Aaliyah was born in Brooklyn and raised in Detroit, releasing her debut album 'Age Ain't Nothing But a Number' at age 15. She became a critically acclaimed R&B and pop artist and actress before her death in a 2001 plane crash in the Bahamas at age 22, cutting short a career already shaping the sound of a generation.
Discovered young and mentored early by R. Kelly, who wrote and produced her controversial debut album, Aaliyah quickly distanced herself from that partnership and built an independent career defined by understated vocals, futuristic production from Timbaland and Missy Elliott, and a fashion sense built around baggy clothes and dark sunglasses that became her signature.
Her 1996 album 'One in a Million' and 2001 self-titled record are now regarded as blueprints for contemporary R&B, influencing artists from Drake to The Weeknd. She also moved into film, starring in 'Romeo Must Die' and filming 'Queen of the Damned' before her death.
On August 25, 2001, a small plane carrying Aaliyah and her entourage crashed shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas, killing all nine aboard. Her catalog was famously withheld from streaming services for two decades, only becoming widely available again starting in 2021, reintroducing her music to a new generation of fans.