Aaliyah: 'I Can Be' Files & Loose Rap Remix from Bud'da

🔁 via @buddamann1: "#anniversary #Aaliyah
Remembering Babygirl wow 19 years ago today #rip we miss you #Aaliyah @buddamann1 #redalbum @therealtank"

OMG!! The original sound files from producer Bud'da from Aaliyah's 'I Can Be'. That guitar riff was always mad dope to me!! 😍😍😍❤🔥🔥🔥 I remember when my brother first heard me listening to Aaliyah's red album for the first time, he was like woahh.....what is this!??? 😱😱 Pure genius in the making right there!! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙏🏽❤

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A post shared by Aaliyah Archives (@aaliyah_archives) on Jul 17, 2020 at 3:36pm PDT

Bud'da also shared another snippet of his 19th anniversary tribute using an unheard mix of Loose Rap. Watch below and enjoy! 😊

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A post shared by Aaliyah Archives (@aaliyah_archives) on Jul 17, 2020 at 3:39pm PDT

Aaliyah: Rare Photo

🔁 via Sharaè Nikai: “Oh, it’s da L-I-Y-A-H…” Hanging with childhood friend Desmond Herod & Aaliyah at Jayson Williams’ crib (Nets #55, pre weird home shooting) when I was far too young to be in the mix… 1/16/14 - Happy Birthday, Aaliyah."

This was posted on Aaliyah’s birthday via Facebook back in 2014! And from the looks of the outfit we can confirm this was where she took the photo with Static Major which can be found in Vibe magazine published December, 2008. You can find read the full interview via the link here, which was also posted back in 2014. For all Static Major, Playa and Aaliyah fans it's definitely a must read! Enjoy! 😊✌🏽❤

Aaliyah: Rare Photos

🔁 via @ericseats: “#Aaliyah 

YOOO @raptracks @buddamann1 @dubzworld @timbaland @therealtank @blackplaya502 @staticmajor_ y’all remember the panel we had @ Jimmy’s Uptown NY when babygirl went down the line introducing us & talking about the records?

#memories

#ES3️⃣3️⃣3️⃣”

My heart!! 😭😭😭❤ Thank you so much for sharing Eric! 🙏🏽❤

Aaliyah: Rare Photo

🔁 via @familyfirst “@littleburger bday party at Jason Williams House #playa #ripaaliyah #kidadajones #tbt”

Wow I love this!! Thank you so much for sharing this gem in better quality! 😍🙏🏽❤ I remember seeing this shared awhile back by @blackplaya502 but it’s nice to see a clearer version of this beautiful pic! Also thanks to @favouritethingsbyazzizz for the find! 😇

Aaliyah Archives News: Static Major's Posthumous Single: 'Love Is Dro'

If you haven't already be sure to check out Static Major’s posthumous single 'Love Is Dro' produced by The Trakstarz which is out everywhere on Tidal, Apple Music, Google Play & Spotify. For a taster, listen below! 😉 Enjoy! I've already had this joint on repeat! 😩😍👏🏽❤ Make sure y'all go support #TeamAaliyah 🙏🏽💚

Aaliyah: Rock The Boat (Early Demo Version)

🔁 via @staticmajor_: “#aaliyah n #staticmajor Rock the boat EARRRLYYY Version @ericseats @raptracks #keybeats” | Those vocals though! 😍😍😍❤ 

Aaliyah: Those Were The Days (Early Demo Version)

🔁 via @staticmajor_: “Those were the days (Early version ) #staticmajor #aaliyah” | OMG! You can heat her vocals so much clearer on this demo version! Thank you so much for sharing this! 😩😍🙏🏽💚

A post shared by Aaliyah Archives (@aaliyah_archives) on Aug 25, 2018 at 10:36am PDT

Aaliyah: 'Those Were The Days' Official Bud'da Remix (17th Anniversary, Red Album)

