Craig Seymour Interview with Janet Jackson & Jimmy Jam: Talking about Aaliyah & Missy Elliott

Seeing as how yesterday marked the 6 year death anniversary of Michael Jackson (Rest his soul), I felt it would be appropriate to post this detailed written interview courtesy of Imogene who kindly shared this via the Aaliyah.PL Forum. Thank you so much for this! It was definitely a pleasure to read, and I couldn't help but to share with the rest of #TeamAaliyah.

Interviewer Craig Seymour happened to release an unedited audio, 3 hours long, from this particular interview he did with both Janet Jackson and Jimmy Jam back in April 2001. You can download the full audio here right after subscribing to Craig Seymour's mailing list! Below, you will find the main parts referring to Aaliyah and Missy Elliott. Enjoy! :o)

Craig Seymour: Tell me... Aaliyah was gonna be on the album, or something? Are you gonna duet? Someone told me that...

Janet: You're kidding... No.

Craig Seymour: What do you think of Aaliyah?
 
Janet: I love her. I actually met her last year.

Craig Seymour: Why you like her?
 
Janet: I think she's very talented. I love her music, I love what she creates on her album. I love listening to her voice. I think it's beautiful. She's beautiful.
 
Craig Seymour: What about Missy? There are all these things that you’re gonna work together too? Missy and the Timbaland’s whole camp…
 
Janet: Missy's too much... We had talked about doing something together, but we have never done it, and she kept saying NASTY 2000, NASTY 2000...and we never did it, but she was telling EV-RY-BO-DY that we were working together, and we didn't do it...

Craig Seymour: Does that bug you when people say how proud they are, proud of what they have done out of one little conversation at the party?
 
Janet: …Cuz you never know what’s gonna happen. Things can change. […] I’d just rather stay quiet, and just wait until you know for sure. 

******************
 

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Jam on his first ever encounter with Aaliyah at the MTV VMA's in 2000.

Jimmy Jam: I love her. I met her at the VMAs afterparty.
 
Janet: Sweet girl...
 
Jimmy Jam: I was like... I just met Aaliyah. She's the BOMB. She's so cool. There's a desire to work together. Maybe it isn't the time, but I wouldn't be surprised if we did something together. I'd love to see her as a fan.
 
Craig Seymour. Do you see her any different from the other teen singers out there like Britney, Brandy, Monica...?
 
Janet: Her stuff seems beyond her age, that's for sure. That's wonderful.
 
Jimmy Jam: A lot of stuff is very innovative, and also she has the depth because first of all, she can dance...
 
Janet: She's sexy... OK... There you go.
 
Jimmy Jam: ...but she's also acting. She's just someone... that I like. I have no idea. I've never talked about this. I'm sure most women coming up, at some point look up what she (Janet) did in her career... but Aaliyah, to me out of everybody is one of the all time. You know what I'm sayin' ...she really tries to set trends.

Craig Seymour: Right, and not just do the same old stuff that everybody else does...
 
Jimmy Jam: It's just fun to watch.

Craig Seymour: You know... It kinda surprises me how quickly her acting career has taken off like... ...we already talked how you set the ground for all the people, but often it means other people get opportunities that you didn't have at that point in your career, you know what I mean... Do you see that at all?  In a way, she's where you were with your Control album, or Rhythm Nation album... She can kinda do all these things...
 
Janet: We were also talking about putting certain things aside... You know... "I'm gonna do that project over that project" and I think that's what actually she's done... She was working on her album, and another film just came up... [...] and she had to put things aside, and move to Australia to work on it. I think it's great though...  that she moves into films. She obviously loves what she's doing. [...]
 
Jimmy Jam: People believe Aaliyah as an actress & want to buy her records, watch her videos, because it's the mentality now... Back then it was [Janet] quits doing "Fame" to do the music career.

Aaliyah & Jimmy Jam, back in 2000. 

