Aaliyah: Unreleased Photo's Courtesy of Eric Johnson & Contact High

🔁 via @checkthetech: “This new book is so good it’s scary — “Contact High.” It is a MUST own for all photography and hip-hop fans. Worst case, buy it for a friend, they will love you, then steal it and never give it back. Huge congrats to @vikki_tobak, I can only imagine how much work went into this!!! And so much respect to all the photographers who documented the early years of the culture, for future generations. #contacthighproject #photography #hiphop #oldschoolhiphop” | Thank you so much for sharing with us all! These beautiful outtakes from @upstairsaterics are so beautiful! I can’t! 😭😭😭❤ Can’t wait to receive my book from @contacthigh 😩. I pre-ordered it the day they posted the announcement and after seeing this, I’m even more excited now! 😍😍😍👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 For anyone who would like to order the book you can do so via Amazon. You can also check out my last post about this here where you'll also get to see some nice candids of Aaliyah from Eddie Otchere. Enjoy! ☺️

Contact High: A Visual History Of Hip-Hop

🔁 via @contacthigh “An inside look at the work of hip-hop photographers told through their most intimate diaries—their contact sheets. 
Featuring rare outtakes from over 100 photoshoots alongside interviews and essays from industry legends, Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop takes readers on a chronological journey from old-school to alternative hip-hop and from analog to digital photography. 
Foreword by @questlove With essays from @djpremier BILL ADLER, @rhea_combs @fab5freddy @youngguru763 @rza MICHAEL GONZALES and more! 👑 pre-order link in bio. Thank you @jmcdonough92 on the editor duties 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥” | Look at all these images coming to life! 😍😍😍 (Check video below to see all the Aaliyah images showcased!) Already placed my order! Cannot wait to see these beautiful gems close up! 😄❤

A post shared by CONTACT HIGH PROJECT (@contacthigh) on May 1, 2018 at 1:21pm PDT

Aaliyah: Rare Photo Courtesy Of Eric Johnson

My heart!!! 😍😍😍😍❤ A gorgeous never before seen photo from @upstairsaterics Thank you so much for sharing and thanks @tylanol_nchill and @aaliyahhaughton for the tag! 😘❤

Eric Johnson: Official Aaliyah Merch (Part 2)

Sneak peak of Eric Johnson's Aaliyah series part 2! Look how gorgeous she looks! I can't stop staring at these amazing unreleased pics! Thanks @weloveaaliyahhaughton for the tag 😘💕 

Eric Johnson: Official Aaliyah Merch

The wait is finally over! As promised, here is an exclusive, never before seen image of Aaliyah (the first out of a series of three in total!) courtesy of photographer Eric Johnson, who has launched his own shop with full family approval from the Haughtons, as well as Aaliyah's estate. You can keep tabs on his store via his Instagram page @shop_upstairsaterics for more information. The t-shirt will be available to order on the 28th March, (in exactly a weeks time) so be sure not miss out on this amazing opportunity! All proceeds will go to the Aaliyah Memorial Fund, as well as other various charities that Aaliyah held dear to her heart. 

Here is a special message from Eric himself...

Eric Johnson: "This is a previously unreleased photo of our first in a series of our official #Aaliyah tee-shirts. No bootlegging here. I shot the photo & we're working with Aaliyah's family/estate unlike all of those counterfeit pieces that you've seen out there using images from this shoot illegally."

I'm not sure if many of you are aware of this, but there tends to be a lot of clothing apparels these days who try to make a quick buck off anyone's name (especially deceased artists, who are no longer in the physical) including Aaliyah, who we all know is well known worldwide. Awhile back, Eric had to personally sue a few clothing lines as a result of illegally using his photo's, without his consent. Quite frankly, I can totally understand this, as some of these clothing lines do not even have family approval, nor do they give anything back towards the memorial fund. (This excludes Urban Escence Apparel however, who are another great store, with full family approval from The Haughtons :D) 

Anyhoo...check out the images and video below to witness the whole process of how these beautiful t-shirt designs were made! You can clearly tell that a lot of love went into making these! Enjoy my lovelies! ;) 

They're showing us what the #Aaliyah image will look like on black. Decided the white is better

A video posted by Upstairs at Eric's (@shop_upstairsaterics) on Mar 21, 2016 at 9:12am PDT

Aaliyah Exclusive: Courtesy Of Eric Johnson

Be sure to keep tabs on Eric Johnson’s store 👉@shop_upstairsaterics👈 for some exclusive, never before seen images of our beloved Babygirl! 🙊 Full 💯% family approval from The Haughtons has been given for these t-shirt designs, so I’m beyond ecstatic for this! 😄🙌💕 Thank you so much for all that you do! I simply cannot wait to see these! 😊👌 (Side note….I have the exact same Mac computer, and use my sticky notes in the exact same way! 😃 Must be a creative person thing! 😉) And shout out to @weloveaaliyahhaughton for the heads up! Love you girl! 😘💕

For all those who missed out, Eric posted one of his sample tees last January on Aaliyah's Birthday, where one lucky guy had the honour and privilege of wearing his design, which you can view below here...