🔁 via @buddamann1 “#Aaliyah #RedAlbum 🎶
Happy 17th anniversary Red Album! #RIPAaliyah&Static @timbaland @raptracks @buddamann1 @segalmixmaster @missymisdemeanorelliott @blackplaya502 @staticmajor502 @staticmajor_ @therealtank @dubzworld @ericseats @zenmix @hispeedhorns #KeyBeats #Classic #anniversary” | OMG!!! 😭😭😭 Thank you so much for sharing! We definitely need a full version of this #ThoseWereTheDays remix! And can I add that the bass on this is 🔥🔥🔥🔥😍😍😍😍👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 

A post shared by Aaliyah Archives (@aaliyah_archives) on Jul 17, 2018 at 8:08am PDT

Static Major’s Wife Avonti Garrett Interview via 'YouKnowIGotSoul.com': Talks Plans For Posthumous Album & Legacy

As always, here at Aaliyah Archives we try to cater to everyone, including all our Static Major fans. Recently, YouKnowIgotSoul.com did an interview with Static's wife, Avonti Garrett, who touches on a number of subjects pertaining to Static's legacy, upcoming projects as well as a posthumous album soon to be released. Read below for the full scoop! 😉 Enjoy!

"YouKnowIGotSoul has made a conscious effort to keep the legacy of the late Static Major alive through different interviews and articles to highlight his artistry. His impact on the industry is still there with the likes of Drake and Chris Brown sampling his music. Recently we had an opportunity to speak with his wife Avonti Garrett about Static’s music and the plans that she has for releasing the new music. Prior to Static’s passing in 2008, he was gearing up to put out his debut album “Suppertime” on Blackground Records. Unfortunately the album never came out, but that may change very soon as Static’s family is planning for some major projects including a mixtape, a tribute show and the debut. We talked to the wife of the legendary singer/songwriter about the future of Static Major and also about a petition that she has set up for something in Kentucky.

YouKnowIGotSoul: It seems like there’s been some new Static content being released recently, so what sparked that?

Avonti Garrett: It’s been sparking for awhile but with anything, nothing comes before its time. You’re probably seeing it more, but I’m doing a tribute in November this year. This is our third tribute we’ve done and we usually get together every year for his birthday. This time I wanted to do something a little special. Everything is timing.

YouKnowIGotSoul: What kind of things can we expect in the future?

Avonti Garrett: Right now I’m working on a mixtape of released music. We’re remaking music that’s already been released. We’re reproducing it and the singers will be able to perform at the tribute show coming up November 25th.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Is this going to lead to the release of Static’s debut album “Suppertime”?

Avonti Garrett: Hopefully it’s going to create the buzz that I want it to. I want to bring out the project in a way that people will know it’s coming. I don’t want to just drop it. I want people to anticipate it. It’s coming, it’s definitely coming.

YouKnowIGotSoul: What’s the goal for you when releasing the album?

Avonti Garrett: I definitely would love for it to be on the radio. Static left a huge catalog and as a wife. I know how hard he worked. He was a studio rat and I’d like his music to come out properly. He was a legit songwriter and I’ll handle his catalog as such. He had lots of music and he would want the music to be properly released, so that is my goal.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Drake and Chris Brown have sampled Static’s music in recent years. How do you think that has impacted his legacy?

Avonti Garrett: It’s actually amazing. He’s always managed to keep himself relevant. It amazes me every time I hear something because it’s like “There’s Static!”. His music still works in the industry. His music was so classic and it’ll always be heard.

YouKnowIGotSoul: From my understanding, you guys also have a petition set up in Kentucky for a banner? Talk about that.

