Despite her untimely death at age 22, Aaliyah managed to accumulate more accolades in her short career than artists many years her senior could ever dream.
Beyond selling over 35 million records worldwide, collecting a slew of Billboard hits, and gaining industry recognition in the form of top award wins and nominations, the ‘One in a Million’ singer’s game-changing fusion of Hip-Hop and R&B influenced generations after her – an impact that can still be heard and seen in some of the genre’s contemporary offerings.
For these reasons and more, the diva’s dedicated fan base have taken the “strength in numbers” approach to get the attention of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s voting committee with hopes of seeing her name listed among its 2023 class of inductees.
Details inside.
If the reporting cycle of the last two years is any indication, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will likely announce its 2023 nominees in February.
Ahead of its unveiling, fans of Aaliyah have taken to Change.org to lift the lid on a petition that aims to see the ‘Rock the Boat’ beauty sail to the top of the Hall’s list of contenders for induction later this year.
“Aaliyah broke barriers, ground & records within her music and still continues to influence many acts within the R&B, pop & hip hop landscape. Everyone from Beyoncé, Rihanna & Drake to Normani, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande & The Weeknd among many other popular artists whom all have credited Aaliyah as a source of inspiration to their music and careers,” the petition’s creator shares before later stating, “Aaliyah being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame would not only be fitting for a musical legend but well-deserved for someone who is still influencing a new generation of artists and musicians with her innovative body of work that stands the test of time to this very day.”
The appeal has already collected nearly 7,000 signatures in just one week for the late songstress who has been eligible since 2019 (25 years after the release of her 1994 debut album ‘Age Ain’t Nothin But a Number’).
At writing, Rock Hall organizers nor reps from the late diva’s estate have commented on the traction the petition has gained.
Your thoughts?
Y’all giving a woman who has only had ONE #1 song and only ONE #1 album with hardly any awards too much credit. I was an Aaliyah fan growing up but let’s be real she was the CIARA of the 90’s and CIARA has more hits and i don’t even like Ciara all like that
Ciara based her entire image and first part of her career on Aaliyah. Aaliyah had more impact and influence than Beyoncé will ever have and that’s FACTS.
BIG FACTS!
The fact that you are talking about two different eras in the music industry is funny to me. Ciara came up in a time the music industry shifted completely marketing, digital etc. don’t talk too much if you don’t have the knowledge just be a fan
First t r a n n I e s tryna take away Aretha Franklin natural woman
Now y’all wanna give undeserving awards..
Gross
Just gross
Ciara having more hits than Aaliyah is highly debatable
Nah, Ciara’s songs don’t hit like Aaliyah’s. Aaliyah has more classic songs than Beyonce. LOL
Aaliyah is exalted because of her untimely demise. She’s basically a beauty frozen in time. She had a dope style and some bops but nothing more!!! Her only good album was her last. There are far more deserving acts. RIP
Aaliyah was popping before her death lol. She ushered in a new wave of R&B in the mid 90s and then was expanding her portfolio with HIT movies BEFORE her death. Her death just made what was becoming so much more tragic, not the other way around. Every era since has tried but failed at duplicating what was natural for her. Ciara is a wife and a mom & a social media model. All I got for her.
GOLDBERG commenting on R&B??? We tell you what’s HOT and you just market it and exploit it.
Aaliyah is more INFLUENTIAL than Ciara and her music still sounds fresh compared to Ciara’s music.
Ciara has bops but Aaliyah’s music is more Timeless and Innovative. Her style is more unique.
Aaliyah is EVERYWHERE. Her influence can still be seen, heard and felt so STRONGLY in today’s music and videos. Most of the new girls still bite her entire image.
Let’s be real…
For the last two decades, the majority of the new girls try to emulate some sort of hybrid between Janet Jackson and Aaliyah.
Yes, Aaliyah’s influence is up there with Janet’s. I said what I said.
Just look at Ciara’s Promise video as a prime example of this. Both Janet and Aaliyah influences are all over that.
And it’s not just the black girls, the white girls too. Even certain aspects of some Britney’s styling and choreography in some of her videos has been hugely influenced by a hybrid of the two. Amongst many, MANY others to this day.
Like flop mani’s flop side was sampling one in millions without giving any credits. Thief mani💅🏾
I agree with every bit of that.
There’s other deserving rnb/rap acts that are more worthy than her Salt n Pepa, TLC and En Vogue from that era.
Gurl bye💅🏾 First of all, she is dead and her music dated terribly.
Dated so much that it continues to be sampled? You’re not making sense.
I’m here for it!
Wow.. it’s so unfortunate that other female singers are being brought up in this thread as if it’s a competition. The point is that Aaliyah was able to create a body of work and find success through-out her short life that changed the genre of R&B during a time where most female singers were belting out notes. She was unique, influential and pioneered an entirely new wave of singers including some of your favorites today. She changed the game..forever ..and by taking risks with unknown artists has catapulted their careers such as Timbaland ,Missy, Tank, and Static Major. As far as number #1’s , that doesn’t even matter. There are tons of incredibly influential artists who have not even reached that milestone such as Missy Elliott, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Bob Dylan, & Shania Twain respectfully. I must also mention that her genre-defining album ” One in a Million” originally released in 1997 was able to move 8 slots higher to the #10 position in 2021 on Billboard 25 YEARS after it’s original release. Like come on.. she’s been dead for nearly 22 years now.. put some respect on her name.
OMG!! This post is everything and so true!!!