Aaliyah: At her best, eternally
Beautiful. Adventurous. Gifted. Mysterious. And by Aug. 25, 2001, Aaliyah Dana Haughton, at the age of 22, was gone. On the 15th anniversary of her tragic death, The Undefeated pays tribute to the teen sensation turned grown woman superstar singer and actress. In a manner felicitous to her unfathomable aura, she is frozen in time. Death doesn’t erase memories. It enhances them. From her 1989 Star Search appearance to her 1994 debut album Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number to her rare and deep bonds with Missy Elliott, Timbaland and DMX to her relationship with Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Dame Dash and the countless moments in between, this is the life. Slices of her public life. Her place in our lives. Rest in peace, Baby Girl. Better known as Aaliyah. – Justin Tinsley