Because Normani has long cited Aaliyah as an influence it came as no surprise her latest song and music video, ‘Wild Side,’ was chockfull of homages to the late R&B princess.
From choreography remiscent of that found aboard the latter’s ‘More Than a Woman’ visual to the instrumental structure of ‘Side’ itself bearing resemblance to the Aaliyah’s signature hit, ‘One In a Million,’ many fans of both singers were pleased with what they thought were tributes to the fallen diva.
But while the 25-year-old continues to collect critical acclaim for her Cardi B-assisted banger, there’s one critic who isn’t completely on the bandwagon: Aaliyah’s uncle Barry Hankerson.
Fans of Aaliyah know her music is rarely sampled, a feat Hankerson waxed honest about recently when speaking with TMZ.
“[Aaliyah] always encouraged young women pursuing their musical and entertainment careers, to achieve their dreams,” he said before later continuing, “I believe that Aaliyah would be very supportive of a young Black woman that chose to emulate her music and style.”
Though he made it clear he supported the venture, he also asserted that Normani did not clear the alleged ‘One in a Million’ sample with the late singer’s estate.
“I will not stand in the way of something that brings to light the incredible staying power of Aaliyah. So in that light, wishing Normani well with the song and overall career,” he said before stating it would have been “more honorable” had the former Fifth Harmony hitmaker went through the proper channels to clear the song before sampling it.
Other reps from Aaliyah’s estate confirmed Normani’s team never cleared the sample, but – according to TMZ – Normani’s team hit back by saying the song does not contain a sample at all.
While that stance may cause debate, what can’t be debated is the song’s producer, Timbaland, has given the new song his stamp of approval as well. Look below to see how he reacted.
Another L for C******* pyscho fans who said they paid 6 figure sum to use Aaliyah song
😂😂😂😂😂😂
That makes normani a thief with no originality
😂😂
Ur so dumb
I hope sleepy Barry keeps to his word and doesn’t try and sue for a moneygrab ie Marvin Gaye’s good for nothing kids and that Blurred Lines BS lawsuit. If Timbaland is happy that’s all that matters. They didn’t sample Aaliyah’s poorly handled masters, but the arrangement, structure, instruments, and even the crickets show a HEAVY influence. HEAVIER than Blurred Lines did to anything from Marvin. Good for Normani I hope she focuses on an international market like Kelly Rowland did (I didn’t hear a damn Beyonce song when I was in Europe years ago but to my surprise Kelly was everywhere) because America is too racist to be her primary bag and she’s too talented/pretty to go out like that.
Kelly has talent
Kelly has a strong voice.
Commander, when love takes over,forever and a day, down for whatever these are good dance songs with strong vocals,
Normani can never deliver such strong vocals, she will die trying to do what Kelly did vocally on commander.
By “a few years ago”, you must mean about 10?
So she’s a thief?
If they sue this talentless baboon it’s over for her.
Her networth is a mere 3 million dollars and her entire lazy family members are living of of her.
You’re an idiot.
Shouldn’t you be worried about the flop blog you said would come out in 2019?
We are now in 2021. I have graduated with another Masters since then. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Flop C******* stans
Ur crying
😂😂
U better start praying the ugly bab00n doesnt get sued cause if she does, she cant afford it.
Her networth is 3 million dollars and she’s supporting her entire jobless family members.
😂😂
I knew that ugly bìtch was a thief.
After stealing from beyonce, she has started stealing from aaliyah
Her uncle is mentally ill and sabotaged JoJo’s career. He won’t even allow Aaliyah’s music on streaming services. But as you’re mentally ill, you’ll take anything to slander Normani.
Stop projecting ur mental illness on a faceless stranger on the internet.
😂
If u need help just say it.
U stan f******* so I dont expect u to be correct in the head.
10 years from now u will still be shouting “NORMANI IS COMING” but nobody will pay u any mind cause u are sick in the head just like every other f******* stan..
RCA records must be regretting why they signed this bìtch.
She can not sing
Has no personality
Shes also a huge overrated flop
Now shes about to get them sued for stealing aaliyah’s music.
More money being invested
More music, videos and tour. Didn’t you say Doja took all the budget.
Are you mad? I literally cannot stop laughing. 😂😂😂😂
You’re always wrong. A pathetic fool. 😂
U better get on ur knees and pray they dont sue that ugly talentless c********* called f*******.
😂😂
She cant afford those lawyer fees.
Her networth is a mere 3 millions and she just bought a house. She needs to pay her mortgage also .
She is taking care of her lazy never do well family members.
