Entertainment
Aaliyah’s entire discography is finally heading to streaming services 20 years after her death: ‘Baby Girl is coming’
The wait is nearly over for Aaliyah fans hoping to listen to her music on Spotify (Picture: Getty)
As Aaliyah fans prepare to mark the 20th anniversary of her death, it has been announced that her entire discography is finally going to be available on streaming services.
The singer died in an airplane crash on August 25, 2001 aged just 22, but her music has lived on in the hearts of fans ever since.
Much to the annoyance of music lovers across the globe, most of her albums have been largely absent from all streaming services over the last decade.
However, it appears things are finally about to change after Thursday saw the official Twitter account of Blackground Records 2.0, who owns the late singer’s masters, announce release dates for her music.
The Twitter image, which mirrors the newly rebranded Blackground Records’ official website, also confirmed the release of other long-unavailable projects from the likes of Toni Braxton and JoJo.
All had been signed to the record label which is helmed by the Aaliyah’s uncle Barry Henkerson.
Immediately after the label’s tweet went live, Spotify followed with a streamlined set of release dates.
The news is cause for celebration for fans, however the singer’s estate – run by Aaliyah’s mother Diane Haughton – has made it clear that they do not approve of the upcoming release.
A statement shared on Wednesday read: ‘Protecting Aaliyah’s legacy is, and will always be, our focus. For 20 years we have battled behind the scenes, enduring shadowy tactics of deception with unauthorized projects targeted to tarnish.
‘We have always been confused as to why there is such a tenacity in causing more pain alongside what we already have to cope with for the rest of our lives.’
It continued: ‘Now, in this 20th year, this unscrupulous endeavor to release Aaliyah’s music without any transparency or full accounting to the estate compels our hearts to express a word – forgiveness.
‘Although we will continue to defend ourselves and her legacy lawfully and justly, we want to preempt the inevitable attacks on our character by all the individuals who have emerged from the shadows to leech off of Aaliyah’s life’s work.’
The statement concluded: ‘Ultimately, we desire closure and a modicum of peace so we can facilitate the growth of the Aaliyah Memorial Fund and other creative projects that embody Aaliyah’s true essence, which is to inspire strength and positivity for people of all creeds, races and cultures around the world. The Estate of Aaliyah Haughton.’
Aaliyah Dana Haughton signed with Jive Records at just 12 years old, with her first album, Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number, debuting when she was just 14.
She went on to record two more albums, finding her greatest success with her final self-titled LP in July 2001.
The iconic R&B singer died aged 22 in 2001 (Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Her most successful single Try Again featured on the soundtrack to the 2000 thriller Romeo Must Die and was her first and only US number one.
A handful of early EPs and her debut album Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number are currently available on Spotify.
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While a 2005 greatest hits compilation appeared on Apple Music and iTunes in early 2017.
Fans can only hope this isn’t yet another false promise which fails to see Aaliyah’s music released on digital platforms as has happened in the past.
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