Remembering Aaliyah 1.16.79 - 8.25.01

Aaliyah had me at 'let me know, let me knooooowwwww'!
Her rendition of 'At Your Best' was lovely.
And that's saying a lot. Cause the Isley Brothers are the truth!
She wasn't Whitney Houston. But you felt it.
Her voice was soulful. sultry. simple.
She sang like chamomile tea w/lavender.
Who knew then that she was only 14?

Aaliyah arrived on the scene with Monica and Brandy.
But she stood out from the pack.
She was quiet. mysterious.
I didn't know what to make of this girl with her midriff showing,
Tommy Hilfiger jeans, and Veronica Lake style.
But here's what I did know...
Aaliyah had 'IT'.
She reminded me of the old school artists.
She'd drop an album every few years.
Didn't do a whole lot of t.v.
She kept us hungry, wanting, and waiting anxiously for more.
When 'Romeo Must Die' opened. I was done.
She was an actress too!

Aaliyah was beautiful, a tomboy even.
Then the 'Are you that somebody?' video dropped.
It was official. She'd made it to my little brother's bedroom wall.
She was sexy, a bonafide grown ass woman.

2 weeks before 9/11, Aaliyah died in the worst possible way.
And it was an incredible loss. shocking.
She had everything in front of her.
She was on the doorsteps of superstardom.
I was so ready for what was to come in her career.
I wanted to see her in 'Sparkle', 'Honey' & 'The Matrix'.
And I can only imagine what she, Missy and Timberland had in store.
Yes, we're all going to go.
And I try not to question God,
but Aaliyah's passing just seems so wrong.

Aaliyah would've turned 30 years old today.
And she is still sorely missed.
There are many that attempt to do it the way she did.
But they don't come close. I don't think they ever will.

R.I.P Babygirl