I agree but maybe not fire her team. Just another statement to own up, they could at least admit and say the song is heavily inspired by OIAM. Fair enough they may not have directly sampled it but the sound, arrangement, beat etc. etc. clearly sounds like OIAM. Give credit where it’s due
I bet your hygiene is just nasty. I can tell. 😆😆😆
Normani team is doing her dirty with this one, but it’s great their not upset or suing .
Barry Hankerson is twisted. If Normani team continue down this route saying they didn’t sample OIAM. He could take them to court and who knows he might win
After stealing from the legendary aaliyah, ur song is still whack and its flopping on spotify.
Even a pregnant nàked cardi cant help her.
U see what happens when dont have talent.
All that Jackie chan dancing in the video just for a whack forgettable ella mai reject song
😂
💯
Nomoney about to get RCA records sued and for what? A whack àss song that is underperforming badly.
Normani doesn’t have her own style and that’s why her career is where it is today.
She still has only 1 solo song. 😂
First she copied beyonce, it didnt work out for her, she went back to the drawing to rebrand
Then she copied ariana by releasing that generic bubble gum trash song motivation, the song tanked, she went back to the drawing board to rebrand
Now she’s copying aaliyah, this is predicted to underperform, so who is she gonna copy next?
LOL all these scriptures and essays, ur so bothered 😂😂😂😂
Take ur meds
I didn’t know Tim made that same sound with his mouth in “Are You That Somebody”. I thought it was electronic. Lol. But back to Barry… if he’s granting interviews, why can’t somebody get him to tell us why he won’t release Aaliyah’s music to streaming if he believes in the “incredible staying power of Aaliyah”? It’ll be 20 years this August and the fans are still waiting. A new generation is waiting. What is the problem?
If Normani doesn’t step up and take Accountability for clearly sampling Aaliyah one and a million records. I will lose all respect for Normani as an artist. Normani and her team are truly disrespecting Aaliyah’s legacy. It’s bad enough Aaliyah’s record-own record label is silencing Aaliyah’s body of work. She needs to speak up and fire her team A.SA.P!!
You’re a nonfactor so it’s totally fine.
Even the video for that whack song look like a cardi video
The whole vibe and look of the video is very cardi.
U see what happens when u lack artistic vision?
I heard no sample either.
aaliyah’s uncle is a disgrace. you’re not protecting her legacy, you’re erasing her from people’s memory.
There is no sample. I’m trying to figure out who actually hears the sample in the song.
On the flip side, she should have thrown him a bag to shut the F*** up beforehand
There may not be a direct sample, but there’s a clear heavy influence – hence Timbaland shadily dropping his mouth effects over the beat. Why “throw him a bag” if there’s no similarity to be acknowledged?
You Don’t have to legally credit someone for influence, that’s why Aliyah and Timberland aren’t credited.
And you don’t throw someone a bag because you were inspired by then, you pay them for using the work to enhance your work and that’s not what happened.
These comments are racist as f***
Yep. And I bet these same commentors were up in arms about the racial abuse suffered by the England penalty 3. Sad.
You’re reaching.
Nobody here watches sports.
Tell yourself whatever you need to honey.
Went to visit my OAP lover Gandolph in his care home for the first time in over a year today! Thank God this lockdown nightmare is at the start of the end. I thought Gandolph might have forgotten this gorilla-like face of mine, but as soon as he saw me he stuck his old grey tongue out 👅 and I knew he was still there. I encased his tongue inside my big pink lips and began to chew on it like good old times – it was cold and squeegee and slimy, yum!
Bye h o e💅🏿 I’m sucking 6 b** right! They all f u c k me so good and I c u m like 20 times❤️ I don’t have time for u🤳🏻
another L for f******* couldn’t even make sure she had clearance to use the sample before hand. Career DOA
They didn’t sample “One In A Million”, that’s why no one reached out…it’s self explanatory. And why would Timberland give them his stamp of approval if they’d indeed stolen his work? If you’re going to speak out against Normani for basically being inspired because no sample was used nor credited, than you need to speak out on Ciara, Sevyn Streeter, Tinashe, Teyana Taylor and any other young, skinny, black female that has had heavy tom-boy influence and heavy choreography. MAKE IT MAKE SINCE SIR❗❗❗❗❗❗❗
🤣😂🤣 thiefmani💅🏿 I know her flop ass are on budget, no wonder her album still not came out🤣😂🤣
Either way it sounds too much like Aaliyah’s ‘OIM’ normani and her team about to get sued. Even if the song sounds similar you can get sued! Smh
They cleared it from Timbaland! The “Producer” of the original song! Aaliyah uncle is money hungry! I’m so sick of him Ugh