How Aaliyah Changed R&B Forever

1. She was mysterious

Aaliyah always presented herself in a very mysterious way, always sporting shades in public and videos, she styled her hair so it covered her face partly and in interviews she would never comment on her private life which is understandable after her marriage with R. Kelly. 

2. She bought the teen voice back to R&B

When she dropped her first hit "Back & Forth" it dominated the R&B charts, in high school at the time she also gained a lot of appeal to that younger audience. Especially when you're in the era of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton the decline of girl groups has declined rapidly ever since especially those of R&B backgrounds.

3. Her absence in between albums grew her appeal

She only recorded three albums in her lifetime and it was always released sparingly, but when she did release something it always made an impact. Aaliyah knew how to wait and study black pop and it's changes so she could get in first before anyone else and make a bold statement.

4. Her voice was unlike anyone else

A lot of R&B singers over the years have tried to duplicate Aaliyah's beautiful and sharp voice. She could go from a deep gospel to tunes like "Street Thing" and "Age ain't nothing but a number."

5. She made Missy Elliot and Timbaland official

If you remember Aaliyah's infamous video for "If your girl only knew" then you will recall the cameos from Missy Elliott and Timbaland, which is when we knew those two were here to SLAY.

6. The R&B golden era will forever have an icon

If we could have our way Aaliyah would be 37 and might've performed alongside Missy Elliot and the likes. It's hard to know where she might've ended up and how she would sound in 2016 but we can still imagine her as the princess of R&B who sadly passed at the young age of 24 so let's remember all the ways she's still changing music as if she was still here.