Aaliyah: Ruff Mixes Courtesy of Tim Barnett (August, 17th, 2000)

🔁via @staticmajor502: "Going through some old stuff and came across some HISTORY and 🔥... I miss Static and Aaliyah...#ADAT #Aaliyah #Static #KeyBeats #Blackground #Barry #Jomo #Heather #Black #Smoke #Rap #ESeats #TheCut #Selfish #Budda #Cavie #Tank #JDub #Bobatu #Bradshaw #Flint #Timbaland #Missy #Ginuwine #LA #NYC #ChunKingStudio #EnterpriseStudio @raptracks @ericseats @blackplaya502 @smokedigglera @buddamann1 @timbaland @missymisdemeanorelliott @ginuwine @djthecut @therealtank @caviarsecretspecialist @mr.terellejohnson @youknowigotsoul"

If the fans only knew...😩 I can only imagine what type of 🔥 is on that DAT tape! Thank you so for sharing Tim! I know both your bro and sis are looking down on you! 🙏🏽❤

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 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

Aaliyah: Official Unreleased Tracks From Eric Seats

Edit made by yours truly! ;)

So I've been meaning to post this for awhile now, but as you all know Aaliyah left us with an amazing body of work throughout her musical career. Like every other artist, Aaliyah recorded a lot of tracks, some of which were not complete in time for her to sing, and others which were only rough drafts or 'demos' as we call them. Now if you all remember, I posted something awhile back in regards to some unreleased tracks that Static Major's personal assistant (and close friend) Tim Barnett kindly shared with us in 2010. Just to refresh your memories, you can read it again via the link here. 

We've already had the tracks CEO and Danc'n come to surface, and seeing as how we have a special Birthday tribute next year in the works from the original red album producers, maybe it's long over due for us fans to finally hear these rare gems. I for one, would most definitely love to hear them! :o) 

So a couple months back I actually came across some posts via Eric Seats who happened to share some screenshots from his phone's playlist, and to my surprise, I was delighted to see some of those Aaliyah tracks that we have always heard about, but never actually heard! Lol! Here are the main ones he shared, along with his captions :o) ... 

Eric Seats: #Memories Another #unreleased #Aaliyah #HIT #StaticMajorIsGenius #DontLetMeFoolYou #KeyBeats #ES333

Eric Seats: #Memories #Aaliyah OMG ANOTHER #unreleased #HIT! @DigitalBlack wrote this one.. #KeepsMeShaking #KeyBeats #ES333

Eric Seats: This One Too... #Aaliyah #unreleased #Dancin #Playa @DigitalBlack #KeyBeats #ES333

Do any of these titles ring any bells? They should do! If not, lets do a brief summary of each track :o) The first track, is the one which Drake sampled vocals from. The second track is the one where they actually mixed it for the song Quit Hatin'. And the third track, yes you are probably saying "hey we have already heard this version!" but NOT with just Aaliyah and Digital Black on their own, without E.T. Selfish. Seats said this was a rough version, so it would be interesting to hear and compare to the one that we already know and love. Who knows, maybe one day we may finally get to hear ALL of them, once the family agree to it. :o)

Aaliyah: Unreleased Song Titles From 'Down Under'

Now, some of you may have already come across this like myself, but for those who have not, here is the official track list of songs which Aaliyah recorded whilst working on her self titled 'red album' in Australia. In 2010, Tim Barnett decided to share this with everyone, which I am truly grateful for so thank you so much for that! You've made a lot of Playa/Static Major/Aaliyah fans very happy! :o)  

Now some of you may be wondering hmm...where are all the other joints from the red album like We Need A Resolution? Most of the other tracks which were produced by Timbaland, were done after the trip to Australia. From what I have already shared with you, we can confirm that all of the tracks on the CD are most definitely Aaliyah songs, some of which we have yet to find and discover. I shall no doubt be on the hunt and look out for these when they do arise, so watch out! :o) 

There is however one particular song from the bunch titled 'CEO' which Static Major wrote, and Bud'da produced on. On this occasion, Bud'da kindly shared with everyone, insight into this particular track.

Bud’da: “Aaliyah was super close to [finishing] the song. We cut the hook and Static finished a couple of other things on there and then we ran out of time, and then she just never got back around to cutting it. I think that was a big song though. It was a girl empowerment song. It was pretty cocky honestly, but the way it was done was great.”

