10 Aaliyah Songs That Show She’s An R&B Legend

Music debates occur every day, whether or not on the barbershop sounding off on the perfect emcees of all time, going to bat on social media over why Brandy is far more than “Ray J’s sister,” or just arguing within the groupchat over who had the perfect album launch this previous Friday. Nonetheless, one of the revisited conversations in terms of 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.”

At present (January 16), many the world over can be celebrating a kind of honorific title-holders in music who sadly left us far too quickly over 20 years in the past. Nonetheless, 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 sixth birthday.

With that stated, pleased heavenly birthday to the Princess Of R&B!

RELATED: ‘Surviving’ To Singing: Why Aaliyah’s Voice Nonetheless Issues

With the voice of a hummingbird, dance strikes that’ve been describe by business specialists as “fluid like water,” music manufacturing that was actually a long time forward of her time and a persona that had each single one who crossed her path describe it as “angelic,” Aaliyah actually embodied a spirit that was destined to make soul music, albeit for a short while. Inside these 7 years she was energetic within the business although, Child Lady 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 fundamental producers Timbaland, Missy Elliott, the late Static Main and, sure, even a disgraced former R&B king that doesn’t must be talked about — see how straightforward that was! — Aaliyah created many timeless information that can at all times tug at your heartstrings. Want 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 facet, you may go from “Road Factor” off her 1994 debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing However A Quantity, to the cool-chill of “All I Want” from her posthumously-released 2002 LP, I Care 4 U.

…Oh, and people are simply the deep cuts!

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As Child Lady’s legacy expands even additional into new eras — R&B chart-topper SZA’s new music video for SOS single “Kill Invoice” provides an inventive nod to Aaliyah’s 2001 Japanimation business — we needed 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.

Be a part of 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: