Aaliyah – One In A Million - 1996 R+B Hip Hop Pop - Black Vinyl - Sealed 2LP

 

"That attempt at individuality blooms on One in a Million, a slow-burning blockbuster that established the Superfriend collective of Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and Static Major as R&B savants and made Aaliyah the face of a new generation of effortlessly cool performers. For the album to finally find a home on streaming platforms 25 years after its August 1996 debut gives Aaliyah's diehard fans — and those wondering about her lore and legend — the chance to revisit and explore the art of a 17-year-old bursting with desire to conquer the world. On "If Your Girl Only Knew," the singer brings a level of delight and tension; here, infidelity comes at a far greater warning than any heartbroken ballad ever could. Later, on "4 Page Letter" — a song that would go on to dominate high-school lunchrooms and talent shows for the next decade — Aaliyah's optimistic pleas regarding newfound love feel both approachable and disarming ("Baby when I get the nerve to come to you/Promise me that you won't dis me"). When her gentle voice is placed next to classic samples — Kool & The Gang's lush "Summer Madness" for "A Girl Like You" and Minnie Ripperton's erotic run of "Inside My Love" for "Heartbroken" — or paired with featured guests Treach or Slick Rick, she still commands the room. "Got To Give It Up," featuring the "Children's Story" rapper, is a festive twist on Marvin Gaye's classic. Aaliyah molds the uptempo track to her liking, taking Gaye's flirty falsetto and making it even more playful." (EW)