Avonti Garrett: In Kentucky, we have something called a Hometown Hero. That’s where different people who have come up out of a Louisville and achieved fame, they get to a chance to get their picture on the side of a building. i think the last one was Jennifer Lawrence. It was most between her and Static. She ended up getting it, so I’m hoping this time he’ll have his shot to get that. I’m shooting for that. There is a petition, so that they can at least consider him again. I’m trying to get at least 15,000 people and we’re almost at 4000. Hopefully this time next year we’ll have it. It takes a little time. You can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/greater-louisville-pride-foundation-glpf-static-major-s-hometown-hero-banner

YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about this tribute show you’re putting together.

Avonti Garrett: I just want to remember who he was and where he came from. I’m going to highlight different events in his life like his first time singing as a kid. It was a gospel song and it was actually on Playa‘s debut album “Cheers 2 U”. It’s just going to be different events in his life. Then we’re going to be some local artists that I’ve been working with. I’m going to give them an opportunity to sing some of his music and then I’m going to release his mixtape. After that, get ready for the release of “Suppertime” and some of his other music.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Are you going to be releasing Static’s music independently or through a major label?

Avonti Garrett: We don’t have a major situation set up. It’s all about calculating how to do this. Without Static, we don’t have an actual artist to promote. We’re trying to think of the best way to release it. We’re looking to have the proper stage and marketing for it. That’s what I’m going to be working on now. With the internet now and with streaming, that helps a lot. We’ll see!

YouKnowIGotSoul: Has anyone reached out to you about a documentary about Static’s life?

Avonti Garrett: A lot of people have reached out to me about that. I would definitely like to work on something like that. I had reached out to “Unsung” before and everyone there told me that Static was not unsung. I think he deserves maybe a VH1 documentary or it could be a little more to it. I would definitely love to do it if it’s with the right people.

YouKnowIGotSoul: What do you want people to take away from Static’s music when it comes out?

Avonti Garrett: I think Static with his music, I think he was able to find a certain vibe. I think with music now, the vibe is kind of off to me. We don’t have the richness or fullness of music like the way he used to do it with his harmonies. It’s so microwaved now with all the autotune. Static didn’t record like that. He was a real artist and he was good at what did.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Anything you’d like to add?

Avonti Garrett: I’d like to thank you guys and everybody who has been responsible for keeping his legacy alive. I’m here and as long as I’m here, I’m going to continue what I can do to keep his legacy alive. He left the world some great music and it’s up to me as a wife to make sure that it comes out. I won’t let his legacy die and I’ll keep it going for as long as I can and hopefully when I’m done, his kids will continue with that."

(Source: http://youknowigotsoul.com/interview-static-majors-wife-avonti-garrett-talks-plans-for-posthumous-album-legacy)

Static Major's "Hometown Hero" Banner Petition

What's good everyone? As you all know, not only do we look out for Aaliyah fans, we never fail to forget all our Static Major fans out there too! 😉 

Not long ago, I came across another petition to help the late, great Static Major with his very own 'Hometown Hero Banner'. For those who are not familiar, here is a little description of what the organisation is about from their official website which you can visit via... http://louheroes.org/#heroes

"The Hometown Heroes program began in 2002 as the sole project of the nonprofit Greater Louisville Pride Foundation (GLPF). Although the original intent of the program was to enhance civic pride by installing a jumbo photographic mural honoring Louisville native Muhammad Ali, it quickly expanded to include the recognition of other athletes with strong roots in the community. Today, the Hometown Heroes program has grown to honor a diverse group of famous Louisvillians from a variety of professions – all of whom have inspired others and represented our community to the rest of the world. The giant vinyl banners, some stretching as high as 60 feet, are essentially works of public art and can be found on buildings throughout the Louisville metro area."

And here is a description of exactly what the petition is asking for...

"Stephen “Static/Major” Garrett was born on November 11, 1974 in Louisville K.Y, a place he was proud to call home. He was a singer songwriter and record producer. Static gained posthumous fame for appearing on Lil Wayne's 2008 album “Tha Carter 3” for the song “Lollipop”. He made his breakthrough working with singer Ginuwine. Static wrote the song “Pony” which became a major hit and a milestone in both Static’s and producer Timbaland’s career. He was also a member of the R&B Trio Playa who’s mostly known for their hit single “Cheers 2 U”.

