On August 25th, 2001, our angel Aaliyah returned back to the heavens. So it’s fitting that this Throwback Thursday is dedicated to her showing that even 8 years later we remember the starlet.

“Back and Forth” was Aaliyah’s major debut with a little help from already mega-star R. Kelly. To put into perspective, Aaliyah was only 15 when this video aired. It’s not often a kid debuts in the music scene with such maturity and poise like Aaliyah. (And yes, I instantly had a crush on her at the time)

With the buzz from “Back and Forth”, Aaliyah followed up with “At Your Best (You Are Love)” that featured a much smoother tone aimed at the Quiet Storm audience. The video released for the single was the official remix that features more of (rumored husband) R. Kelly.

Aaliyah – Age Ain’t Nothin’ But a Number (youtube)

The title track for her LP featured more of the same soft and smooth sounds.

Aaliyah’s follow-up album One In A Million saw a departure from R. Kelly and onto more experimental production from relative newcomers Timbaland and Missy Elliott. The result was this gem from 1996, “If Your Girl Only Knew”…

The title track for her 2nd LP was no less infectious in “One in a Million”, featuring… crickets??

The rest of One in a Million‘s music video releases further displayed young Aaliyah’s talents that upon watching them, you knew she was destined for international stardom.

And then there was “Are You That Somebody”…

She commanded the camera’s attention and your focus with each video. It’s no wonder she would later break into film with 2000′s Romeo Must Die. And just like that, her life was cut short after wrapping the shoot for “Rock Your Boat”, off her 3rd self-titled release “Aaliyah.”

Like

Unlike