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Legacy Publishing

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Independent music publisher representing iconic songs & timeless catalogs.

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“Aaliyah to me is a very mysterious person. You know her, but you don’t know everything about her. She’s cutting-edge, sexy. She can be very strong, but at the same time, there’s a softness about her.” — Aaliyah, 2001.

More than two decades later, those words still feel like such a powerful reflection of who Aaliyah was. She carried an effortless confidence that never demanded attention, yet she commanded every room she entered. She balanced strength with grace, style with substance, and mystery with authenticity. There was always something captivating about her presence — never overexposed, never predictable, always evolving. Whether through her music, fashion, performances, or quiet elegance, she created a legacy that continues to inspire generations. The Highest, the Most Exalted One truly lived up to her name, leaving behind not only timeless art, but an enduring spirit that remains impossible to forget.

“I stay true to myself and my style, and I am always pushing myself to be aware of that and be original.” — Aaliyah

Aaliyah never followed trends — she created her own path. She understood that being original meant being comfortable enough to trust her own vision. Whether through her music, fashion, performances, or quiet confidence, she remained committed to being herself. Her originality was never something she had to force; it was a natural reflection of her creativity, vision, individuality, and willingness to evolve while remaining grounded in who she was. She continually challenged herself to grow, explore new ideas, and bring something fresh to everything she touched. That dedication to individuality became one of the defining qualities of her artistry and one of the reasons her influence remains timeless. Years later, her signature style, innovative artistry, and effortless presence continue to inspire generations, proving that true originality never fades — it leaves a lasting mark on the world.

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There is something incredibly powerful about continuing to remember a life that was never given the chance to reach its natural ending. Aaliyah left this world at only 22, but the years that followed have shown just how deeply her presence became woven into music, culture, fashion, film, and the hearts of the people who connected with her. 🕊️❤️ Her story did not end on August 25, 2001. In many ways, that was the moment her legacy entered a different chapter — one carried forward through the music she created, the movies she brought to life, the memories she left behind, the people who knew and loved her, and generations who continue to discover what made her so extraordinary.

Her transition into film was another important part of the story she was writing for herself. With Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah stepped onto the big screen and showed that her talent could extend beyond music. Her role as Trish O’Day introduced audiences to another side of her artistry, while Queen of the Damned revealed the direction she was beginning to take as an actress and performer. She was building a future that reached beyond the recording studio, and there was so much more she was preparing to explore. Her film career, just like her music career, was another part of a much larger artistic journey that was tragically interrupted far too soon.

Remembering her is more than looking backward; it is an act of preservation. It means keeping her name attached to the life she lived and the dreams she was still pursuing, rather than allowing her story to be defined only by the tragedy that took her from us. It means appreciating the young woman behind the image, respecting the work behind the success, and recognizing the remarkable amount she accomplished in such a short time. Every photograph preserved, every interview revisited, every song played, every movie watched, every performance remembered, every story shared, and every new generation introduced to Aaliyah becomes another thread connecting her past to the future.

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25 YEARS OF THE AALIYAH MEMORIAL FUND 🕊️🤍

August 29, 2001 — just days after the tragic loss of Aaliyah and the eight others who were aboard the plane — the Aaliyah Memorial Fund was established as a lasting way to honor her life, her heart, and the importance she placed on reaching out and giving to others. The creation of the fund gave Aaliyah’s fans, friends, and family a meaningful way to continue carrying forward something that was so deeply connected to who she was: helping others and making a difference beyond music.

The Aaliyah Memorial Fund was created as a vehicle whereby her fans, friends, and family could contribute to and support causes that Aaliyah found important, allowing her spirit of generosity to continue through charitable giving. Rather than allowing her legacy to exist only through photographs, music, memories, and accomplishments, the fund created an opportunity for that legacy to become an ongoing act of service — reaching people and supporting causes in her name.

Among the organizations and causes supported through the fund were Hofstra University, the university attended by Aaliyah’s brother Rashad, the American Heart Association, the Harlem Breast Cancer Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and many more. Each contribution represented something bigger than a donation. It became another way of keeping Aaliyah’s name connected to compassion, community, education, health, hope, and the willingness to give back.

That is what makes the history of the Aaliyah Memorial Fund so important to remember. Aaliyah’s legacy has never been limited to the records she made, the videos she appeared in, the performances she gave, or the influence she had on an entire generation. Her legacy also lives in the things that continued because of her — in the people who chose to give, the causes that received support, and the lives that could be touched through an effort created in her memory.

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AALIYAH — “NO MORE GAMES” / “DEEP” ❤️
A GLIMPSE INTO THE SESSIONS — REEL #2 📼 SEPTEMBER 28, 2000

A rare studio session reel documenting “No More Games” and “Deep,” two unreleased recordings from Aaliyah’s sessions during this era of her career.

Dated September 28, 2000, this Reel #2 preserves original studio documentation identifying Aaliyah as the artist, @buddamann1 as producer, and Chris Puram as engineer. The reel contains both “No More Games” and “Deep,” with the accompanying track sheets providing an unusually detailed look at how the recordings were being constructed inside the studio.