For well over a decade Static has been an influential factor in the music industry and continues to have an impact with his musical works. His play on words, harmonizing melodies and keen ear for music lead to the release of some of the industry’s greatest hits such as Aaliyah’s “Rock The Boat”, Ginuwine’s “Pony” and “So Anxious”, and Lil Wayne’s world-renowned “Lollipop”. His profile includes work with artists such as Aaliyah, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera, Drake, Rihanna, Nas, Jamie Foxx, Al Green and countless other well-known artists.

Static passed at the height of his career on February 25, 2008, due to medical negligence, bringing his life’s work and passion for music to a standstill.

To Pay tribute to the legend the fans would like to get Static his own Louisville Own "Hometown Hero" Banner and we need YOUR help. THE MORE SIGNATURES THE BETTER. LET'S DO IT FOR STATIC. HE DESERVES IT. TRULY A UNSUNG LEGEND."

It's pretty fair to say that this petition is a no brainer! You can sign and share the petition via... https://www.change.org/p/greater-louisville-pride-foundation-glpf-static-major-s-hometown-hero-banner?recruiter=768967480&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_petition

Playa: Unreleased Track Courtesy Of Eric Seats (Video Snippet)

🔁 via @ericseats: “#Playa #NeverHeardMusic
RIP Static.
Back in these old cassette tapes, Playa was teaching on this record "Someones tryna use you” was about the “industry" @smokedigglera @blackplaya502 @staticmajor502 @staticmajor_ @raptracks
In 2000 they were putting yall up on game!
#KeyBeats #RapAndSeats #Producers
#Digitablack #Smokey #StaticMajor#ES3️⃣3️⃣3️⃣” | Omg this sounds sooo hot!! 🔥🔥🔥Thank you for sharing Eric! 😩😍❤ I need to hear this in full! I’m literally gonna have this snippet on repeat now! 😂 As always, we like to look out for our Static Major fans too! Happy listening! 😇🎵🎶

A post shared by Eric Seats #3⃣3⃣3⃣ #Sidiooo (@ericseats) on Apr 13, 2017 at 8:35pm PDT

Aaliyah Archives News: Suppertime Mixtape Volume 2 Contest

🔁 via @staticmajor_: “What’s up #TeamStaticMajor? As some of you may know Suppertime Vol 2 is droppping THIS YEAR and we want y'all to be apart of it so #MajorStylesEnt is announcing the #SuppertimeVol2Contest!!! We want you to cover your favorite track penned by Static Major! The winner wins a slot on the mixtape and a potential opportunity to record one of Static’s original. Deadline for the contest is May 5th! So submit your covers to Suppertimevol2contest@gmail.com and post your snippet using the hashtag #SuppertimeVol2Contest so we can share it on here! So do it big and most importantly do it MAJOR!#majorstylesent #staticmajor #rnb #Aaliyah

Woww how dope is this y'all? 😮 Contemplating on whether I should enter myself 🙈 If you know anyone who can sing or would like to enter, please spread the word to both fellow Static Major and Aaliyah fans. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so be sure to take full advantage and get submitting! Wishing everyone all the best! Good luck! 😉

A post shared by Aaliyah Archives (@aaliyah_archives) on Mar 11, 2017 at 3:40am PST

Aaliyah Archives: Eric Seats Tape Cassette Throwbacks

Hey Aaliyah fam! Sorry I've not been posting as much! 🙈 As you all know I've been going through some personal issues, so just wanted you guys to know that I've not gone anywhere! 😉

From the picture above, about exactly a week ago 'Key Beats' producer Eric Seats happened to share some of his own personal archives with us all. Here's his caption for all those who missed out...