Even though we do not know what this joint sounds like, we do have the actual lyrics which gives us a little taste as to what exactly Aaliyah was trying to aim for. Knowing that this song is a female empowerment song, shows us that she was definitely way ahead of her time, and ready to change the game. Songs like Destiny's Child's – Survivor & Independent Woman and Kelis's – Bossy immediately come to my mind. All I can say is that thanks to Aaliyah, who has helped paved the way for many female artists out there to this very day. Anyhoo, peep the lyrics below and imagine Aaliyah singing these verses and chorus's. I can honestly say, that the lyrics alone are just fire! I can only imagine how this sounds! Enjoy my lovely's! :o)

(Source – You Know I Got Soul)

CEO Lyrics

Verse 1

Being in love is hard (it’s like a job)
That’s why I make it a point to step to, each issue we go through (it’s always something new)
I gotta keep up my guard (being in charge)
Can’t let no one give me heart breaks
It’s one thing when you explain (minds do change)

Pre-hook

Who you fussing with?
I’m the only boss that can boss around here
I’m the CEO, Stay on your job, Or you can be replaced
Don’t you order me, Cuz I’m calling the shots that go on around here
You can’t tell me no, I send you home
Thought I’d let you know that

Chorus

I’ll be running the show, I’m CEO, I’m in control, that’s how it rolls
If you didn’t know the scenario, I run the show
I’ll be running the show, I’m CEO, I’m in control, that’s how it rolls
If you didn’t know the scenario, I run the show

Verse 2

I’ve got to wear the pants in a true romance,
That’s the only way we’ll ever stand a chance
So I ain’t taking orders from a man, You got to understand
See I can work with you, long as you are true
Change out the blue and I’ll start taking interviews
Let me give you a list of my demands, never raise your hand

Pre-hook

Who you fussing with?
I’m the only boss that can boss around here
I’m the CEO, Stay on your job, Or you can be replaced
Don’t you order me, Cuz I’m calling the shots that go on around here
You can’t tell me no, I send you home
Thought I’d let you know that

Chorus

I’ll be running the show, I’m CEO, I’m in control, that’s how it rolls
If you didn’t know the scenario, I run the show
I’ll be running the show, I’m CEO, I’m in control, that’s how it rolls
If you didn’t know the scenario, I run the show
I’ll be running the show, I’m CEO, I’m in control, that’s how it rolls
If you didn’t know the scenario, I run the show
I’ll be running the show, I’m CEO, I’m in control, that’s how it rolls
If you didn’t know the scenario, I run the show

Bridge

I’m gonna keep handling my business baby
Cuz I’m a real lady
And I hope you take care of your business baby
I wanna be your lady

Aaliyah ft. Yaushameen Michael: Girlfriends (Unreleased Track)

Released: 2007

Recorded: Unknown

Label: Blackground Records

Another rare gem for you guys! Now personally, I don't really know much about this track since it is so rare, but it came out around 2007. As for the recording and label I am not 100% sure, so if anyone knows just give me a shout and I will credit you on your research! :o) Now, what I do know is that the track was meant to be featured on underground rapper Yaushameen Michael's album, but was never released for unknown reasons. Quite recently a new version of Girlfriends has been mixed which sounds more modern, but personally I find that whoever mixed it did a terrible job! For starters Aaliyah's vocals do not fit well with the beat at all! In all honesty people shouldn't fix something that isn't broken, hence why I am sharing the original version of the song, which is more suited to Babygirl's style.

I remember when I first heard this song, immediately I was like damnn, is that Babygirl rapping? Then I realised oh, it's some next chick lol! What's interesting about this track is how fresh it sounds both lyrically and musically. The rapping could do with more improving in terms of making the diction more clearer, since this is very important, but other than that I really love this joint. At one point, Yaushameen actually sounds like Missy Elliot near the end of the song, talk about crazy right? As for the whole theme of the song, again it's a topic that not many have touched on. It talks about how although men be throwing dirt, making call to girls etc... basically, the act of a 'playa', it also talks about how women also do the same. As the saying goes, "One man/woman goes, and another man/woman comes". Check out the video below for this dark, mysterious track! Enjoy! :o)

Tim Barnett: “That song was never a joint that was for the album. Yaushameen was a Southernaire artist and that song was always something meant for Yaushameen. She was a huge fan of Aaliyah so Static was like ‘I’m going to get Aaliyah on one of your records,’ so Static wrote it.”