&B songstress Aaliyah Haughton would have turned 32 years old back in January. After her tragic death in 2001, many female artists drew comparison to the R&B singer with fierce dance moves. However, if you ask Ginuwine, Beyoncé is the artist that reminds him most of Aaliyah.

"Aaliyah was in a class by herself," Ginuwine tells The BoomBox. "If you're talking triple threat of a writer, singer and actress, that would probably be Beyoncé. If Aaliyah were still here, she and Beyoncé would be neck and neck."

Beyoncé's career with Destiny's Child was already thriving when Aaliyah was alive. The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998, and Aaliyah passed just three years after that. Both also went on to pursue acting alongside music. Aaliyah added actress to her resume with roles in 2000's 'Romeo Must Die' and a lead role in 2002's 'Queen of the Damned,' which was released after the singer passed away.

The DC front woman had parts in films like MTV's 'Carmen: A Hip Hopera in 2001,' along with ancillary roles in 2002's 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' and 'The Fighting Temptations' a year later, before really driving the point home with her riveting roles in 2006's 'Dreamgirls' and 2008's 'Cadillac Records,' which really solidified the artist's position as a serious actress. While Aaliyah's life was cut short and she was unable to continue her career, Ginuwine is confident that Miss Haughton would have been equally successful.

While the Aaliyah comparisons with newer artists still float on today, Ginuwine says it's nothing to shun. "Ain't nothing wrong with that," he says. "I think everyone should aspire to be someone great, and that was one of the greats. Aaliyah was one of the great ones."

http://www.theboombox.com...feedburner

mimi07 said:

&B songstress Aaliyah Haughton would have turned 32 years old back in January. After her tragic death in 2001, many female artists drew comparison to the R&B singer with fierce dance moves. However, if you ask Ginuwine, Beyoncé is the artist that reminds him most of Aaliyah.

"Aaliyah was in a class by herself," Ginuwine tells The BoomBox. "If you're talking triple threat of a writer, singer and actress, that would probably be Beyoncé. If Aaliyah were still here, she and Beyoncé would be neck and neck."

Beyoncé's career with Destiny's Child was already thriving when Aaliyah was alive. The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998, and Aaliyah passed just three years after that. Both also went on to pursue acting alongside music. Aaliyah added actress to her resume with roles in 2000's 'Romeo Must Die' and a lead role in 2002's 'Queen of the Damned,' which was released after the singer passed away.

The DC front woman had parts in films like MTV's 'Carmen: A Hip Hopera in 2001,' along with ancillary roles in 2002's 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' and 'The Fighting Temptations' a year later, before really driving the point home with her riveting roles in 2006's 'Dreamgirls' and 2008's 'Cadillac Records,' which really solidified the artist's position as a serious actress. While Aaliyah's life was cut short and she was unable to continue her career, Ginuwine is confident that Miss Haughton would have been equally successful.

While the Aaliyah comparisons with newer artists still float on today, Ginuwine says it's nothing to shun. "Ain't nothing wrong with that," he says. "I think everyone should aspire to be someone great, and that was one of the greats. Aaliyah was one of the great ones."

http://www.theboombox.com...feedburner

He totally 100% wrong, im not doubting her still being "out there" doing stuff, butm lets be real, that last album was her best, but was falling chartwise, her sales were dropping, and i think her focusing more on acting and things, were pulling her away from music. So i feel that opened things up wider for Beyonce, i dont feel that there would have been much in the way of competiton in terms of sales and wide appeal

mimi07 said:

The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998

Is that right?

mimi07 said:

&B songstress Aaliyah Haughton would have turned 32 years old back in January. After her tragic death in 2001, many female artists drew comparison to the R&B singer with fierce dance moves. However, if you ask Ginuwine, Beyoncé is the artist that reminds him most of Aaliyah.

"Aaliyah was in a class by herself," Ginuwine tells The BoomBox. "If you're talking triple threat of a writer, singer and actress, that would probably be Beyoncé. If Aaliyah were still here, she and Beyoncé would be neck and neck."

Beyoncé's career with Destiny's Child was already thriving when Aaliyah was alive. The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998, and Aaliyah passed just three years after that. Both also went on to pursue acting alongside music. Aaliyah added actress to her resume with roles in 2000's 'Romeo Must Die' and a lead role in 2002's 'Queen of the Damned,' which was released after the singer passed away.

