.” She went on to film her role as Queen Akasha in Queen of the Damned (2002).

In 2001, she released her third and final album, the critically acclaimed Aaliyah. On August 25, 2001, just after filming the music video for the album’s single “Rock the Boat” in the Bahamas, Aaliyah and eight others were killed when their overloaded plane crashed shortly after takeoff.

Aaliyah is famous for her profound impact on R&B music, her signature “street but sweet” style, and her successful crossovers into acting. Her music and style continue to influence countless artists today.