R.I.P ΛΛLIYΛH by Alex Kazemi

R. Kelly’s 1994 project Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number unveiled a fresh new lolita songstress that went by the name Aaliyah.  Everyone instantly fell in love with her girl-next-door looks, the mystery behind her shades, and, most importantly, the legacy her music took on. “Back And Forth”  is the infinite backyard BBQ in the Valley classic whereas “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” explained the beautiful, but gritty, pages from the diary of a teenage girl.. The production was R. Kelly’s experiment, learning to ease her sealed-with-a-kiss falsetto vocals and attitude alongside jaggedly crafted R&B arrangements. Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number is sincere, sultry, and was enough to blueprint her signature style of rhythm and flow on the music industry, one which many people would try to replicate in the near future. This was the only the beginning of the revolution Aaliyah helmed…

 One In A Million brought us the renowned collaboration of Timbaland and Missy Elliott, where the three of them changed the sounds of R&B contemporary in the late 90s by breaking all the rules with pushing brand new, organically sinister, mid-tempos to the mainstream. Gothic plucked snare drums, organs, and commentary on why a bug-a-boo is trying to get with her when she knows he has a girlfriend resulted in the very realistic but suddenly dark “If Your Girl Only Knew”. The underrated lava-hot Californian lover street joint “Hot Like Fire” sounds invincible and strange in position with Missy& Timbo-penned confessions on why she is waiting to take her boy “higher”.

By the time the new millennium approached, Aaliyah had thankfully fused and introduced us to an obscure, wondrous world where restrained   R&B met with cyber-faced electronica on her final album, ΛΛLIYΛH. Timbaland could’ve bathed in a pit of vipers while looking for inspiration  for the pondering predicament “We Need A Resolution” as it is  his most intelligent, unearthly affair to date, due to inverted harp whispers, swollen synthesizers, and ghostly flutes.The most mainstream, programmed song of her career, “Rock The Boat,” exclaimed what Aaliyah’s formerly classy sex appeal had finally grown into, as she provokes flirty commands with her diamond airy- vocals resting on an glamourous and absorbing sleepy synth vibration.

 ΛΛLIYΛH prevailed an outlandish, high-tech, pelagic  crafted feel that still feels years ahead of its time in 2011. It makes one think of what she could have become were she alive now.

Aaliyah’s silver heart is eternally beating on her last album.

In remembrance of Baby Girl, let’s check out four must-know Aaliyah tracks….

OLD SCHOOL, 1994 The first track she ever recorded includes her beautiful harmonies, asserting the late-80s and early-90s heavy soul influence that inspired Age Is Nothing But A Number. “R. Kelly play me something from the old school…”

4 PAGE LETTER, 1996 17 year old L-I-Y-A-H is too nervous to tell her crush how she feels in person, so instead of approaching him face-to face, she chooses to write him a love letter. Could she be singing about a desired valentine when we hear, “I’m writing you a love letter tonight”? Missy’s smooth ad-libs adapt beautifully with Aaliyah’s gentle jazzy-drum throb.

ARE YOU THAT SOMEBODY, 1998 A conceptual track about an unplanned pregnancy that seems too obvious within the lyrics and the accompanied Prince-sampled baby coo’s highlighted all through the track…”Just so I’m low key if you tell the world! Boy I gotta watch my body, I’m just not anybody,” Aaliyah breaks the silence to her lover nervously. Timbaland combines scattered guitar riffs and a mischievous D&B beat over a serious topic. This was one of the first songs that coins Aaliyah’s nickname in the hip-hip industry. “Baby girl, better known as Aailyah”, Timbaland announces in a rap breakdown. Aaliyah hitting her falsetto in the chorus creates a new melody that is forever her own.

U GOT NERVE, 2001, “Who do you think you are now? I can’t believe you’ve got the nerve, boy”. Melancholy rage is turned up to full blast, whilst dubbed on, properly layered, vocals induce a robotic sci-fi themed heartbreak.