Today would have been Aaliyah‘s 32nd birthday. In her short time with us, Aaliyah helped redefine R&B and Hip-Hop in the 1990′s and early 2000′s, and left a permanent imprint on the industry as a whole.

Her second studio album One in a Million is credited as one of the most influential R&B albums of the 90′s. And with sales of over 8 million albums in the United States, along with an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide, Aaliyah has been named the “Princess of R&B,” and made a name for herself with songs like “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number,” “Back and Forth,” “One in a Million,” “We Need a Resolution” and more.

Unfortunately all of that was cut short on August 25th 2001 as Aaliyah and various members of her entourage boarded a small aircraft following the music video shoot for her latest single at the time “Rock the Boat.” Immediately after taking off, the plane crashed, killing all on board, and tragically ending Aaliyah’s life along with her more than promising career. She was only 22 years old.

Though she is no longer with us, Aaliyah continues to show her impact and influence on artists of today, and her contributions to the music industry as a whole. Check out some of our favorite Aaliyah moments & music videos below!

AALIYAH & BEYONCE

AALIYAH & JANET JACKSON TALK ABOUT EACH OTHER

“ROCK THE BOAT” VIDEO SHOOT (BEHIND THE SCENES)

RARE MOMENTS W/ AALIYAH

AALIYAH SAYS SHE HAS “NO REGRETS”

“BACK & FORTH” MUSIC VIDEO

“IF YOUR GIRL ONLY KNEW” MUSIC VIDEO

“ONE IN A MILLION” MUSIC VIDEO

“4 PAGE LETTER” MUSIC VIDEO

“THE ONE I GAVE MY HEART TO” MUSIC VIDEO

“HOT LIKE FIRE” MUSIC VIDEO

“WE NEED A RESOLUTION” MUSIC VIDEO

“MORE THAN A WOMAN” MUSIC VIDEO

“ROCK THE BOAT” MUSIC VIDEO

“MISS YOU” MUSIC VIDEO

What are your favorite Aaliyah moments, songs and/or music videos?

The throwback video of the day is Janet Jackson‘s sixth single, “The Pleasure Principle”, from her breaking debut album Control in 1986. This is video that made me fall in love with Janet Jackson when I was only 5 years old. MTV’s hit dance show, America’s Best Dance Crew, honored Janet in this week’s episode by performing six of her songs in the recent challenge. Enjoy the throwback of the day…I know I will!

I was listening to my iPod once again and heard one of my favorite tracks, “Frontin’”, by Pharrell from The Neptunes compilation album, The Neptunes Present…Clones. I went to check out the video and peeped a girl that has actually been a lot of Pharrell’s videos, Lauren London! Check out how young LL looked was when this came out. Who knew she’d be so big! If you haven’t copped the new N*E*R*D*‘s “Seeing Sounds” album go and check out! Enjoy the throwback of the day!

Yes, perfect throwback for today — Big Pun! On behalf of all T2W contributors, we would like to wish everyone a happy fourth of July! And if you ain’t got Big Pun in your playlist on this day I will pray for you.

The T2W throwback video of the day is Chris Brown‘s “Run It” featuring Juelz Santana. Remember when Chris Brown first stepped on the scene with this first major single and self titled album in 2005? Who ever would thought he’d create so much buzz he does now. Enjoy the throwback of the day!

Don’t ya’ll remember when Cassie first stepped on the scene with this hot track, “Me & U”, which everybody fell in love with. Then the comparison to Janet Jackson‘s “Pleasure Principal” video was definitely noticeable. Do anybody think Cassie can make a big comeback like this one? Enjoy the throwback!

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I’m sitting here listening to my huge library of music on my iPod when Alicia Keys‘s “You Don’t Know My Name” came on in a shuffle. I digg this song all over again especially the conversation part! Classic! Click the video above to play.

I felt it can only be right since Janet turned 42 yesterday (May 16). This is a performance from Janet Jackson‘s Velvet Rope Tour in 1998 in New York City. I went to this concert in Chicago! I was only 7 at the time. I still love Janet. One of our greatest performer of all time. Happy Birthday Janet!!!