@ericseats: "#Aaliyah #4/2/99 #KeyBeatsInc 

Y'all didn't hear these HITS until 2001! #Music #ForwardThinking #Rap&Seats #ES3️⃣3️⃣3️⃣".

Now talk about a throwback! 😩 Making hits since 1999! Woww…😮 ❤ A sound like no other back then! It truly amazes me how far ahead of time Aaliyah was, be it in the fashion industry as well as music. If this isn't enough proof to show how far ahead of the game she was, I don't know what is! 💁 Both Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart clearly did their thing back then and it shows. 👏 

Anyone who knows me well enough, will know that my all time favourite song off the red album is 'Extra Smooth' produced by none other than Key Beats! I love it so much that I even made my first video edit to the song which you can check out below ☺️ (Be sure to subscribe to my youtube page if you haven't already. 😎)

But I digress...Did anyone notice anything else on the tape? 😏 Well you'd be correct if you said yes! Just when you think you've come across every and any possible unreleased title regarding Aaliyah, we have yet another one to add to the bucket list titled... 'No More'. We can only hope and pray that one day we'll be able to hear such a hidden gem.

Mr. Seats did however share another demo snippet a few days after, which was of Aaliyah's 'Erica Kane' sung by none other than Static Major which you can listen to below! Enjoy! 😄

#Aaliyah #Playa #EricaCane #KeyBeatsInc #99 🎼 So before Baby-girl recorded "Erica Cane", Playa recorded it..🎙 Their version bangs too! S/O @smokedigglera & @blackplaya502 #RipStatic #RipAaliyah #Music #GoingThroughTheVault #Rap&Seats #Classic #ES3️⃣3️⃣3️⃣

A post shared by Eric Seats #3⃣3⃣3⃣ #Sidiooo (@ericseats) on Feb 22, 2017 at 8:42am PST

Woww...talk about smooth! I love this version too! 😩😍❤ Playa sure did their thang on this joint! Musical harmony to my ears! Thank you so much for sharing these gems with us all Eric! 🙏💚

Aaliyah: 15th Anniversary Of The Red Album (Producers Look Back On A Masterpiece)

Happy 15th Anniversary to Aaliyah’s self titled #RedAlbum which was released on 17th July 2001! 🎉👑 To me this album was way ahead of it’s time. You could truly see Aaliyah’s growth into womanhood, and how she was not afraid to experiment with different types of music genres/productions. This explains why to this very day, how this #masterpiece holds a lot of longevity. The fushions from Arabic, salsa, rock, classical, soul to name a few really pushed the boundaries for the R&B genre as a whole, bringing a whole new moden twist to the term ‘neo-soul’. A lot of which paved the way for other female R&B artists to take notes and be inspired by our Queen. Aaliyah was never afraid to try something different and to her, (as well as all those who worked on this album) I thank you for all the hardwork and effort you put into your craft. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about what direction she would of possibly taken her music. All I do know is that her sound would of definitely been striving to achieve originality! 🙏💚

I was very busy on the day, so I was unable to post anything on my main blog , however...as a special treat, I happen to come across a lovely article courtesy of fuse.tv, who had the pleasure of interviewing the producers of this timeless masterpiece. So for anyone who missed it, you can read the full article below here...

Fuse spoke with J. Dub, Bud'da, Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart about the red LP, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this month.

Aaliyah flawlessly transitioned from tomboy teenager to confident woman with the release of her third and final studio album, released on July 17, 2001. While her previous LPs (Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number and One in a Million) leaned more toward R&B and soul, on Aaliyah she steered away from predictability and put forth a fresh sound with the help of a new production team. Along with longtime producer and friend Timbaland, Jeffrey “J. Dub” Walker, Stephen “Bud’da” Anderson and Key Beats (comprised of Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart) were the masterminds behind a record that has remained timeless. 

The album was recorded in New York, Los Angeles and Australia, where Aaliyah was filming Queen of the Damned. Along with writers Stephen “Static Major” Garrett and Benjamin “Black” Bush of R&B/hip-hop group Playa, the team shut out the outside world and worked on the LP for about two years.