So happy to see @theonlymikeq wearing one of our #Aaliyah tee's. This is our first sample & it's only fitting that Mike would be first to rock one. Aaliyah's estate has approved the first 3 designs (all previously unreleased photos) & we will share very soon. Happy Birthday Aaliyah. We love you

A photo posted by Upstairs at Eric's (@shop_upstairsaterics) on Jan 16, 2016 at 12:42pm PST

Aaliyah: Snippet Of Rare Pic

Repost via @bdottm: “When I left xxl, I took some pics with me. This is an original from @ericjohnsonphotos vibe shoot.#ripbig” | Thank you for sharing! Who can peep Lili? 😉 and R.I.P Big Poppa 🙏💚 19 years ago today we lost an iconic Hip-Hop legend, who to this very day, still lives on through his music, just as Aaliyah did.

Aaliyah: Unreleased Photo Courtesy of Eric Johnson

Repost via @upstairsaterics: “14 years ago on this date we lost the beautiful #Aaliyah & for all of her fans that keep asking I’m sharing a previously unpublished photo from a shoot that I did of her 2 months before her passing at Pier 59 studios in NYC” | One of my fav photoshoots! This is just too beautiful for words! Thank you so much for this! :D 

Eric Johnson Shares Thumbnails of Aaliyah

All credit to @theonlymikeq who shared these rare gems on Instagram, who was fortunate enough to be able to go inside Eric Johnson's studio and look at the thumbnails which are displayed of our beloved Babygirl shown above. Aaliyah herself, has marked every single thumbnail too, with O for a like and X for a dislike. It's crazy to think that someone so beautiful as Aaliyah would dislike any of her pictures, but it just goes to show that we are all human no matter how famous or rich we become. Certain characteristics will always stay with us. A quote from Eric Johnson himself who made quite an interesting point that I picked up upon myself...

Eric Johnson: "It was like getting to see her taste and how she seen herself and wanted the world to see her. The same way we look through our own photos and say yes or no".

The Aaliyah Archives News: Unreleased Photoshoot From Eric Johnson

Hey guys! Here's some more Birthday love for our Babygirl. It's always great coming across ultra rare stuff when it comes to Aaliyah, and low and behold The Aaliyah Archives has more to share! :o) Photographer Eric Johnson kindly decided to share a collection of very rare, unreleased photos, just in time for her 35th Birthday. If you notice carefully, Eric shared one of the black and white pictures last year as a treat for all us fans (after the first black and white picture shown below) so I guess he has finally decided to share the rest of his collection to the world, and who can blame him! These photo's are absolutely stunning.

For a bit of background knowledge, the photos themselves were shot during the final year of her life for Entertainment Weekly. You can also read down below a quote from Eric himself, describing the very notion of the photoshoot, and further telling us how Aaliyah was as a person in general. All I can say is that this has truly made my day, and I hope it does for all of you out there too! Enjoy everyone! Much love! :o)

"Recently. Johnson went through his negatives from the shoot, revealing a series of portraits the world has never seen. “She was on,” Johnson recalls. The consummate professional, Aaliyah arrived early at the shoot with her mother. Before Johnson’s camera, the triple-threat reveals endless facets of an artist coming into her own".


(Source – Kempire Daily)

The Aaliyah Archives: News

(Rare image uploaded from photographer Eric Johnson via Instagram)

Now as fans we all know that there was speculation going on as to whether or not there was even going to be a movie based on Aaliyah. First we heard about Keisha Chanté taking on the role of Babygirl and than we heard rumors of Solange Knowles allegedly taking on the role too. Now I'm sure all of you guys out there are like, ok what is going on? It's nearly the end of 2013 and still no movie? Well, The Aaliyah Archives has come across an interview from Lamont Pete who fills us in on what's happening. Check out the interview below from Respect The Next.com who interviewed Lamont Pete confirming this with The Vocal Vixen.com. 

Given your hectic work schedule what does a typical day in the life of Lamont Pete look like?

Everyday isn’t typically the same from the day before.  I handle multiple things. If it’s a major event, then there’s planning.  If it’s working with The Clintons on multiple charity events, then I am handling that.  We have TV projects and film projects, so I just look at everything that has to be accomplished.  I really manage all the different tasks differently. 