“Another Part of Me” is just one of the few singles that broke the streak of #1 hits from the certified 8x platinum Bad album in 1988, chart-topping out at #11 on the Billboard charts after it was released. The video features live footage of the ‘Bad’ tour, the biggest selling world tour of the 80′s, bringing in an amazing revenue of over 124 million dollars citing Guiness Book Of World Records. I really love this clip, every time I watch I dance, it’s just full of energy! You really get the whole ‘concert experience’ from it. I bet the 70s/80s rocked at that time!

MOAR!? Yes, bb! I loved the video clip for Ghosts (full version), which can also be classified as a short feature film, it’s like a 40 minute music video ha ha. The songs featured, in order, are “2 Bad,” “Is It Scary,” and “Ghosts” and they are all from HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor. This is the longest running music video of all time second to R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet” series. The reason I chose this video as another one of my favourite MJ throwbacks is becos the dancing and songs are wicked, yes! My favourite, fabourite scene would have to be “Ghosts,” I love that song so much and it was so funnie! And when he bowed at the end like, “WHAT! Bitch, I’m the KING!” I was like, “there he go”. Once again, Michael Jackson will always be the King of Pop, forever … forever.

The saga continues. I decided to make “Leave Me Alone” by Michael Jackson the throwback for today since it was released during this month and the year of my birthday (which is an honor). Many believed this song was about a woman, or something, but in actuality it was particularly about how the media portrayed him and nearly ruined his career. A lot of people thought that Britney Spears should have done a cover of the song but others thought she would “ruin it”. I personally disagree.

Anyway if you watch the video a few times MJ is clearly mocking the tabloids and their ridiculous rumors saying, “leave me alone!” He is even seen dancing with the “Elephant Man,” a stupid rumor once surfaced of Michael Jackson reportedly purchasing his bones. The video also takes place seemingly in an “amusement park” but it is really Michael Jackson portrayed as one, illustrating how the media makes a circus out of him most of the time. Interestingly enough this video was co-directed by Michael Jackson himself, keep in mind that computers were not even thought of at that time, making MJ ahead of his time; he hated mundane.

In conclusion Michael Jackson, the King of Pop and all that is Pop (literally speaking), is and will always be a legend, yes. He gives even more meaning to the quote, “Michael Jackson is an artist not a genre.” But we shall digress. I just cannot stress even that there will never be another quite like Michael. He is African-American, yes, he has a skin disorder. He is not a child molester, no, people just wanted money out of him – it is sad what people will do for money really. But, again, we shall digress. The most important part is his music and how he reaches entities through his wonderful, wonderful … wonderful art. He is the greatest, ever. Love you MJ <3.

Time for another throwback, this one is Brandy – “What About Us,” from the singer’s 2002 album Full Moon (Atlantic). The video was directed by Dave Meyers (<3.) and the actual single was produced by Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins. I decided to post the video since tomorrow is it’s 7-year anniversary and Full Moon was my shit. Brandy just had that complex sound that seemed almost organic and she’s always been one of my top favorite female vocalist. Brandy, please hurry with the album – the music industry needs you!

Seriously, was I the only one who liked this guy? FOOD & LIQUOR was my ish in the ’06! I still can’t believe – I must have been on antidepressants or something – cos I shole lent out that CD; never saw it again -_-

Best lines ever:

Welcome all of yall to my dark recesses
This is where I keep the bars like bathtub edges
My Ivories And My Doves My Levers and my Zests
It takes half of your bubble bath to match the freshness
The belly of the beast you know I’m from it
I wrap it in a towel here go my pal in the stomach
And I be on my green like Irish Spring and I Coast
Fudge wit It and get a mouth full of soap

How does he come up with this shit? Anyway, just to let you know, Lupe is coming back and full force too!

Wow, you can’t believe how pissed I was, to find out that none of these singles didn’t make Kelly’s album! Lol, so in actuality it turns out the “Still In Love With My X” and “Work (Put It In)” remixes did not make the cut unfortunately. I am so sorry about that, but I did put together a “Ms. Kelly Unreleased” version with it including the two remixes as well as the full quality to “Gotsta Go” Part 1 and 2, “Baby I Love U” – and hey! I just found out “You Will Win” is also NOT on the album … are ya jokin’? Nope! But luckily I’ve upped them all in their full entirety. =]

KELLY ROWLAND’S MS. KELLY IS IN STORES NOW!