“She was very sweet, very giving and open to suggestions. There was a lot of stuff that didn’t make the record, but she wasn’t scared to try new things,” Bud’da tells Fuse. Seats also reflected on Aaliyah’s personality in the studio, saying, "She’s low-key and not really animated. She’d just be in a corner pacing, popping that gum. Her and Static would talk about how a track made them feel, and they would go from there."

The LP found Aaliyah stepping far out of her sonic comfort zone. As she says in the second track, “Loose Rap,” “It ain’t just rhythm & blues.” The murky downtempo, produced by Key Beats, experimented with late-night underwater vibes before the sound was made popular by Drake’s right-hand man Noah “40” Shebib. It still remains a favorite for Key Beats and J. Dub. The song's title came from a slang term used by the producers and Static. 

"The saying 'loose rap' was something we always used to say in our regular talk," Stewart says. "We were joking around in the studio that day and that track was on, and Static just said it on the hook. A lot of the songs happened like that."

He also reveals that “Loose Rap” was almost going to be the album’s first single, and that the popularity of “Rock the Boat” called for a change of plans, and for a video. 

"The only reason they shot 'Rock the Boat' was because the radio was already playing it, so that kind of forced it to be the second single [instead of 'More Than a Woman']," Stewart says. "They went with Timbaland’s song for the first single because that was her sound at the time, but he was actually the last person to work on that album."

It turns out it was Aaliyah’s favorite song to record. “'Rock the Boat' hit her real hard," Stewart recalls. 

"She was the one advocating to make that a single, because [the label] was trying to make sure whatever Timbaland produced were up to be singles. But she gave them hell and refused to let them do things. Even Timbaland loved it."

“Loose Rap” was quickly programmed by Seats (in five minutes, to be exact), but his fast-work mentality almost got “Rock the Boat” deleted. He tells us, 

“Static heard it through my headphones. I took a break and went to the rest room, and by the time I got back he had already written a hook." Stewart continues, “I wouldn’t say it was an accident, but we weren’t vibing with it as much. It was one of those things like if he had came 10 minutes later, he probably would’ve never heard it."

Aaliyah’s strength is its diversity, as the album counteracted vibrant uptempos like “More Than a Woman” with the heart-wrenching “Never No More." Produced by Bud’da, it found the singer flexing her tender upper register over a beat that mixed old-school soul and hip hop.

"I wanted to create something that had a soulful feel with the classic instruments. After she laid the vocals, I had the idea to add the live strings and other elements around her voice to emphasize the words," Bud'da explains. "With the topic of the song being about abuse, I wanted you to feel that musically and hear the emotions. I wish everybody could’ve seen the emotions as well."

“Never No More” is his favorite track, due to the lyrical theme of domestic violence. 

"There's so many people quietly dealing with abuse and it’s just an unheard thing. I thought it was pretty upfront for that song and it was bold on her part to do it knowing that she has a great influence," he says.

Listeners were already familiar with Aaliyah’s delicate vocals, but the red album found her digging deeper into a low register that was grumbling, fierce and downright sexy. It can be heard on songs like the bass-heavy “Extra Smooth” and “Read Between the Lines.”

From the brass instrumentation to the chopped vocals, the Latin-influenced song is one of the highlights of Aaliyah. Bud’da recalls the fun recording experience:

"[There was] not only live horns, but I used a midi grand piano. Since I gave it a Latin feel, I decided to add the horns to go with it as an accent. Another thing I had done that I hadn’t heard before was adding certain stutters and echoes [to her voice]. There weren’t too many people doing it back then. Initially I had a longer version with more cool stuff, but for the sake of radio we decided to chop it down some."