The DC front woman had parts in films like MTV's 'Carmen: A Hip Hopera in 2001,' along with ancillary roles in 2002's 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' and 'The Fighting Temptations' a year later, before really driving the point home with her riveting roles in 2006's 'Dreamgirls' and 2008's 'Cadillac Records,' which really solidified the artist's position as a serious actress. While Aaliyah's life was cut short and she was unable to continue her career, Ginuwine is confident that Miss Haughton would have been equally successful.

While the Aaliyah comparisons with newer artists still float on today, Ginuwine says it's nothing to shun. "Ain't nothing wrong with that," he says. "I think everyone should aspire to be someone great, and that was one of the greats. Aaliyah was one of the great ones."

http://www.theboombox.com...feedburner

She had promise, but who's to say she was as insanely driven to be up in everyones face as Beyonce is. I'd hope she wouldn't be like that cause Beyonce's omnipresence is getting just plain irritating as fuck.

Baloney.

Aaliyah's death made her ridiculously overrated. It's amazing what a tragic death will do to someone's legacy. A threat to who? The album was bombing before she left us and even after it she only managed to go double platinum. Destiny's Child, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, and Janet Jackson all released albums that same year (2001) and still outsold her. What does that tell you? In the 90s, Brandy and Monica both had bigger success. And look at their sales now. What would have made Aaliyah so different? This is complete nonsense.

lastdecember said:

mimi07 said:

&B songstress Aaliyah Haughton would have turned 32 years old back in January. After her tragic death in 2001, many female artists drew comparison to the R&B singer with fierce dance moves. However, if you ask Ginuwine, Beyoncé is the artist that reminds him most of Aaliyah.

"Aaliyah was in a class by herself," Ginuwine tells The BoomBox. "If you're talking triple threat of a writer, singer and actress, that would probably be Beyoncé. If Aaliyah were still here, she and Beyoncé would be neck and neck."

Beyoncé's career with Destiny's Child was already thriving when Aaliyah was alive. The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998, and Aaliyah passed just three years after that. Both also went on to pursue acting alongside music. Aaliyah added actress to her resume with roles in 2000's 'Romeo Must Die' and a lead role in 2002's 'Queen of the Damned,' which was released after the singer passed away.

The DC front woman had parts in films like MTV's 'Carmen: A Hip Hopera in 2001,' along with ancillary roles in 2002's 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' and 'The Fighting Temptations' a year later, before really driving the point home with her riveting roles in 2006's 'Dreamgirls' and 2008's 'Cadillac Records,' which really solidified the artist's position as a serious actress. While Aaliyah's life was cut short and she was unable to continue her career, Ginuwine is confident that Miss Haughton would have been equally successful.

While the Aaliyah comparisons with newer artists still float on today, Ginuwine says it's nothing to shun. "Ain't nothing wrong with that," he says. "I think everyone should aspire to be someone great, and that was one of the greats. Aaliyah was one of the great ones."

http://www.theboombox.com...feedburner

He totally 100% wrong, im not doubting her still being "out there" doing stuff, butm lets be real, that last album was her best, but was falling chartwise, her sales were dropping, and i think her focusing more on acting and things, were pulling her away from music. So i feel that opened things up wider for Beyonce, i dont feel that there would have been much in the way of competiton in terms of sales and wide appeal

I agree. I thought her last album was good but the songs didn't chart that well. I do think she would have gone more into acting. Aaliyah was in that same group as Monica and Brandy and both of them have struggled to get a hit since the early 2000s

Why people stay comparing them? Aaliyah and Beyonce were two different artists and Beyonce was still in DC when Aaliyah died suddenly.

I never thought that Aaliyah had much of a voice. She was pretty and talented, but she couldn't blow like Beyonce by ANY means. She wasn't that kinda singer. Vocally, I'd put her up there with Ciara or Mya maybe; someone "softer" in voice. It WAS horrifically tragic that she passed so young and I'll never forget that day as long as I may live.

MickyDolenz said:

mimi07 said:

The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998

Is that right?

those outfits are so tacky... i used to love their style back then...

Sorry but Aaliyah is so overrated. Can someone explain to me what is so significant about her contribution to music? I understand that her sudden passing was a shock to the music world but the way people go on about her is as if she otherworldly.

Even her self-titled album wasn't even doing that well prior to her passing. I don't get all the hype. People should give it a rest already.

trueiopian said:

Sorry but Aaliyah is so overrated. Can someone explain to me what is so significant about her contribution to music? I understand that her sudden passing was a shock to the music world but the way people go on about her is as if she otherworldly.

