Gone but Not Forgotten: A Tribute to Aaliyah
By Wael Al Fatayri, Staff Writer

Beirut, Lebanon - When it comes to R&B, princess Aaliyah (ah-lee-yah) will undeniably come to mind. Born in Brooklyn on January 16, 1979, Aaliyah was a star from day one. Her name is Arabic for the “highest, most exalted one;” she managed to live up to her name in just 22 short years.

Aaliyah’s first Album, Age ain’t nothin’ but a Number was released in 1994 when she was only 15. Songs from the album like Back and Forth and At Your Best (You Are Love) became instant classics. In 97, her sophomore LP One in a Million hit multi-platinum status with huge hits like Hot Like Fire,  If Your Girl Only Knew and 4 Page Letter. A true perfectionist in all she did, Aaliyah took time off after One in a Million to focus on her studies; she graduated with a 4.0 GPA. However, during that period, she released songs for movie soundtracks such as Are You That Somebody for the soundtrack of the movie Dr. Dolittle and Turn the page for Music of the Heart. In 2000, Aaliyah starred next to Jet Li in the Martial Art thriller Romeo Must Die produced by Joel Silver of The Matrix. She produced songs for the movie's soundtrack and contributed hits like Try Again that earned her an MTV award for best song. Her remarkable acting skills earned her amazing reviews. As a result, she landed the starring role in Queen of the Damned, and the role of Zee in The Matrix trilogy.

In 2001, Aaliyah released a self-titled album which was her peak in music for it had a collection of astonishing songs such as We Need a Resolution, More Than a Woman, and Rock the Boat. The album was also certified multi-platinum.

Tragically, Aaliyah and eight members of her entourage were killed in a plane crash on August 25, 2001. She was filming a video clip for her third single Rock the Boat in the Bahamas. The Cessna that was headed to Miami was reportedly overloaded. More investigations proved that the captain of the jet was not authorized for the flight. Aaliyah was only 22. Her death was a shock to her family, fans, and the whole music industry.

In 2002, Aaliyah’s record label, Blakground Records, released her fourth Album titled I Care 4 U which contained a compilation of her best songs plus six unreleased songs. Don’t know what to tell you, a single from the album, had a sample of Warda’s Batwannes Beek.

A new Aaliyah album is said to be released this year, and it will contain some unreleased songs and collaborations. A clothing line is also expected in the middle of this year. Her legacy still lives on in the hearts of her family and cherished friends, as well as her devoted ones.

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