Aaliyah’s groundbreaking 1996 album, One In A Million, has finally landed on streaming services amid the ongoing legal battle between her estate and Blackground Records.
Earlier this month, a website titled aaliyahiscoming.com arrived, which featured the hashtag #AaliyahIsComing and is plastered in a similar design to the artwork of Aaliyah’s 2001 self-titled album. Controversially, the page linked to Blackground Records, owned by her uncle, and former manager, Barry Hankers.
In response to the announcement that the late musician’s art was set to hit DSPs, her family released an unequivocal denouncement of Blackground. In a statement, they let their feelings known about the imminent releases.
“For 20 years we have battled behind the scenes, enduring shadowy tactics of deception with unauthorized projects targeted to tarnish,” the statement read. “We have always been confused as to why there is such a tenacity in causing more pain alongside what we already have to cope with for the rest of our lives.
“Now, in this 20th year, this unscrupulous endeavour to release Aaliyah’s music without transparency or full accounting to the estate compels our hearts to express a word – forgiveness.
Aaliyah’s estate added they intend to “continue to defend ourselves and her legacy lawfully and justly,” and said they hope “preempt the inevitable attacks on our character by all the individuals who have emerged from the shadows to leech off of Aaliyah’s life’s work”.
In response, Blackground claimed to her Billboard that they made a significant payment to the family earlier this year. “The estate will receive everything that it is entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of our agreement. Blackground has shared our rollout plans with representatives for the estate and provided them with the opportunity to participate and provide input and the estate elected not to do so.”
Before today, the only Aaliyah album available to stream was her 1994 debut, Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number. After the release of One In A Million, the rest of her back catalogue is expected to land on sites like Spotify soon, despite her family’s wishes.
