Timbaland and Missy Elliott Will Be Involved in Aaliyah Album

Timbaland and Missy Elliott helped craft Aaliyah’s trademark sound, and now fans will be able to hear them make magic once again on a posthumous album.


In an interview with Billboard.biz, Aaliyah’s cousin Jomo Hankerson, who runs Blackground Records with his father Barry Hankerson, confirmed the hitmakers’ participation.

“I can tell you that Timbaland will definitely be involved, Missy will definitely be involved,” said Hankerson, who added, “One of the records that we had that was never released was a Missy record that we obviously are going to be refreshing.”

Just days ago, Drake said that he and producer Noah “40” Shebib would be “commanding the new Aaliyah album,” but Hankerson denies the claim. Instead, he says that he and his father will executive produce the project, which they hope to release by the end of the year. They are pulling from 16 unreleased Aaliyah recordings and calling on “contemporary artists.”

He did reveal, however, that Drake will appear on “more of the records” in addition to the single “Enough Said,” and that 40 is “heavily involved.”

“We really felt like it was time,” explained Hankerson. “There’s a real new generation that doesn’t know her necessarily, and we wanted to continue her musical legacy with this new generation. That’s one of the reasons why we wanted to do very contemporary music. We didn’t want to make it a nostalgic project; we already did that with the I Care 4 U album.”

While his exact role remains unclear, Drake can’t wait for Aaliyah’s fans to hear new material from the late singer, who died 11 years ago. “40’s just doing some incredible, incredible music right now,” he told MuchMusic. “To get 13, 14 new Aaliyah songs, everybody should be excited. It’s not about me, it’s not about 40. It’s really about her and her fans and us just getting the opportunity to give you something that we feel is great.” 

UPDATE: Blackground Records has now confirmed to Billboard.biz that Drake and Noah “40” Shebib will indeed co-executive produce the Aaliyah album alongside Blackground Records.

Timbaland Opens Up On Drake Releasing New Aaliyah Music: Notable/Quotable

"I know they trying to drop some Aaliyah records, but if he do it, it should be with me and Missy. The proper way for him to do that would be for me, him and Missy to be all on the record. But to put it on his record, would just not be right."

--Grammy award-winning producer Timbaland opens up on recent news of Drake reportedly releasing new Aaliyah music.

Timbaland Remembering Making Are You That Somebody For Aaliyah

It has been 11 years since the beautiful Aaliyah left a mark on this earth musically.  That doesn't stop those who were close to her from reminiscing about special memories and time they spent with her musically.  One hit that he produced for Aaliyah was "Are You That Somebody".

It was produced in 1998 for the movie Dr. DoLittle.  The combination of his epic producing by Timbaland tacked with Aaliyah's voice was a combination for the ages leading to a Grammy Nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.  

It's great that these types are memories are being kept alive and its great that the people who worked so closely with her can reminisce about good times.

Timbaland Beaterator Intermission. Aaliyah Tribute!

Timbaland Beaterator Intermission. Aaliyah Tribute. Anaheim Honda Center 1-9-07. all the way from the nosebleed section!!

Aaliyah Movie Will Cover Intimate Details Of The Singer’s Life

Production with start in March and Keshia Chante (right) will play the role of Aaliyah.

It has been reported that Warner Brother Films will be creating the motion picture of the late singer and actress Aaliyah who died in a plane crash in 2001. Aaliyah sold more than 32 million albums worldwide before her career was cut short. The film will be a biopic of the singers life. Bill Condon, director of “DreamGirls” will be directing the film.

“We are going to great extremities to make this movie perfect. We have Chante in extensive training studying, speaking with family members, watching personal footage and in choreography training with Aaliyah’s choreographer and dear friend Fatima Robinson. This movie will be seamless the same way it was for Selena fans who enjoyed Jennifer Lopez. I can promise Aaliyah fans that this movie will be ten notches higher.”

A source for the film reveals that they “will be going very deep into Aaliyah’s life” and will allow fans to see the “most intimate side of Aaliyah’s legacy.” Sources say the script for the film ‘holds no bars’ and will go as far as touching on the subject of Aaliyah’s highly debated and publicized marriage and annulment to producer R.Kelly.

It has also been confirmed Aaliyah’s colleagues will be featured in the film. Her choreographer Fatima Robinson, Producer and friends, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Ginuwine, even world renowed music video director Hype Williams will be apart of the film and help re-create the “Rock The Boat” video set which was the last video Aaliyah ever shot. The movie is tentative to start production end of March and is rumored to have a production budget of over 80 million dollars.