This year marks not only the 20th anniversary of Aaliyah's innovative, eponymous final album and the 25th anniversary of her career-defining sophomore album, One in A Million, it also marks the twentieth anniversary of her tragic death. Though fans did their best to keep her legacy alive, one man held the key to it all— Barry Hankerson.
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Hankerson is her uncle and founder of Blackground Records, the label behind all of her work post-debut. In a rare sit-down, Hankerson spoke with our own Big Tigger to discuss every burning question fans have had over the past twenty years including why it took so long for Aaliyah and other former Blackground artists' music to be released on digital streaming platforms and why it was taken down in the first place.
"I'm gonna be nice about the question because I'm tired of it," Hankerson began when asked about the extended delay to release music. He expressed that he initially took the music down because "the powers that be that ain't me and you decided to just give away Black people's music through a system called streaming."
He discussed the fact that artists get paid "pennies" for their songs and he wasn't having it. Hankerson explained that he created an app for the music to live on and fans will never have to ask for "where's the music" again. He also stated that the release of Aaliyah's music on streaming wasn't intentionally set to align with all these anniversaries, but instead "it just kinda happened that way."
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Hankerson did clarify that the forthcoming posthumous album, Unstoppable, is coming. "I think it's wonderful. It's a very emotional process to do. It's very difficult to hear her sing when she's not here, but we got through it." He also stated that this LP will be the only one of its kind and he intends to have her timeless hits remain this way through Film/TV placements and with the fans' help.
Features for the new album include Drake, Future, Snoop Dogg, and Ne-Yo. Hankerson expressed that he feels the new track with Ne-Yo will be considered a "classic R&B song." The album is set to be released "in a matter of weeks."
LISTEN NOW: Barry Hankerson talks with Big Tigger
As far as Aaliyah's legacy is concerned, he stated the hardest part about it all was "really being able to focus on the music." Hankerson discussed how many tried to steal and purchase Aaliyah's masters after her death and at one point, an employee even "confiscated" it for some weeks.
He even took a moment to discuss this Aaliyah vs. Beyoncé debate. "In all due respect, Beyoncé is Beyoncé." He expressed that though they didn't get the chance to work together before Aaliyah's passing, had they been able to, it would've been nothing short of magical.
For more on how Hankerson feels on Aaliyah's legacy and to hear the emotional origin story of Blackground Records, check out the full interview above.
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