Missy Elliott And Others Remember Aaliyah

Aaliyah was just 22-years-old when her plane—manned by an unlicensed pilot, later found to have traces of alcohol and cocaine in his system—crashed in the Bahamas. On this 9th anniversary of her death, the R&B singer is honored by those fortunate enough to work with her, those inspired by her music, and by fans who still cherish her memory. See what friend and collaborator Missy Elliott had to say about the pop star’s untimely death and how the “One In A Million” singer’s passing is being commemorated.

Missy Elliott, who collaborated on Aaliyah’s One In A Million album, told MTV she plans to spend today, “the same as any other day, because there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of [Aaliyah] or watch a video or play her music. I miss her every day.” Others missing Aaliyah today include Ciara, Keri Hilson and Harajuku Barbie Nicki Minaj—who paid tribute on Twitter, where the “R.I.P Aaliyah” hashtag is currently trending. And when Rap Radar asked Drake on the anniversary, he drafted a personal letter to Aaliyah describing the pain and loss he felt following her untimely death.

In another terrific show of respect, The FADER magazine staff resurfaced a collection of content from their two-year-old Aaliyah Icon issue, including a Missy interview and a DJ mix from DJ Caps. (Grab it here). Missy told the magazine in 2008 that, “It’s like losing a family member. It’s not like Aaliyah the superstar, the celebrity. It’s like my little sister. You feel empty, you feel in shock, you feel angry.”

We feel the “Work It” rapper summed Aaliyah up best saying, “She was a sweet person with great, incredible talent who didn’t compromise who she was for the world. It was like: I’m gonna be a trendsetter, I’m gonna be an icon, even when I’m gone, you gonna always remember me.”

And so in honor of the unbelievable, unforgettable Aaliyah, here’s a track we think people will be still be jamming to for decades to come: “Are You That Somebody”.