The Best Of Rap and R&B
"Aaliyah"
Aaliyah Dani Haughton, 16 January 1979, Brooklyn, New York, USA, but grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Pronounced Ah-Lee-Yah ("highest, most exalted one" in Swahili), this female artist initially came to attention as part of the "new jill swing" movement in the mid-90s. Her early career was fostered by R. Kelly and 1994's debut Age Ain't Nothing But A Number included the US Top 10 singles "Back & Forth" and "At Your Best (You Are Love)". She travelled to Kelly's home in Chicago for the sessions while she was still a student at the Detroit High School of the Performing Arts. She remained a "straight A's" student throughout the first stage of her recording career, persevering with her education despite commercial success. After marrying Kelly, Aaliyah released 1996's superior follow-up, One In A Million, on which she worked with hotshot producer Timbaland. Soundtrack work followed, with contributions to Anastasia ("Journey To The Past") and Dr. Dolittle ("Are You That Somebody?"). Aaliyah also began filming on her screen debut in Andrzej Bartkowiak's Romeo Must Die. "Try Again", taken from the movie soundtrack, went to the top of the US singles chart in June 2000.