(Source – Imogene from Aaliyah.PL Forum)

Aaliyah: Rare Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Mannion

Since @jonathanmannion doesn’t mind #TeamAaliyah posting this beautiful, rare gem, I have no problem in sharing this picture now. Enjoy my lovelies! :o)

Aaliyah Archives: News

Sorry for not posting as much everyone! Been so busy lately! :( I was meant to post this particular post awhile ago, so for those who are unaware, this one is especially for you! ;) Since I like to keep everyone updated on all the relevant news regarding our beloved Babygirl. Around late May time, Jonathan Mannion happened to gift an original portrait from one of his photoshoots (shown above) to Drake, who we all know is an avid admirer of Aaliyah in his own 'unique' way. Here's what Mannion had to say, courtesy of bet.com who I happened to find this information from :o)

Jonathan Mannion: "Everything that everyone always says about Aaliyah is 100% true," Mannion said of working with Baby Girl on her last shoot. "She was such an angel, her team was amazing. That was a gift of my career. People ask me what my favorite photoshoot was of all time — it's either Jay Z because it started my career with Reasonable Doubt or Aaliyah because nobody got her quite like I did." There is also a secret stash of photos from that shoot. "I did ten shots with her, so there's things that nobody's ever seen," he adds. "They're protected."

"I knew Drake had a tattoo of Aaliyah on his back," Mannion explained. "I wanted to do something for him because he's had such a run, and I feel like he really changed music. I knew he loved [Aaliyah] and that was a really big part of him doing what he was doing." Mannion sent Drake a massive print of Aaliyah from that final shoot to decorate his bare walls. "I went to his house and was like, 'You got some empty wall space.' He was printing things that he liked but like photocopying them and hanging them up." Mannion wanted to change that. "I said, 'Yo you need originals. You've gotta start buying art. You're that guy now. We are looking to you to be a patron of the arts, so I'm gonna kick it off."

He sent Drake the Aaliyah portrait of her leaning against a car with flames on the side. A few months later, the two reconnected at a club in Los Angeles. "He just came up and he hugged me," Mannion recalls. "That's what the f**k I'm talkin' about. It was so much better than a phone call."

(Source – bet.com)

I thought this was a very kind gesture from Mannion, proving that good people do still exist in today's world. I'm sure Drake will take very good care of it. :o)

Aaliyah: Rare Photos Courtesy Of Edward Otchere

Happy Saturday everyone! :o) To make your Saturday even more blessed, here are some rare photos courtesy of Edward Otchere via Instagram. Shout out to all of my #TeamAaliyah familia for coming across these stunning images! :o) ♥

Aaliyah: Photo Courtesy Of Leroy Hamilton

Via @photoham: “Black History Month 2014 - On day 19 of BHM… remembering Aaliyah. I knew she was a talented singer, but sky seemed to be the limit for her after the movie Romeo Must Die. What a tragedy. I remember this Soul Train Awards, but I forgot about this image. Just scanned with the Nikon Coolscan. So much history in the film archives! #blackhistory” | Thank you once again for sharing! And thanks to @weloveaaliyahhaughton for the tag! :o) 

Aaliyah: Rare Photo

By @photoham a.k.a- Leroy Hamilton. Here we have a lovely picture of Kidada Jones with Aaliyah and Karl Kani. Thanks to @weloveaaliyahhaughton for the tag! ♥ 

Aaliyah: Rare Photo

Repost via @photoham: “One In A Million ~ Aaliyah #Archives #film #blackmusic #blackhistorymonth #nikonCoolScan #aaliyah” | Thanks for sharing and thanks to @aaliyahalways for the tag! Much love! ♥ 

Aaliyah: Rare Photo

Another rare gem I came across yesterday! Enjoy people! :o)  

Aaliyah: Rare Photos Courtesy of Photographer Hamish Brown

A big thank you to photographer Hamish Brown for sharing some of his unseen work, on Aaliyah's 13th Death Anniversary via his Twitter page. Seeing all these rare pictures have made me so happy beyond words! :o) ♥

Aaliyah: Rare Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Mannion

So photographer Jonathan Mannion posted this never before seen picture a few days ago via his Instagram page with a beautiful quote saying...

Jonathan Mannion: "A never before seen photo of the naturally beautiful Aaliyah Dana Haughton. Remembering how truly sweet she was on that summer day in New York. It was effortless for her to command the frame with grace and elegance. Aspire to understand these traits that seem to elude so many people today. I'm honored and blessed to have created these timeless images with her. I applaud all of her amazing fans for being inspired by her example, her career and talents! Thank you for enjoying my work."

Throughout all the drama that has been going on right now, I can truly say that these rare gems make my day, so thank you Jonathan Mannion for sharing this with everyone! :o) 

Aaliyah: Rare Photo

Black and white version from Rutten's Facebook page.

Here's a rare photo from Dutch photographer William Rutten who decided to share this beautiful gem with us all via twitter. You can catch him via @WilliamRutten. Click on the image to view in full. Enjoy! :o)