The life of Aaliyah

Brut America

Aaliyah, remembered. The Princess of R&B died in a plane crash 20 years ago...   This is her story.

Transcript

00:00Love all kinds of music and I want to be known as the kind of singer that can do all of that

00:21For those who have met Aaliyah

00:23I know she's touched y'all just because of her spirit the kind of spirit that that she has

00:29When she met people she always left an imprint on them

00:53I

01:02Got my deal at 12. My uncle is head of my label black on he had a joint venture with job

01:09I auditioned for jive and they signed me on the spot. God blessed me and I worked hard and that's how it happened

01:23I

01:30Everybody seems to think that y'all are either girlfriend or boyfriend or cousins. Well, no, we're not related at all

01:36No, and I was just very close as my best friend

01:41In the whole wide world

01:53I

02:24My parents make sure I had everything that a child has I went to parties

02:28I went to my prom

02:29They kept me real when I came home and then I went into my fantasy world when I went out and traveled and did videos

02:34and all of that

02:53I

03:02Everybody wants to know what's the real deal which is our Kelly thing going on? Okay, everybody

03:09Unfortunately, this business people are gonna talk. I'm here. Let all of you know that I am not Mary. I'm not Aaliyah Kelly

03:24I

03:38Wanted the different varieties on the album to showcase that showcase each part each part of my personality

03:53I

04:11Opened a lot of doors for for african-american women young women

04:15And at the time that she came out like I was going through a lot of self-esteem issues and I kind of looked up

04:19To her, you know, she was definitely an inspiration

04:24I

04:36Get beautiful letters from all over the world

04:38So I feel that I've been very blessed because people love my music and that means a lot to me because like I said

04:43I aim to please them. So when I get that kind of love back

04:54I

05:02She's got chart-topping hits she's the star of Romeo must die and please welcome Aaliyah

05:24I

05:25Love music with my heart and I love acting as well

05:28That can get to explore a different side of myself can be very

05:31Thartic in a lot of ways and the same with music so I don't want to abandon one for the other

05:35I want to try to do both as long as I can

05:49It's the same Aaliyah from the first album to the second album to now

05:53but

05:54you know, it's just you feel me as a young adult this time around and

05:59I'm happy about that because you know, I never want to do something that's so totally different that people are confused

06:04You know, they're like, okay. I know who this girl is, you know, so still the artist I loved back in 96, but

06:09She's older now and that's cool

06:22I

06:24I

06:52Her life was her art her life was her work

06:54Her music her acting everything that was most important thing to her talked about to me all the time

06:59I have to be here to carry on that legacy and to keep it intact

07:01Well, I'm here and have the strength to do this because she's giving me that strength

07:25I'm a happy girl, you know, I'm doing what I love

07:28It's there's no feeling like waking up every day doing what you love and what you've dreamed to do since you're a little girl

Category

Transcript

Recommended