Aaliyah fans are finally getting what they’ve been asking for for years–her music on all digital streaming platforms.
While the 20th anniversary of her passing approaches this August, her Uncle and label head, Barry Hankerson has finally revealed that her beloved classic albums will be available for fans to stream courtesy of a new deal he’s negotiated.
The deal will see his defunct label, Blackground Records rebirthed as Blackground 2.0, and not only will Aaliyah’s albums be available to stream, but other artists who released projects on the label (JoJo, Tank, Toni Braxton, etc.) will also now see the light of day again.
Hankerson has secured a new partnership with independent Bay Area-based music company EMPIRE that will make the entire Blackground catalog — not just Aaliyah’s works, but 17 albums by artists including Timbaland & Magoo, Tank, Toni Braxton and JoJo — available to stream for the first time ever, and for both physical and digital purchase for the first time in a decade. And after what fans have deemed an interminable wait — with several false starts and unfulfilled promises along the way
The plans for the catalog’s reintroduction are now in place, and they mirror the rollout schedule of a record label lining up a lucrative quarter. On Aug. 20, EMPIRE will release One in a Million, followed weekly by a rough approximation of the original chronology of Blackground releases: Aug. 27, Timbaland & Magoo’s Welcome to Our World, Indecent Proposal and Under Construction Pt. II albums, as well as Timbaland’s solo album, Tim’s Bio; Sept. 3, the Romeo Must Die and Exit Wounds soundtracks, as well as Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” single; Sept. 10, Aaliyah and the music video to her single “Miss You”; Sept. 17, Tank’s trio of albums for the label, Force of Nature, One Man and Sex, Love & Pain; Sept. 24, JoJo’s first two albums, as well as Ashley Parker Angel’s Soundtrack to Your Life; and in October, Toni Braxton’s Libra and two Aaliyah compilations, I Care 4 U and Ultimate Aaliyah.
via Billboard
He also revealed details on a new Aaliyah album that fans can expect.
“There are plans to release a posthumous album of new Aaliyah music, though a release date has not been announced, and Hankerson has been hard at work on new songs — staying late at sessions and keeping himself away from other distractions, like interviews, for example.
Hankerson says that he has new music that includes features from Drake, Future, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and Snoop Dogg, while Timbaland has remixed and produced some of the sessions and Hankerson says Tank has indicated his willingness to lend his services, too.”
Meanwhile, Aaliyah’s estate is not here for any of it and has issued an official statement to fans via Aaliyah’s social media pages. Check out the full interview with Barry HERE.
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Where do you stand on the matter? Are you here for the albums finally making their way to streamers, and new music? or are you on the side of Aaliyah’s mother and brother?