The documentation for “No More Games” includes handwritten notes identifying a guide track, lead vocal, live vocal, hook, harmonies, hook answers and background vocals, along with various arrows and section markings showing how the different vocal elements were arranged across the multitrack tape. The reel documentation for “Deep” similarly identifies scratch vocals, lead vocals, background vocals and hook sections, giving us a glimpse into the layers of Aaliyah’s vocal performance that were being recorded and organized during the session.

The tape documentation also preserves technical details from the sessions, including the reel number, tape level information, SMPTE timing and, for “Deep,” a recorded tempo of 68 BPM. Another studio sheet dated 9-28-00 documents an Avalon VT-737sp vocal processing setup, with handwritten notes referencing Aaliyah’s vocal recall and Static’s vocal settings. Together, these materials provide a fascinating look beyond the finished recordings and into the actual studio process behind them.

What makes this particularly significant is the date. September 28, 2000 places these recordings directly within the period when Aaliyah was working on music during the development of the material that would eventually surround her self-titled album. Because “No More Games” and “Deep” remain unreleased recordings, these reels provide an even rarer glimpse into music that was never officially issued to the public. Rather than simply documenting familiar album tracks, this material preserves a part of Aaliyah’s creative journey that remained behind the

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AALIYAH — THE 2021 PROMOTIONAL BOX SETS

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of One in a Million and the 25th anniversary of Aaliyah, it feels only right to revisit these special promotional boxes from 2021, the year Aaliyah’s catalog finally became officially available on streaming platforms, allowing millions of listeners to experience these albums digitally for the first time. After years of waiting, fans could once again hear these landmark projects alongside having the opportunity to own them physically. It was a major moment in preserving and expanding Aaliyah’s musical legacy. ❤️🖤

The One in a Million and Aaliyah promotional boxes each came with the reissued CD, a commemorative T-shirt, and an album sticker, bringing together the music and visual identity of both eras in a collectible package. These releases were more than simply putting the albums back on shelves — they represented the return of two essential chapters of Aaliyah’s career in physical form while her music was simultaneously reaching an entirely new audience through streaming.

The timing made the moment even more meaningful. One in a Million represented Aaliyah’s transformation into an artist with a distinctive creative identity, while Aaliyah reflected the fully realized artist she had become five years later. One captured the beginning of a revolutionary new direction; the other showed how far that vision had evolved. Hearing both projects finally arrive on streaming platforms while seeing them receive renewed physical releases created a bridge between longtime fans who had lived through those eras and a new generation discovering them for the first time.

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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF ONE IN A MILLION & 25 YEARS OF AALIYAH ❤️💚

Two landmark albums. Two defining moments. One extraordinary legacy. This year, we celebrate 30 years of One in a Million and 25 years of Aaliyah — two projects that captured different chapters of Aaliyah’s artistic evolution while showing just how far her vision could reach. One in a Million, released August 27, 1996, represented a bold transformation: a young artist stepping into a futuristic new sound, embracing innovative production, distinctive fashion, unforgettable imagery, and a creative identity that would help reshape the sound and feel of R&B. Five years later, Aaliyah, released July 17, 2001, reflected an artist who had grown into complete creative confidence — sophisticated, fearless, experimental, and fully in command of her voice and direction.

The journey between these two albums is what makes this celebration so powerful. One in a Million was the beginning of a new creative chapter. It was Aaliyah moving beyond the expectations placed on her after her debut and becoming increasingly intentional about the artist she wanted to be. Working alongside a remarkable group of producers, writers, musicians, and creatives, she helped create a sound that felt different from everything surrounding it. The futuristic production, unexpected rhythms, layered melodies, understated vocals, and fusion of R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop, and dance influences gave the album an identity that was uniquely its own.

But the transformation wasn’t limited to the music. The entire One in a Million era had a world surrounding it — the photography, fashion, album artwork, packaging, music videos, singles, promotional materials, and physical releases all worked together. From the iconic Canal Street subway imagery photographed by Marc Baptiste to the evolution of Aaliyah’s tomboy aesthetic into the sleek moto-inspired style that became so closely associated with this period, she was building something much bigger than an album campaign. She was building an identity, a visual language, and an era that would become inseparable from the music itself.

And at the center of that world was AALIYAH. She understood hers

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30 years ago, I paid 1 cent to get this CD from Columbia House. I was obsessed with this singer. I loved her style, her music, her hair, and the fact she was a tomboy like me. 30 years later, I still own my original 1996 copy of “One In A Million”. It’s beaten up so bad I’m sure it doesn’t play anymore, but I keep it to transport back to a simpler time when I didn’t have bills and I could blast “Beats 4 The Streetz” at 6am before school and drive my mom insane.

Now I own the original One In A Million cd, all the singles, the reprint CD, the original promo vinyl from Blackground and the Urban Outfitters limited edition green vinyl.

Aaliyah, you are One In A Million.

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30 years. One album. One vision. One legacy.