Even her self-titled album wasn't even doing that well prior to her passing. I don't get all the hype. People should give it a rest already.

I'm a fan but the way they hyped her after her death was too much. She was "just an R&B singer" until she died. Then all of a sudden after her death, people were automatically calling her a legend. She was only 22, she didn't have a chance to BECOME a legend once August 25th happened.

lastdecember said:

mimi07 said:

&B songstress Aaliyah Haughton would have turned 32 years old back in January. After her tragic death in 2001, many female artists drew comparison to the R&B singer with fierce dance moves. However, if you ask Ginuwine, Beyoncé is the artist that reminds him most of Aaliyah.

"Aaliyah was in a class by herself," Ginuwine tells The BoomBox. "If you're talking triple threat of a writer, singer and actress, that would probably be Beyoncé. If Aaliyah were still here, she and Beyoncé would be neck and neck."

Beyoncé's career with Destiny's Child was already thriving when Aaliyah was alive. The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998, and Aaliyah passed just three years after that. Both also went on to pursue acting alongside music. Aaliyah added actress to her resume with roles in 2000's 'Romeo Must Die' and a lead role in 2002's 'Queen of the Damned,' which was released after the singer passed away.

The DC front woman had parts in films like MTV's 'Carmen: A Hip Hopera in 2001,' along with ancillary roles in 2002's 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' and 'The Fighting Temptations' a year later, before really driving the point home with her riveting roles in 2006's 'Dreamgirls' and 2008's 'Cadillac Records,' which really solidified the artist's position as a serious actress. While Aaliyah's life was cut short and she was unable to continue her career, Ginuwine is confident that Miss Haughton would have been equally successful.

While the Aaliyah comparisons with newer artists still float on today, Ginuwine says it's nothing to shun. "Ain't nothing wrong with that," he says. "I think everyone should aspire to be someone great, and that was one of the greats. Aaliyah was one of the great ones."

http://www.theboombox.com...feedburner

He totally 100% wrong, im not doubting her still being "out there" doing stuff, butm lets be real, that last album was her best, but was falling chartwise, her sales were dropping, and i think her focusing more on acting and things, were pulling her away from music. So i feel that opened things up wider for Beyonce, i dont feel that there would have been much in the way of competiton in terms of sales and wide appeal

One sided as hell. How was her sales dropping? Her album was charting better than any of her previous albums.

trueiopian said:

Sorry but Aaliyah is so overrated. Can someone explain to me what is so significant about her contribution to music? I understand that her sudden passing was a shock to the music world but the way people go on about her is as if she otherworldly.

Even her self-titled album wasn't even doing that well prior to her passing. I don't get all the hype. People should give it a rest already.

AANBAN- # 18, Gold in 3 months

OIAM-#18, Gold in 2 Months

Aaliyah-# 2 on charts, Gold in 4 weeks

see the improvement in each era?

What does her contribution have to do with anything? We could say the same about Beyonce.. Her music isn't really"crafty" either. It's just generic radio food garbage.

whitechocolatebrotha said:

I never thought that Aaliyah had much of a voice. She was pretty and talented, but she couldn't blow like Beyonce by ANY means. She wasn't that kinda singer. Vocally, I'd put her up there with Ciara or Mya maybe; someone "softer" in voice. It WAS horrifically tragic that she passed so young and I'll never forget that day as long as I may live.

Right, because it totally makes sense to compare Beyonce's voice @ 30 to Aaliyah's voice @ 22

musicjunky318 said:

Baloney.

Aaliyah's death made her ridiculously overrated. It's amazing what a tragic death will do to someone's legacy. A threat to who? The album was bombing before she left us and even after it she only managed to go double platinum. Destiny's Child, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, and Janet Jackson all released albums that same year (2001) and still outsold her. What does that tell you? In the 90s, Brandy and Monica both had bigger success. And look at their sales now. What would have made Aaliyah so different? This is complete nonsense.

How was the album bombing? Aaliyah was ALWAYS a slow seller. OIAM peaked @ 18 and still managed to sell well over 8 million copies worldwide. The album peaked @ #2 with a flop single and went GOLD with ONE single. I don;t see how we can say she was flopping when she was only alive for a MONTH during the album's promotion. also, Aaliyah's album could have sold more units (it was still doing decent numbers in 2003) but her mother Diane pulled the album off because she didn't want the labels to profit from her death

shame how y'all hate on this woman without all of the facts.

