When considering Aaliyah’s track record, it’s befitting that her name (Aah-Lee-Yah) means "the highest, most exalted on, the best." At 22, she had a successful recording career, had established herself as a major motion picture actress and had proven to be an accomplished businesswoman.

Aaliyah recently released her third album, the self-titled "Aaliyah." Produced by Timbaland, the album is on Blackground Records, which is owned and run by Barry and Jomo Hankerson, Aaliyah’s uncle and cousin.

Upon completion of her new album, Aaliyah was set immediately segue into production on the Warner Brother’s highly anticipated sequels Matrix 2 and Matrix 3. 

She was to be seen early next year in the Warner Brother’s film Queen of the Damned, to play Akasha, the title role in the super-natural adventure, which is based on the third novel in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. 

Aaliyah made her motion picture debut in Romeo Must Die. Co-starring Jet-Li, the film was a box office success and led to Aaliyah’s huge hit record, "Try Again," which was produced by Timbaland. The Romeo Must Die soundtrack sold in the millions and spent weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard soundtrack chart. Her performance earned her nominations for MTV’s 2001 Movie Awards for "Best Female Performance" and Breakthrough Performance Female" and the song earned her two MTV Music Awards for both "Best Female Video" and "Best Video in a Film." Aaliyah served as executive producer of the soundtrack and had two other cuts on the record including one with DMX.

In 1998 Aaliyah had a huge hit with "Are You That Somebody" from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. Produced by Timbaland and written by Static, the song is infectious, known for it’s clever sampling of a baby crying. Later that year, Aaliyah performed the song "Journey To The Past" from the motion picture Anastasia at the Academy Awards.

In 1996, Aaliyah released her second record, "One In A Million." The first single, "If Your Girl Only Knew," went double platinum and contains Timbaland’s signature syncopated beats and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot’s poignant lyrics. Jermaine Dupri, Rodney Jerkins, J. Dibbs, Daryl Simmons, Kay-Gee, Vincent "V.H." Herbert and Craig King were also involved with producing "One In A Million." The album was multi-platinum and an international hit.

In 1994 at the age of 14, Aaliyah released her first album, "Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number." It was an instant success. The first single, "Back and Forth," was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and the No. 1 R&B song. The follow up single, a remake of the Isley Brother’s "At Your Best (You Are Love)" reached Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was No. 2 at R&B radio.

From and early age, Aaliyah has found satisfaction in her music. When she didn’t win a local vocal competition on "Star Search" as a pre-teen, she did not let it deter her from continuing to sing. At age 11, she landed a five-night stint performing with Gladys Knight’s troupe in Las Vegas. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she was raised in Detroit. She graduated from the Detroit Performing Arts High School in 1997 with a 4.0 GPA. She credits her success to the support from her family. She is managed by her parents as well as her brother Rashad, who also serves as her mentor and creative consultant.

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