We’re losing a lot of great musicians this year.. Whitney is one of my personal favourite female vocalists (alongside Sade and Aaliyah). It sucks that everybody always makes fun of people when they are alive (Whitney, Michael Jackson, etc.) and then as soon as they pass everyone is all of a sudden a fan and mourning their loss. We need to celebrate and respect our artists while they are still around..
It’s hard to believe that it has already been 10 years since Aaliyah’s passing.. My birthday is on August 25th and I can remember turning 16 and hearing the terrible news that one of my favourite artists of all time at died.. Every time I hear her beautiful voice, I am reminded of how much I love and miss her music.
My brother Mensa just released an amazing tribute mix.. See below..
Today marks the 10th year of the passing of our beloved Aaliyah.
For everyone that came up with her music, this one especially hurt.
Following her career was watching a flower in bloom. Aaliyah’s sultry voice, mature demeanour, and provocative lyrics at so young an age captivated millions. Hers was the archetype for so many teenage women coming into their own. She encountered controversy early in her career, and shrugged it off with remarkable grace, and emerged with a new sound, identity, and stronger resolve. Her track record remained virtually flawless. As Aaliyah grew up, so did we.
It was never hard to find something you could love in Aaliyah, someone who had lived in the spotlight from day one. She was a regular girl even while walking down the red carpet. Aaliyah could turn on the star power at will, but found pockets of fun in a business that took itself so seriously. She kept her circle devoid of hangers-on and yes men. Her family was her main priority and support system. The spoils of celebrity were a bonus but not a priority. Aaliyah kept herself balanced because she was in her element as an entertainer.
Aaliyah’s life was tragically cut short at the height of her fame, and is comparable with Kurt, Jimi, Janis, and now Amy as artists who we all knew had long thriving careers ahead of them, but now we can only speak of beautiful fleeting moments we had during their time with us.
This is a mix of her key singles and album cuts. Songs that became anthems for us while we crushed on someone heavy, were in the midst of infatuation, embroiled in argument, or were dealt the crushing blow of love lost. Aaliyah explains her mindset at the different times of her artistry and career throughout the mix.
Forever with us. Rest in peace, Babygirl.
Intro
Hot Like Fire
Down With The Clique
A Girl Like You (with Treach)
Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number
Loose Rap
More Than A Woman
If Your Girl Only Knew
I Need You Tonight (with Junior M.A.F.I.A.)
Are You Ready
Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
I’m Down
Back In One Piece (with DMX)
Rock The Boat
Try Again
Back & Forth
No One Knows How to Love Me Quite Like You Do
The Thing I Like
One In A Million
4 Page Letter
The One I Gave My Heart To
I Don’t Wanna
Best Friends (with Missy Elliott)
My Body’s Callin’ Remix (with R. Kelly)
Choosey Lover
Heartbroken
Up Jumps Da Boogie Interlude
Are You That Somebody? (with Timbaland)
We Need A Resolution (with Timbaland)
At Your Best (You Are Love)
I Miss You
Download “Babygirl: An Aaliyah Retrospective”
(right click on PC, ctrl+click on Mac):
http://www.djmensa.com/mixes/djmensa_babygirl.mp3
This is a guest set and feature on Toronto Morning Live w/ Manifest (CHRY 105.5 FM). Musically, it is a short mix of hip hop, rock, r&b, soul and breaks that was recorded live at 8am.. It features music from Frank Ocean, Adele, Phil Collins, J. Cole, Mos Def, The Beatles, Jay-Z, William DeVaughn, and whatever else I was felt like playing at that time… Enjoy!
Download/Listen/Subscribe via my Podcast
Tracklisting
01:00
Kanye West – All Of The Lights (Wristpect Refix)
Michael Jackson – Beat It
Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana
The Beatles – Hey Jude (Wristpect Remix)
Chris Brown Feat. Tyga – Deuces
Frank Ocean – Swim Good
Steve Miller Band – Space Cowboy
Jay-Z – Heart Of The City
Rick Ross Feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele – Aston Martin Music
Teena Marie – Ooh La La La
The Five Stairsteps – Ooh Child
J. Cole Feat. Drake – In The Morning (Flava Remix)
Southside Movement – I’ve Been Watching You
William DeVaughn – Be Thankful For What You’ve Got
Fabolous – You Be Killin’ Em
DJ Honda Feat. Mos Def – Travelin Man
Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An Eagle
Adele – Rolling In The Deep (93 Til’ Edit)
Phil Collins – Another Day In Paradise
21:20
Interview w/ Manifest
28:40
Frank Ocean – Novacane
Nicki Minaj Feat. Drake – Moment 4 Life
Eleventh Hour – Hollywood Hot
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved
Dexter Wansel – Theme From The Planets
Remembering Aaliyah from LowKey on Vimeo.
Aaliyah- I Miss You from LowKey on Vimeo.
Rest in peace to one of my favourite female R&B artists of all time…
This is amazing.. Great Toronto talent doing her thing worldwide. Heard she ripped it at The Mod Club last night.. I wish I could have been there, but had to be at my Thursday Night Residency. Hope to do some work with her in the future.. ‘Get em Melanie!