Blogger The Vocal Vixen sits with Entertainment Guru Lamont Pete for an interview about his history in the industry, the Clinton Campaign as well as the upcoming Aaliyah Biopic Movie.  After rumors circulated about a possible movie about the singer’s life Lamont Pete confirms it with TheVocalVixen.com! Lamont Pete is also working on the Clinton Campaign for the upcoming election, and throws lavish parties for the Hollywood Elite.  Check out the interview below.

With you wearing so many hats, how do you balance work and your personal life?

You have to have a sense of balance in everything that you do-whether you’re an entertainer or doctor or a lawyer. For me, I’ve learned  from Nick Cannon, and others that are high profile and have a lot going on, that you have to take out moments from your life and dedicate it to yourself and to your family. I will have one day out of the week like Sunday that I try to not do anything. I have a great staff too! My general manager use to manage Tyrese, another girl that works for me came out of the William Moris Agency. All of them that are working with me are very expereinced and know how to get the job done. You have to have people working with you, employees or partners, that can go in and keep things going.   

 You came  from a background of education (as a sixth grade teacher).  What caused the change in career?

My journey is a little more detailed than that.  I am a University of Miami graduate, and my family was always highly educational. I got into teaching because I was a musician. I was a music teacher to a 6th grade class! Me teaching an entire 6th grade class started as me substituting 6th grade class while the teacher was sick and teacher never returned! I always knew it wasn’t my thing and I always had a thing for entertainment. I lived in ATL managing producers, and I also worked in Bobby Brown’s camp, and worked around Usher for some time. Once I got out of music and came to L.A., I fell into reality TV. My life is kind of like that movie ‘Catch Me If You Can’ [taking out the police]. That movie is a good indication of how life has been. Do something and become really good at it, and be known for it!

You have been in this industry for 20 plus years.  What is your secret to maintaining longevity in such a competitive field?

Know more than one thing, and be educated. You don’t have to take a course, but education is key. Educate yourself on your market because like anything else, the market is a market of product. Knowing how to sell product is and knowing the appetite of consumers helps. Whatever you do, if you can make money you have a market. You also have to keep your integrity because whatever you say you’re going to do, do it, and do it to the best of your ability. Most people know that I have a good record of delivering, so make sure you do what you say you’re going to do!

Tell us a little bit about your upcoming project: the Aaliyah movie.

I can’t talk much about it because it’s so early. We are working with Blackground Records on this one. We formed a partnership and are currently going through the development stages. The movie will be a story about her and the life Barry Hankerson, being told through his perspective. Barry Hankerson really founded her and developed her, so that’s what the movie will be about.  

Is there a message you hope viewers can take away?  If so, what is the message?

There’s a lot of things that happened that people really don’t know about.  Barry Hankerson really had to be the tough guy because protected her from a lot of craziness going on. You’ll see some of the things that she never had to encounter, and avoided because he was there to protect her. I don’t know how much it’ll be about her music-instead it’s about her life in general; going into cancer, teenage love, all of that! 

What would say to someone who is looking to break into the industry as a producer?

Education is always the first key. If you don’t have your niche, there is something to fall back on. Don’t be afraid to start from the bottom (not getting paid). When i came to L.A., before I got into casting, I worked as a production assistant. Anything they needed I was there. I was a gofer! I was on a 10, and focused so much on being the best PA I could be. They called me back two days after my position was over and put me on salary. Those relationships led to other things, and day in day out my work ethics were relentless.  

You are a key player in the progressive movement of Reality TV from the success.  How does it feel to know that you are the man behind such an explosive genre in television?

I was there when it first started, and it’s interesting to have been apart of something that is a regular thing these days. Reality TV happened because of writer’s strike. I arrived in L.A. during that strike, and they needed shows, so it was my job to find people for shows. When I first started seeing my name on credits, it was so cool! Now it is hard for me to relax. Although I’ve accomplished that milestone, I am now looking for something else. You’re only as good as the last thing that you did. There wasn’t one show my name wasn’t on. I’ve moved on to other things now, and I am pushing forward! 

What role will you play in the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign?

This is still entertainment related, but it is a 6 city tour called “Behind the Curtain” which will feature Blaire Underwood, Bill clinton, and Forrest Whitaker.  The purpose of the tour would be to raise money for children charities. I am really excited about this! They have brought me in as a Talent Producer, and we have a big show coming up in Richmond which will feature Ne-Yo, and I am trying to secure Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys. The whole purpose is to raise money for the kids. That’s what this is about! 

What could we expect from you next?

Technology is where it’s at. I’ve been working with the city of Los Angeles to come up with a way to turn the city buses from normal buses into buses with WiFi devices. That’s really my pet project!