Repost via @janetjackson:“ I know u r there shining down on me.
#ConversationsInACafe” | For those who have trouble reading what she wrote, here is what Janet said (from what I can decipher! Lol).... "What I shared with you (is) ever sacred, everlasting, and its pure and it will endure. I love you Aaliyah. #RIP" This honestly made my day seeing the love from one Queen to another Queen. :o)
If you remember awhile ago, I mentioned a new artist by the name of Tink who Timbaland recommended to everyone via his Instagram page to check out. Well...yesterday it appears that the singer/rapper announced via Twitter of her new remix version to Aaliyah's 'One In A Million' titled Million. Now normally, I am very critical when anyone touches Babygirl's music, but the very fact that it has been produced and given the stamp of approval from Timbaland himself, I have no problem with it whatsoever since he was the one who created this original masterpiece, alongside Missy Elliott. So what better way to pay homage or do an updated remix then to have the person who originally produced it in the first place? After listening to it, I must say I am actually feeling this! Huge props to DJ Duffey who also did his thing on this! You can also read Tink's tweet below describing it as "A tribute to the legend herself"
As you can see the song is set to release this Monday via iTunes on May 11th, so be sure to check it out! For those of you who lack patience lol You can listen to the full version below here! :o) One love ♥
Label: Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown Hey guys! Apologies for the late post, hope all of you are doing well! :o) Now, when it comes to Drake, no introductions are needed for the man behind bringing back Aaliyah's memory and legacy in the music industry. Here's one of Drake's very first compilations, using Babygirls voice from her track At Your Best (You Are Love) which was originally a song from The Isley Brothers, dedicated to their mother (check below to listen). The track itself titled Unforgettable certainly has a lot of meaning in terms of its clever lyrical content. Drizzy puts a lot of emphasis on how great songs are being re-made, never losing its touch from fans and the fellow public.
This in toll shows us that they are 'unforgettable' memories, which can most certainly be said of Aaliyah, since even today, when I listen to her music, her sound STILL sounds fresh and relevant within the music industry of today. If you listen carefully, Drake shows props to a few on the track for example Nat King Cole who's greatest hit was titled Unforgettable, and was also later covered by his daughter Natalie Cole. Other references besides Babygirl are Brian McKnight where Drake spits the verse Do I ever cross your mind? and TLC's Chilli.
On a deeper level, Drake expresses how he too, would like for his songs to have the same impact, just like how Babygirl's music has impacted us, where by other artists/musicians can freely do their own interpreted versions/samples. Interestingly enough, I just so happened to come across another version using the same riff from unforgettable by a rapper named Logic. He has a lot of great mixtapes out, so if you're one for discovering new music then check him out! If you peep the video below you can listen to his version titled I Just Wanna which for me hits very close to my heart, since I've been through a lot this year. Lyrically, it's very deep and on a level where you can truly relate. And just to show how talented he really is, I'm going to add another track for you guys to enjoy, since I love his flow! Enjoy guys! :o)
Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long! Here's a little treat for you all. :o) Since I'm from the UK, it's only fair that I represent my UK roots. Here's a not so familiar track from Katy B and Jessie Ware titled 'Aaliyah' which pretty much speaks for itself. You can find this track on Katy B's Danger EP. For those who don't know, Katy B is very, heavily influenced by Aaliyah and did this song as a tribute, paying homage into her forever, lasting memory. When you have two great artists on a track, you can rest assure that what you'll hear will be fire!
Interestingly enough, when I first heard this track, I was pleasantly surprised as it sounded no where near to what Aaliyah would of done. Production wise it has a very funky, electronic dance beat, which is very catchy on the ears. Lyrically, both Katy B and Jessie Ware talk about Aaliyah and the impact she had, particularly on her male admirers. Katy B plays the role of a girl who finds a man, only to find out that Aaliyah's natural charisma and charm is all too much, swaying her man away from her. She goes on to sing the main hook – " Aaliyah please, this is green envy, why must you taunt me girl?" Both ladies talk about Babygirl in a positive way, showing how flawless and effortless she was since she never tried too hard to 'look' sexy, she clearly just 'was' sexy in her own right. It wouldn't surprise me if women were jealous of her, because she always had a natural allure which is very hard to do, since it comes from within yourself as a person, knowing who you are and being content with it. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this upbeat track which you can listen to down below! :o)
If you are a true fan, you'll already know about these hidden gems, but for those who don't, I share with you some tracks where Aaliyah is featured. Firstly we have Man Undercover from Timbaland & Magoo's album Welcome To Our World. I love the beat of this track and I truly believe this shows Timbaland at his very best production wise. The union with him and Aaliyah is a force no one can compare to, and as for the bass, definitely a track you would wanna blast in the car whilst driving.
The second track after is John Blaze from Timbaland's album Tim's Bio: Life From Da Basement where we get to hear a little from Missy Elliot too. Again this is a nice unusual track complimented by Aaliyah's soft, soprano voice. Thirdly we have I Am Music from Timbo and Magoo's Indecent Proposal. This is a very slow paced track which also features Static Major. Again this track puts a lot of emphasis on harmonies, melody and union of alto and soprano pitches combined. In essence, it lives up to the name of the title.
And last but not least we have Hold On from Timbo and Magoo's Underconstruction Part II where Wyclef Jean from The Fugees features. A very deep, emotional track which pays as a tribute to Babygirl's passing. When you listen to this, you can really feel the pain and heartache in Timbo's vocals. Every word spoken is meaningful, and you can picture it in your mind exactly how he was feeling during the time of such a tragic event. I've taken the liberty of showing these lyrics as they are too deep not to show, you can peep this below along with the videos. Enjoy guys!