While it wasn't planned to be a concept album, Aaliyah touched on different phases of a long-term relationship. Tracks like “U Got Nerve” are filled with aggression, where a fed-up Aaliyah sings to a no-good lover. “I Refuse,” one of the more experimental moments, builds on that frustration over a haunting cinematic beat. J. Dub, who loves film soundtracks, reveals he wanted to make the song big and orchestrated. 

“I started off with a basic piano and everything else I just built off of that. When she finished the vocals, I went back in and added the orchestra,” he says. 

The album continues to flip into different sounds, as breezy track 11 (the Key Beats–produced “It’s Whatever”) crashes into one of the LP’s most daring songs, “I Can Be.” It finds Aaliyah singing about infidelity and being the other woman. The risky move was made more in-your-face with the song’s intense rock and hip-hop influence. 

"It had such a great melody and I wanted to add something dark to go with it," Bud'da remembers. "So you’ve got your sweetness on the top but down below you just have this menacing thing that’s just pounding your speakers."

What most didn’t know was that Aaliyah was a fan of rock music, and Nine Inch Nails was one of her favourite acts. “I Can Be” was inspired by the genre, but it was the album’s closing track, “What If,” that ripped her familiar R&B sound to shreds. J. Dub says he never thought she would pick it, but it became one of the album’s defining moments with its menacing industrial production.

Aaliyah met her untimely death on Aug. 25, 2001 at the age of 22. She was gearing up to write for the first time and there are still five completed songs remaining in her vault. 

"I was her music director, so we were talking about doing a big tour and the whole nine. It was sad none of that ever happened. Even as big as that album is, to me her live performances were crazy," Stewart says.

Aaliyah went on to be certified double platinum and has influenced artists like The Weeknd, Tinashe, Rihanna and FKA Twigs. The producers agree that without the album, most singers won’t be as relevant to this day. 

Stewart points to one of the biggest performers of our time: 

"Say how Beyoncé is very innovative in her thinking now, to me that was Aaliyah. It’s absolutely no shade to her because we’ve worked with Destiny’s Child on Romeo Must Die [the soundtrack] and 'Survivor.' But her lane opened up so wide because there was a void left from Aaliyah. When we were in the studio with Beyoncé, she would praise her and the stuff we did with her. I wouldn’t say she looked up to her or anything like that, but she was definitely paying attention to Aaliyah’s growth."

(Source: http://www.fuse.tv/2016/07/aaliyah-self-titled-final-album-15th-anniversary-producers-interview)

The Balance Room Interview with Eric Seats: The Making Of 'Rock The Boat'

As you all know, Aaliyah's birthday is approaching in the next few days, where we normally come across some amazing rare images, tribute mixes, videos, artwork etc... All of which I always look forward to seeing! :o) So I was merely just browsing away, and happened to come across a post Eric Seats posted via his Instagram page. Soon as I found out it was Aaliyah related, y'all know I was mad hype! lol :D And of course, I wanted to share this with you all!

I have to say...whilst listening to this interview I did get rather emotional when he talked about his memories on Aaliyah and Static Major. However, it was also quite refreshing to learn more about Mr. Seats as an individual alone, who I can honestly say is the most nicest, most humblest person I have come to know. I can definitely see why Aaliyah wanted to work with you! A big thank you for sharing your memories with us all and The Balance Room podcast for having the pleasure of interviewing Mr.Seats. You can listen to the full interview below here!  ;)

Also since this is podcast related, some of you may be aware of this, but for those who are not, I would like to give a special out to my boy @AlmuqicmanLeon and my girl @ChocolateLatina for all their continued love and support. They both run a podcast called 'Your Best Friend On The Mic' touching on a wide range of interesting topics and of course, repping our Babygirl to the fullest! ;) You can check out all their latest podcast episodes via the link here. You definitely won't be disappointed! ;)