AALIYAH — ONE IN A MILLION.
August 27, 1996. Forever. 🖤💚

#Aaliyah #OneInAMillion #30YearsOfOneInAMillion #Aaliyah30 #RNBHistory

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30 YEARS OF ONE IN A MILLION

And with this, we close out our celebration of 30 years of Aaliyah’s One in a Million. 🖤

Released on August 27, 1996, One in a Million was more than Aaliyah’s sophomore album — it was the moment her artistry, vision, sound, style, and confidence came fully into focus. What began as a new chapter in her career became a defining piece of R&B history, a bold statement of artistic growth, and a project that would continue influencing music, fashion, and culture decades after its release.

There was something different about One in a Million. It felt like a young artist discovering just how much space she could create for herself and then stepping into that space without hesitation. The album carried an atmosphere that was futuristic yet soulful, mysterious yet accessible, polished yet deeply personal. It didn’t simply follow where R&B was going — it helped point toward where R&B could go next.

From the music and futuristic production to the unforgettable visuals, photography, fashion, packaging, singles, promotional materials, and physical releases, every part of the One in a Million era carried a distinct identity. Aaliyah was not simply stepping into a new sound; she was establishing an entire world around it.

And at the center of that world was AALIYAH.

Her presence gave the project its heartbeat. There was an unmistakable sense of intention behind the way the music sounded, the way she presented herself, and the way this era was allowed to unfold. She was growing, but she never appeared to be chasing an image that wasn’t hers. Instead, she refined what was already there and elevated it into something completely new.

This album represents the beginning of a transformation — from a young artist with undeniable promise into an artist with a clear creative voice and an understanding of exactly who she wanted to become. One in a Million gave Aaliyah the freedom to explore, experiment, mature, and redefine the expectations surrounding her. It became a reflection of her creative confidence and the quiet strength with which she continued moving forward.

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30 YEARS OF ONE IN A MILLION 🖤💚

30 years ago today, @aaliyah released her groundbreaking second studio album, One in a Million — a project that would become one of the defining R&B albums of its generation and a major turning point in Aaliyah’s artistic evolution. The album debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200, selling 40,500 copies in its first week, and within just several months, it was certified double platinum.

Recorded between 1995 and 1996 in Detroit and New York City, One in a Million was the sound of Aaliyah stepping into a new chapter. @craigakingofficial and Vince Herbert were among the first producers brought in to help reshape her sound for her sophomore album, laying the foundation for a project that would ultimately bring together an extraordinary group of producers, writers, and collaborators. The production team expanded to include Jomo Hankerson, Carl-So-Lowe, J. Dibbs, jermainedupri, Kay Gee, @rodneyjerkins, Darren Lighty, @darylsimmonsentertainment, @missymisdemeanorelliott, and @timbaland, while writers including @dianewarren, @iammonicapayne, Kaye Gee, and Japhe Tejeda contributed to the album’s musical landscape.

But behind all of those names was Aaliyah herself. She played a significant role in shaping exactly what One in a Million would become, working closely with her production team and developing a clear understanding of the sound, feeling, and direction she wanted for the project. Her artistic instincts were already remarkably strong.

“She definitely had an executive producer’s ear. She had a great sense of what was right for herself,” Craig Kallman, CEO of Atlantic Records, told Vibe, recognizing Aaliyah’s ability to guide the sessions toward music that would ultimately become meaningful hit records.

The visual identity of One in a Million was just as important as its sound. The album artwork and packaging were photographed by Marc Baptiste, with the iconic cover image captured at the Canal Street subway station in New York City. The imagery perfectly reflected the transformation taking place — Aaliyah’s tomboy aesthetic from Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number was evolving into something more mature, futuristic, sleek, and dis

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A LITTLE INSIDER INTO THE STORY BEHIND THE ONE IN A MILLION ALBUM COVER 🖤

As we celebrate 30 years of Aaliyah’s One in a Million, here’s a little more insight into the story behind one of the most recognizable images from the era. Released on August 27, 1996, One in a Million introduced an entirely new visual chapter for Aaliyah, and the album cover helped establish that identity before the world even knew how iconic the era would become. The cover was photographed by @marcbaptiste007 at the Canal Street train station and in a studio in New York City, capturing Aaliyah in an environment that felt urban, stylish, mysterious, and completely connected to the energy of the city. Baptiste later explained to VIBE that his intention was “to give the album cover a street chic vibe so that she’s more approachable to an audience.” That idea comes through in the photograph: Aaliyah isn’t presented as distant or overly polished, but as effortlessly cool, confident, and grounded in a world that felt real and contemporary.

The styling by @delacruzofficial was just as important to creating that identity. Aaliyah was still carrying the tomboy sensibility she had introduced during her Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number era, but this time it was being elevated and transformed into something more mature. The oversized outerwear, sunglasses, sleek hair, fitted pieces, and motorcycle-inspired attitude helped transition that earlier tomboy aesthetic into the moto style that became so closely associated with the One in a Million era. It was familiar enough to feel like Aaliyah, but different enough to show that she was growing, evolving, and stepping into a new phase of her artistry.

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