Oh! You know what? ([Wyclef:] good good good) I go through a lot, since my baby girl's not here Life ain't been the same for me Lately I miss you very much I want you to hear my pain that I go through (go through ...)
[Verse 1 - Timbaland + (Wyclef Jean)] It's been three years (AH!), livin this fast life I think on it, I know one day I won't have life People don't know me over the time B They don't wanna know me, they wanna know my G's Le I quit, things ain't the same no more But I'ma do my thing 'til there ain't no more (yeah) I got a plan, I wonder how far I can go I demand the best for myself, that's all I know I, done seen the world become Products of a revolution that we begun (yeah) Make me wanna split a swisher, I need me one They keep on copying what we done done That's why I say ..
[Break - Timbaland] I know you like my shoes, cause you walk in my shoes And would you be prepared to see (would ya?) A life full of money and a life full of girls But a heart that's really in deep (feel my pain) A lot of people yellin ("we love ya Timbaland") But I know y'all really in need (ooo) I don't know who's in my corner, don't know where is my corner But I gotta grab all these leaves So I must ..
[Chorus - Wyclef Jean] Hey, Timbaland you gotta hold on (hold on) But you got to be strong Though the pain almost over ([Timbaland:] My pain almost over) Look towards the sky, there's only one Jehovah ([Timbaland:] I can't quit yet), you can't quit
You gotta hold on, you got to be strong ([Timbaland:] Uh, my pain almost over) Look towards the sky, there's only one Jehovah
[Verse 2 - Magoo + (Wyclef Jean)] Pain, can't you see the pain in my eyes? The lie behind my cries, don't you sympathize with me You don't have to wonder when I come You label me a bum, you fake it ain't suprisin me (yeah) Funny how Oo got money, people come around Soon as Oo fail, kick 'em to the ground (yeah) Not just neighbors, the whole damn town Own flesh and blood, said I was a clown But as the world turns, my life can too And like a gun kills, a knife can too (yeah) I was stabbed thrice, how 'bout you? Once by my mom, pops the other two Child abuse kid, ward of the state I know it was the past, but I just can't shake How you had a kid, beat me like a slave I was only three, how could I misbehave? I didn't know better, you could teach me first You said fuck that, then you beat me worse It's pain in this verse, hard to go on (yeah) Oo is a man, so I must hold on
[Break - Timbaland] I know you like my shoes, cause you walk in my shoes And would you be prepared to see (would ya?) ([Wyclef:] yeah) A life full of money and a life full of girls But a heart that's really in deep (feel my pain) A lot of people yellin ("we love ya Maganoo") But I know y'all really in need (ooo) I don't know who's in my corner, don't know where is my corner ([Wyclef:] yeah) But I gotta grab all these leaves, uh huh So I must ..
[Chorus - Wyclef Jean] You gotta hold on (hold on) But you got to be strong Though the pain almost over ([Timbaland:] my pain almost over) Look towards the sky, there's only one Jehovah ([Timbaland:] I can't quit yet), can't quit
You gotta hold on (yeah) You got to be strong (yeah) ([Timbaland:] my pain almost over) Yeah, look towards the sky, there's only one Jehovah (yeah)
[Verse 3 - Wyclef Jean] Yeah, yo, I seen Brooklyn turn into Crook-lyn The youngn's they spend their life in central Crook-lyn (yeah) I've seen prom queens, turn into prom fiends Sometime I ask myself what happen to Dr. King's "Dream" (yeah) I've seen best friends, turn to enemies What made it sad, I had to sing at the eulogy So hard for us to say goodbye So I puff the lye and stay high (yeah) The man you said was your fam in the park (yeah) Saw your face spark when you found out he was a Narc (yeah) Cause everybody wanna be Nino Brown They wanna be Nino Brown, they wanna be Nino Brown (yeah) And the girls they love the Nino Brown They hug they Nino Brown, they lust for Nino Brown (yeah) And the fiends they want the Nino Brown The way he hold you down, when he comes around (yeah) [echo]
[Outro - Timbland - talking] The pain never stops baby Lele, I hope ya hear us Cause life will never be the same without you girl ([Wyclef:] yeah) Timbaland talkin to you ([Wyclef:] yeah, yo, yo) We ain't used to nothin This music industry, will never be the same without you Nothin but pain, hard struggle But me and Jimmy D, we're gonna keep ridin for ya Cause life must go on You must live on So we gotta hold on, c'mon
(Hold on) uh, (hold on) My pain almost over (hold on, hold on) I can't quit yet (hold on, hold on) My pain almost over (hold on, hold on) Nah Lele, me and 'Goo we can't quit, OH!
Here is a song done by Aaliyah's brother Rashad Haughton, sampling Babygirls One In A Million as a tribute to her memory. He came out with this three years ago during the devastating Haiti earthquakes. You can find the link on his site, supporting donations for the Haiti Charity here http://www.rad-6.com/rad If the link doesn't work, I have also uploaded the video which Rashad himself left a comment by saying...
"I wanna thank everyone for all your wonderful comments and showing love over the weekend and for the past 9 years. Let's take it to infinity! Art Eternal...RAD:6"
Bless! How sweet of him. When I first heard this I was blown away not only by the production which has a sort of funky house element to it, but lyrically where he used Babygirls title tracks just to describe her. Very thoughtful and appropriate. You can read the whole lyrics just below here.
One in a Billion
They don't make angels everyday
God broke the mold when he made you
My heart aches every time you sang
Your voice is a perfect dream come true
Your style, so fly
The whole world knows you were one of a kind
My heart will wait til' once again I am by your side
Chorus
Your love is a one in a billion love
It goes on
Your love is a one in a billion love
It goes on
More than a woman but still my baby girl
You rocked more than a boat you rocked the whole wide world
