• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · News

Remembering Aaliyah

Remembering Aaliyah on 10th anniversary of her untimely death
By · August 25, 2011October 28, 2020
01
Remembering Aaliyah

Ten years ago today, we lost a true musical genius when Aaliyah died in a plane crash after filming a music video for “Rock the Boat” in the Bahamas. Her tragic passing came just as she was releasing her finest album Aaliyah, which had come out only a month prior to hear death.

Apimages
02
Introducing Aaliyah

Clad in a black scully, hoodie and shades on the cover of her debut album, “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number,” Aaliyah burst onto the scene in 1994, never having a problem being herself.

03
Ruff Ryder

There was a certain bad-girl mystic that drew legions of fans to Aaliyah. Her star status was taken to new heights after the release of her sophomore album, “One in a Million,” in 1996.

Getty
04
Shady Lady

Aaliyah was known as much for her infamous swooped bangs over the eye as she was of her tomboy swagger.

05
Hot Like Fire

Aaliyah’s tomboy chic appeal was emulated by many young R&B starlets. Here, the Detriot-raised songbird performs at Hot 97’s Summer Jam in New York in 1997.

Getty
06
Move Your Body

Aaliyah does what she does best during a live performance for KMEL 106 Summer Jam at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, on August 29, 1998.

Getty
07
A Different Me

With the release of her self-titled third album, Aaliyah matured, along with her style. The starlet’s casually sexy dress evolved and became more streamlined as she wore close-fitting clothes and left the baggy jeans behind.

08
A True Entertainer

Aaliyah’s feathery vocals charmed many and earned her a loyal fan base. And there can be no mention of Aaliyah without noting her superior dance skills.

09
In Full Bloom

Like Aaliyah, Alicia Keys’s style evolved from elaborate cornrowed hairstyles and jeans to one of sheer femininity and elegance

Getty
10
Beam Me Up

Santigold’s loose-fitting jumpsuit gives the tomboy chic that Aaliyah perfected a futuristic edge.

Getty
11
Baring It All

Sporting baggy jeans and a mid-riff top, Ciara embodies Aaliyah’s spirit through dance and personal style.

Getty
12
Taking Notes

Teyana Taylor, with her crazy-sexy-cool casual wear and her flashy dance moves, is a throwback to Aaliyah’s swagger.

Getty
13
Laid-back Style

Chicago hip-hopper Kid Sister channels Aaliyah’s style and swagger quite nicely.

Getty
14
Rude Gal

From her hair to her belly-baring hoodie and baggy pants, Rihanna invokes the spirit of Aaliyah while performing at the Roc La Familia T-Dot Take Over hosted by Jay-Z on July 30, 2005.

Getty
15
Kindred Spirits

Aaliyah was romantically involved with music exec Damon Dash for some time before her tragic death. Dash once called her the love of his life.

Getty
16
Hip-Hop Royalty

Aaliyah was beloved not only by fans but also by some of the music industry’s biggest stars, including Nas and Missy Elliott (seen here in 1999).

Getty
17
Model Citizen

Aaliyah even got into the modeling game, appearing in several ads for Tommy Hilfiger with beautiful ones Bijou Phillips, second from right, and Kidada Jones. Here, the three hang tight at a party for Hilfiger with Jay-Z in L.A. in May 2000.

Getty
18
Independent Ladies

Aaliyah poses with Destiny’s Child. Who knows where Aaliyah’s career would’ve been today? At just 22, she was poised to take over the industry.

19
Simply Beautiful

Aaliyah’s tragic passing came just as she was releasing her finest album “Aaliyah,” which had come out only a month prior to her death.

20
Leading Lady

Aaliyah made her acting debut as Trish O’Day opposite leading man Jet Li in “Romeo Must Die” in 2000. The soundtrack spawned chart-topping hits like “Try Again.”

Getty
21
Charmer

Here, Aaliyah plays “Queen of the Damned.”

22
Family Bond

Aaliyah and her brother Rashad Haughton, who completed his sister’s voice overs for the film “Queen of the Damned,” are seen in this photo on August 3, 2000.

Getty
23
Animal Instincts

The lithe beauty has a leg up on the competition at 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

Getty
24
Rock Stars

Aaliyah cozies up to Diddy as they present at the 2001 MTV Movie Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 2, 2001.

Getty
25
Fallen Angel

Ginuwine, who was an integral part of Aaliyah’s musical collective with Timbaland, Missy Elliott and Magoo, is consoled by friends as he attends Aaliyah’s funeral.

Getty
26
228951 1236027399 Aaliyah
27
228971 Aaliyah The Aaliyah Duets Album Cover

Read More

Lifestyle
Shop These Valentine's Day Gifts By Black-Owned Brands
News
My VP Looks Like Me: These Inauguration Day Tribute Photos W...
Black Celeb Couples
Black Love: Barack and Michelle Obama's Love Through the Years
Entertainment
‘Bridgerton’ Is Getting A Second Season
Health & Wellness
Tiffany Haddish Unveils Her Slimmed Down Figure After 30-Day...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now