{"id":32983,"date":"2021-08-26T11:30:59","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T11:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/?post_type=articles&p=199478"},"modified":"2021-08-26T13:32:56","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T13:32:56","slug":"normani-essay-aaliyah","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/normani-essay-aaliyah\/","title":{"rendered":"Normani Pens An Essay In Honor Of 90s RnB Queen Aaliyah"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Aaliyah\"
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 5: American R&B singer Aaliyah, aka Aaliyah Dana Houghton (1979-2001) poses for a photo backstage at Madison Square Garden for Lifebeat’s Urban Aid benefit concert on October 5, 1995 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Catherine McGann\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On August 25 2001, Aaliyah<\/a> Dana Haughton and seven people died when a small passenger plane burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Her death rocked the music industry. She was known for her hit tracks “I Don’t Wanna” and “Try Again” and was (and still is) an icon in 90s style. After two decades since her death, pop star Normani<\/a> has penned an essay<\/a> in honor of the artist.<\/p>\n

“Aaliyah went against the grain,” Normani wrote. “That\u2019s why she was a standout, in a category all of her own. It\u2019s why you can see so many artists, decades later, are still inspired by her, whether through music, fashion, or look. She had it all.”<\/p>\n

\"Aaliyah\"
Destiny’s Child, Aaliyah (Photo by KMazur\/WireImage)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A horse-drawn carriage carries R&B singer Aaliyah”s coffin towards the St. Ignatius Loyola Church for services August 31, 2001 in New York City. The 22-year-old singer died August 25 in a plane crash in the Bahamas. (Photo by Spencer Platt\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Jay-Z leaving R & B singer Aaliyah’s memorial service at St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church in New York City. 8\/31\/2001. Photo: Evan Agostini\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She later added, “Aaliyah was also willing to talk about real shit. That\u2019s lost, I think, in today\u2019s music, which is why I say I\u2019m stuck in the late 90s and early 00s: it makes me actually feel something. It moves me. \u201cFour Page Letter\u201d, \u201cThe One I Gave My Heart To\u201d, \u201cIf Your Girl Only Knew\u201d\u2026 she wasn\u2019t afraid to be vulnerable. She was great at starting conversations and had her own unique way of communicating a message. Far beyond her years, she had so much wisdom from a young age.”<\/p>\n

Normani is currently working to release her highly-anticipated debut album.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Normani (@normani)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n