Now, there are still many unreleased tracks, none of which I will be posting, but I just decided to post these few in light of Kelly’s cd dropping today. Alright let me give you the scope, “Still In Love With My X (Remix)”; what ever happen to her “going back” and “reworking the album” to get back to her urban roots … cause I think she may have left this version out accidentally. “Work (Put It In)” w/Fat Joe; I have no idea why they left this out. “Gotsta Go”; Da Brat and E-V-E shut it down! I believe Part 1 is a bonus on Ms. Kelly? “Baby I Love U”; Strong message, so true indeed. “You Will Win”; My effin’ soundtrack to my life! All in all, I really wanted those remixes to make the album, that’s so booty what they did. Anyway, I digress, check out this “Throwback” of the day, Avant and Kelly Rowland – “SEPARATED REMIX”. Yeah, I guess it’s Kelly’s day today! Oh and I love, “you wait ’til I was sleep to call the damn police!” Best line ever.

Kelly Rowland feat. Young Texxus » “Still In Love With My X (Remix)” » LISTEN » (Full)
Kelly Rowland feat. Fat Joe » “Work (Put It In) (Remix)” » LISTEN » (Full)
Kelly Rowland feat. Da Brat » “Gotsta Go (Part 1)” » LISTEN » (Full)
Kelly Rowland feat. Da Brat + Eve » “Gotsta Go (Part 2)” » LISTEN » (Full)
Kelly Rowland » “Baby I Love U” » LISTEN » (Full)
Kelly Rowland » “You Will Win” » LISTEN » (Full)

Wow, I just came over nostalgia recently, and realized how much I missed being a kid. Until this day I can still reminisce myself racing straight home after school doing my homework, changing clothes and getting myself situated to be laid out on the sofa, with my remote in one hand and junk food in the other. I still don’t know what happen to all these damn shows, they all just got canceled so swift and blindly. Please tell me WHAT ever happen to Taina? Chicka was destined towards stardom with the theme song, “Gonna Be A Star,” that was everybody and they moma’s jam– kids were singing it in class constantly. Taina was my show man! I also kept hearing rumors that the creators of That’s So Raven stole the primary concept of the show, but hopefully, that’s not the case. Nickelodeon was trippin’ ! They got rid of a lot of good shows The Journey of Allen Strange, An African-American (Arjay Smith) alien child left behind on Earth only to befriend two human children, and it is up to them to find a way to get him back home while they try to keep him a secret from their parents as well as others- the show broke down a lot of barriers inconspicuously when it came to race. But it was thoughtful life lessons learned throughout many of the trailless episodes I gained from. Then there’s All That, the original cast of course, a children’s sketch comedy-variety show that had me rollin’ every night I watched- even the marathons! Too many classics to name Good Burger, Vital Information, Ask Ashley (“thaaaat’s me!”), Whateverrrr! and let’s not forget the Pea Lady! Everytime they would serve lunch, and I got peas, at my school… I tore them mothers UP! :Deep breathe: so many great shows indeed, Me And My Brother, Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (that shit scared the hell out of me!), Claressa Explains It All… but then the cast started to leave and some shows got canceled, and it became boring and whack-tastic! I mean there were PETITIONS flying at Nickelodeon left and right! Still didn’t bring ‘em back… Oh and let’s not forget now, it was some pretty dope cartoons on that Saturday weekend I had to tape SNICK, Rocko’s Modern Life, Doug, Rugrats… 90′s was the SHIT! But do not fret, I’m sure the “greatest invention known to man,” Youtube, has a couple of these floating around.

I was on Youtube and found this video of Beyonce, performing “Me, Myself, and I,” live at the Billboard Awards of 2003, I thought “hey! Why not use it as a Throwback…” I remember this performance vividly and seeing it again brought back more nostalgic memories of why this woman was and still is the baddest of the game. But yeah, I think this is the best performance of “Me, Myself and I” live by Beyonce in my opinion. Enjoy!

“It Ain’t Hard to Tell” is a 1994 hip hop single by Nas. The single, a popular song in the undergrounds, samples Michael Jackson‘s 1982 hit single “Human Nature“. The lyrics are a braggadocio style rap, which have been sampled in many songs, including “Ebonics” by Big L. This single, along with the album it’s featured on is considered a milestone of the Golden Age of Hip-Hop. Nas created an homage to Wild Style (1982), the first hip hop motion picture, while shooting “It Ain’t Hard to Tell’s” music video, as he shot portions of the clip on the same stage used for the final scene of Wild Style.