Static Major: Rare Photos Courtesy of Jonathan Mannion

As you all know, I'm a huge fan of Static Major, unfortunately his life was cut too short, just as Aaliyah's was. I happened to post this on all my other social media pages, but realised I had not posted it on my main blog :D His Birthday was 6 days ago, and to celebrate, I happened to come across some rare out takes courtesy of one of my favorite photographers @jonathanmannion with the caption…

“This #FlashbackFridaytakes us to Kentucky where I photographed the group #Playa. It was the first shoot that I did for @ceyadams at the Drawing Board and kicked off what would become a relationship with @defjamrecords that continues to this day!! This shot of my brother #StaticMajor (Stephen Garrett) is a reminder of how precious life is. Rest in peace. #Cheers2You for your many accomplishments (including a Grammy) and for the beautiful music you have left for us to enjoy.” 

Amen to that! I couldn’t agree more! I have never seen these pics before, so I thought it would be nice to share with everyone! Enjoy! ;) 

Aaliyah Archives News: J-Dub Shares His Memories of Aaliyah & the Making of 'Steady Ground' ft. Static Major

 

A huge thank you to J-Dub, one of the producers on the red album who posted this beautiful throwback memory for all of #TeamAaliyah via his Instagram page. This is much appreciated beyond words. I love hearing about these personal, fond memories since they give us more of a deeper connection towards the song and the artist. Enjoy! :o)

J-Dub: "We recorded this song in LA at Enterprise Studios. My engineer at the time lost Aaliyah's background vocals. Back then we cut on 2 inch reels no protools. This song was suppose to be her single. Aaliyah was so disappointed that she couldn't cut the vocals over. This is a big song vocally to sing and it was some challenging vocal sessions. Back then no auto tune either so you had to be on point. In hindsight I believe everything happens for a reason. Now the song is a duet featuring Static Major (RIH) who wrote the song and demoed it. I remixed it a little and it still sounds fresh. Music allows you to live forever long after you're gone. Thankful and so blessed I had the chance to produce one of the sweetest spirits and artists ever to do it in my generation. And to work with one of the most talented writers I've ever worked with Static Major. May they both RIH and I know they're smiling down on me about this one. It was never released commercially, but since I still have the files I'll share it with the world. Enjoy!!! & this is my #TBT #Aaliyah #StaticMajor #SteadyGround #LA #EnterpriseStudios #EpicSession #Legends #MusicHistory #ItsAllGod #ThankfulForTheGift #DUBZWORLD #DubzworldProductionz #GodIsTheGreatest"

A video posted by J Dub (@dubzworld) on Jun 11, 2015 at 4:34am PDT

Irv Gotti: Shares his Memories on Aaliyah

Repost via @irvgotti187: “Happy Birthday Babygirl!! I had the honor of Producing Aaliyah on the Back In One Piece record with DMX. And I can honestly tell everyone. In my time working with her and calling her a friend. Everything that you hear about her is TRUE!! SHE WAS AN ANGEL! A true ANGEL man. When we made that record. (Shoutout and RIP to STATIC MAJOR WHO WROTE THE RECORD. ME AND LIL ROB PRODUCED) I had the studio packed with niggas. Cause I always felt I wanted niggas to love my R&B records. So I had everyone in there so the feel of the record was authentically NIGGA. Hahahah. And do you know Aaliyah. By the end of the session. Had lil nicknames for everyone. And had all these Thug Niggas feeling like she was there close friend for years. I wish Yall can actually have seen what I’m saying. It was one of the most fun sessions I had in working with her. We instantly became good friends. When she passed and I heard the news. I shed tears. Because I knew we lost someone special. But I guess GOD wanted one of his Angels. And usually when I hear people say that. I be like. Whatever. Fuck outta here. But with Aaliyah. I honestly believe that is true. WE MISS YOU. AND WE LOVE YOU BABYGIRL AALIYAH!!! I speak for the entire Hip Hop Communuity. Whenever I die. I hope to see you and have some fun with my friend again. Happy Birthday. IG” | Thank you for sharing your personal memories with us! :o)