The Run That Back series is a deep dive into some of music’s most popular or underrated projects. Whether it’s been 5 years or 50, there’s never a wrong time to ‘run that back.’
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Aaliyah is one of music's most treasured. She was sensual yet edgy and could go rock anything from baggy sweats to a fitted gown. She also had the voice of an angel. Her third and final studio album, Aaliyah, completed her transformation from young girl to grown woman.
In 2001, she told VIBE she was living the perfect life. She expressed, "this is what I always wanted. I breathe to perform, to entertain, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I’m just a really happy girl right now. I honestly love every aspect of this business. I really do. I feel very fulfilled and complete." Not to mention, after following the success of her second studio album, One In A Million, she wanted Aaliyah to focus "more on her voice, bringing it to the forefront as opposed to hiding it behind the layered production."
Back in the studio with her dynamic production team, Timbaland and Missy Elliott, Aaliyah felt as though she had something to prove. There was an obvious evolution between her debut and One In A Million, but with self-titled, the feeling is hard to pinpoint.
Sonically, there's nothing average about it. With "We Need A Resolution," Aaliyah expressed, "this song is very smooth, it’s not a ballad." This was the era of visuals. Everything was cinematic, airy and unlike any of the previous work. In the video for "We Need A Resolution," it opened with her in a sheer, black two piece— simple yet sultry.
The visual for "Rock The Boat" would be her last. The lighting was soft. The music didn't start immediately. It was ethereal. Yet, the album itself had so much with B-sides like "Loose Rap," "U Got Nerve,' and the incomparable ballad, "I Care 4 U."
During the age of 8701, Songs In A Minor and Survivor, Aaliyah gave us range— constantly setting the bar. Aaliyah is a solid testament to her legacy.
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