Pressure said:

trueiopian said:

Sorry but Aaliyah is so overrated. Can someone explain to me what is so significant about her contribution to music? I understand that her sudden passing was a shock to the music world but the way people go on about her is as if she otherworldly.

Even her self-titled album wasn't even doing that well prior to her passing. I don't get all the hype. People should give it a rest already.

AANBAN- # 18, Gold in 3 months

OIAM-#18, Gold in 2 Months

Aaliyah-# 2 on charts, Gold in 4 weeks

see the improvement in each era?

What does her contribution have to do with anything? We could say the same about Beyonce.. Her music isn't really"crafty" either. It's just generic radio food garbage.

Pressure, you're underestimating this board if you think she was actually giving Beyonce any credit in her post. Hardly anyone likes Beyonce.

We like Aaliyah.

I doubt it. Simply because her team was never that aggressive in promoting her; nowhere near to the same extint Beyonce's machine does. I think if she had lived, she would have become like a Vanessa Williams-type. An 'entertainer' who started off singing, but gradually focused more and more on acting...while still putting out the occassional album in between acting gigs. I will say that Aaliyah had the potential to be a *much* better actress than Beyonce.

That being said, Aaliyah was great and I greatly prefer her to Beyonce. Even when she was alive, I would have opted to listen to an Aaliyah song over the other one's.

Truth is she was on her way to gold in the U.S. when she died anyway. Albums used to be released and it wasn't always a sure thing that you'll do "extremely well". So today, her sales might've been considered a success but compared to everyone else when their albums were released in the U.S., she had to get on the up and up. I disagreed with them releasing "We Need a Resolution" as the first video but I think sales would've picked up with "Rock the Boat". Unfortunately she never lived to see its success. But her death definitely increased her sales, we can't deny that even if the album was gonna be a success with her living. Her early death robbed us the chance to see her grow. She was trying to prove, also, that she was more than an "R&B" singer because that's how they pegged her as.

As someone posted earlier, they have two entirely different styles. Aaliyah would be more in the realm of Ciara, or even the vocal stylings of Alicia Keys.

Beyonce (although I don't like her) is the new generation of Diana Ross or Tina Turner.

Timmy84 said:

Truth is she was on her way to gold in the U.S. when she died anyway. Albums used to be released and it wasn't always a sure thing that you'll do "extremely well". So today, her sales might've been considered a success but compared to everyone else when their albums were released in the U.S., she had to get on the up and up. I disagreed with them releasing "We Need a Resolution" as the first video but I think sales would've picked up with "Rock the Boat". Unfortunately she never lived to see its success. But her death definitely increased her sales, we can't deny that even if the album was gonna be a success with her living. Her early death robbed us the chance to see her grow. She was trying to prove, also, that she was more than an "R&B" singer because that's how they pegged her as.

Right. Even if the album was "flopping" the album era was still early for her to save it. Whose to say that MTAW and RTB couldn't have boosted the album? WNAR wasn't a commercial single and she took a huge risk.. WNAR was so different than independent woman, slave 4 u, and those other songs that were whored on radio. Aaliyah put craft before sales.

Pressure said:

trueiopian said:

Sorry but Aaliyah is so overrated. Can someone explain to me what is so significant about her contribution to music? I understand that her sudden passing was a shock to the music world but the way people go on about her is as if she otherworldly.

Even her self-titled album wasn't even doing that well prior to her passing. I don't get all the hype. People should give it a rest already.

AANBAN- # 18, Gold in 3 months

OIAM-#18, Gold in 2 Months

Aaliyah-# 2 on charts, Gold in 4 weeks

see the improvement in each era?

What does her contribution have to do with anything? We could say the same about Beyonce.. Her music isn't really"crafty" either. It's just generic radio food garbage.

Gold in 4 weeks? That's a damn lie! Aaliyah's album sold 62k a week prior to her passing and then it jumped to 306k the next week after her passing.

The album was released on June 15, 2001 and her album was certified Gold by August 14. That's almost 2 months.

trueiopian said:

Pressure said:

AANBAN- # 18, Gold in 3 months

OIAM-#18, Gold in 2 Months

Aaliyah-# 2 on charts, Gold in 4 weeks

see the improvement in each era?

What does her contribution have to do with anything? We could say the same about Beyonce.. Her music isn't really"crafty" either. It's just generic radio food garbage.

Gold in 4 weeks? That's a damn lie! Aaliyah's album sold 62k a week prior to her passing and then it jumped to 306k the next week after her passing.

The album was released on June 15, 2001 and her album was certified Gold by August 14. That's almost 2 months.

Her album went Gold before she died.

and the album was released july 16th.

see? blinded by the hate

Also, Beyonce had a huger marketing team than Aaliyah. Beyonce had alot of mofo's co-signing her when she came out solo. She had Jay-z, Sean Paul, Usher, AND Destiny's Child.

All Aaliyah had was R.kelly and he really didn't become a huge brand until after him And Aaliyah parted ways

Pressure said:

trueiopian said:

Gold in 4 weeks? That's a damn lie! Aaliyah's album sold 62k a week prior to her passing and then it jumped to 306k the next week after her passing.

The album was released on June 15, 2001 and her album was certified Gold by August 14. That's almost 2 months.

Her album went Gold before she died.

and the album was released july 16th.

see? blinded by the hate

Where did I say it didn't go Gold before her passing? FYI, artists were going Gold based off first week sales in 2001. The fact is her album wasn't doing well compared to other artists out at the time. As I stated already, she was at 62k a week before her passing.

Wikipedia has the release date listed as "June 15, 2001"

at blinded by hate. Hate for what? Silly stan.

trueiopian said:

Pressure said:

Her album went Gold before she died.

and the album was released july 16th.

see? blinded by the hate

Where did I say it didn't go Gold before her passing? FYI, artists were going Gold based off first week sales in 2001. The fact is her album wasn't doing well compared to other artists out at the time. As I stated already, she was at 62k a week before her passing.

Wikipedia has the release date listed as "June 15, 2001"

at blinded by hate. Hate for what? Silly stan.

Aaliyah was a SLOW SELLER. She was never a huge charting artist, but still managed to be a multi platninum selling star. Rihanna is a huge star and she always was a slow seller but she still does decently in sales. Whats your logic? Fact is her album was charting and selling better than her last 2 and that was my main point. Besides, Aaliyah never had huge promotion as those other stars you named. Her team was never that agressive.

I see your a JAnet stan, didn't she want to duet with aaliyah? nuff said.

[Edited 3/21/11 18:22pm]

Pressure said:

Also, Beyonce had a huger marketing team than Aaliyah. Beyonce had alot of mofo's co-signing her when she came out solo. She had Jay-z, Sean Paul, Usher, AND Destiny's Child.

All Aaliyah had was R.kelly and he really didn't become a huge brand until after him And Aaliyah parted ways

Excuses.

Beyonce debuted with Destiny's Child in 1998 and she had no co-signers. Aaliyah debuted in 1994 with an album written and produced by R. Kelly and at the time R. Kelly was already a brand with 12 Play. She got more exposure because she was affiliated with a big R&B artist. Beyonce didn't have that advantage.

trueiopian said:

Pressure said:

Also, Beyonce had a huger marketing team than Aaliyah. Beyonce had alot of mofo's co-signing her when she came out solo. She had Jay-z, Sean Paul, Usher, AND Destiny's Child.

All Aaliyah had was R.kelly and he really didn't become a huge brand until after him And Aaliyah parted ways

Excuses.

Beyonce debuted with Destiny's Child in 1998 and she had no co-signers. Aaliyah debuted in 1994 with an album written and produced by R. Kelly and at the time R. Kelly was already a brand with 12 Play. She got more exposure because she was affiliated with a big R&B artist. Beyonce didn't have that advantage.

I'm talking about SOLO. WHat does Destiny's Child have to do with anything?

When Beyonce started off SOLO she had the co-signers I mentioned.

When Bey started off solo she was already an established star with a safety blanket.

Aaliyah wasn't.

case closed.

BTw, R,kelly had ONE album when he signed Aaliyah. When Bey was rocking wit Jay z he had 10 albums, which made him a bigger brand than r.kelly.

Timmy84 said:

trueiopian said:

Sorry but Aaliyah is so overrated. Can someone explain to me what is so significant about her contribution to music? I understand that her sudden passing was a shock to the music world but the way people go on about her is as if she otherworldly.

Even her self-titled album wasn't even doing that well prior to her passing. I don't get all the hype. People should give it a rest already.

I'm a fan but the way they hyped her after her death was too much. She was "just an R&B singer" until she died. Then all of a sudden after her death, people were automatically calling her a legend. She was only 22, she didn't have a chance to BECOME a legend once August 25th happened.

I feel the same way about so many acts that I won't name because I'd risk all the snobs in this forum being all up in my George Foreman