Editing Aaliyah (section)

===1996–2000: ''One in a Million'' and ''Romeo Must Die''===
{{Listen|filename=Aaliyah - If Your Girl Only Knew sample.ogg|title="If Your Girl Only Knew" (1996)|description=The first single released from her second studio album, "[[If Your Girl Only Knew]]" was described as a sassy, organ-infused song.<ref name="Slant" /> Aaliyah was noted for having "smoother, more seductive, and stronger" singing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r239065|title=One in a Million – Overview|last=Stanley|first=Leo|website=AllMusic|access-date=June 21, 2009}}</ref>|format=[[Ogg]]|pos=right}}

In 1996, Aaliyah left [[Jive Records]] and signed with [[Atlantic Records]].<ref name="The Independent" /> She worked with record producers [[Timbaland]] and [[Missy Elliott]], who contributed to her second studio album, ''[[One in a Million (Aaliyah album)|One in a Million]]''.<ref name="AMG rock" /> Elliott recalled Timbaland and herself being nervous to work with Aaliyah, since Aaliyah had already released her successful debut album while Elliott and Timbaland were just starting out. Elliott also feared she would be a diva, but reflected that Aaliyah "came in and was so warming; she made us immediately feel like family."<ref name=MissyElliott2012>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1694185/missy-elliott-aaliyah-rapfix-live/|title=Missy Elliot Remembers Aaliyah|publisher=MTV|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=August 22, 2014|archive-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826121347/http://www.mtv.com/news/1694185/missy-elliott-aaliyah-rapfix-live/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album yielded the lead single "[[If Your Girl Only Knew]]", which peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="Billboard 2001" /> and topped the ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] for two weeks.<ref name="Billboard 2001" /> It also generated the singles "[[Hot Like Fire]]" and "[[4 Page Letter]]". ''One in a Million'' peaked at number 18 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref name="Aaliyah albums" /> and was certified [[Recording Industry Association of America|double platinum]] by the RIAA on June 16, 1997, denoting shipments of two million copies.<ref name="RIAA" /> The album went on to sell 3 million copies in the US<ref name=USSales/> and over eight million copies worldwide.<ref name=reporter>{{cite web|author=Powers, Lindsay|date=August 25, 2011|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aaliyah-died-10-years-today-fans-react-227684|title=Aaliyah Died 10 Years Ago Today: What Fans Say|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=May 10, 2022|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428174152/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aaliyah-died-10-years-today-fans-react-227684|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Baggs, Michael|date=August 20, 2021|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-58246480|title=Aaliyah albums streaming:'Her influence is absolutely everywhere'|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=May 10, 2022|archive-date=May 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530091252/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-58246480|url-status=live}}</ref> The year after her album was released, Aaliyah was featured on [[Timbaland & Magoo]]'s debut single, "[[Up Jumps da Boogie]]".<ref name="Jet">{{cite journal|date=September 10, 2001|title=Singer Aaliyah, Eight Others Die in Plane Crash in Bahamas|journal=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|page=56|issn=0021-5996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7QDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1|access-date=June 21, 2009|archive-date=September 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907050713/https://books.google.com/books?id=-7QDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1997 Aaliyah graduated with a 4.0 GPA from the [[Detroit School of Arts|Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts]], where she majored in drama.<ref name="The Independent" /><ref name=usatoday01>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2001-08-25-aaliyah.htm|title=Aaliyah: A life in the spotlight, lost far too early|last=Jones|first=Steve|date=August 28, 2001|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=June 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209201340/https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2001-08-25-aaliyah.htm|archive-date=February 9, 2011}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/> The same year, she began her acting career, playing herself in the police drama television series ''[[New York Undercover]]''.{{Sfn|Sutherland|2005|p=79}} During this time, Aaliyah participated in the Children's Benefit Concert, a charity concert at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]] in New York.{{Sfn|Sutherland|2005|p=128}} She also became the spokesperson for the [[Tommy Hilfiger Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Hard-Working Aaliyah Packed Hit Albums, Movies into Short Life|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1448431/aaliyahs-short-productive-life.jhtml|work=[[MTV News]]|access-date=March 17, 2012|author2=Schumacher-Rasmussen, Eric |author3=Horn, Teri van|date=August 27, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118221227/http://www.mtv.com/news/1448431/hard-working-aaliyah-packed-hit-albums-movies-into-short-life/|archive-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref> During her campaign with Tommy Hilfiger, the company sold over 2,400 pairs of the red, white and blue baggy jeans she wore in their advertisements.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/26/style/if-it-sings-wear-it-tommy-hilfiger-dresses-stars-hopes-that-they-will-strut-his.html|title=If It Sings, Wear It; Tommy Hilfiger dresses the stars in hopes that they will strut his stuff|last=White|first=Constance C.R.|date=October 26, 1997|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 21, 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630095835/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/26/style/if-it-sings-wear-it-tommy-hilfiger-dresses-stars-hopes-that-they-will-strut-his.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 1997, she performed the Christmas carol "[[What Child Is This?]]" at the annual [[Christmas in Washington]] television special.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/12/19/christmas-in-washington-if-its-the-holiday/ |title="Christmas in Washington": If it's the holiday season, it... |work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune |date=December 19, 1997 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222162035/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-12-19/features/9712190348_1_merry-christmas-christmas-angel-singing |archive-date=December 22, 2015 }}</ref> She also contributed to the soundtrack album for the animated film ''[[Anastasia (1997 film)|Anastasia]]'', performing a cover version of "[[Journey to the Past]]" that earned songwriters [[Lynn Ahrens]] and [[Stephen Flaherty]] a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]].<ref name="Farley" /><ref name="Simmonds 2008">{{harvnb|Simmonds|2008}}</ref> Aaliyah performed the song at the [[70th Academy Awards|1998 Academy Awards ceremony]], becoming the youngest singer to perform at the event.<ref name=BMI>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/20000701aaliyah|title=Aaliyah|author=Bruce Britt|work=BMI.com|date=June 30, 2000|access-date=December 14, 2015|archive-date=December 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209122812/http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/20000701aaliyah|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 1998, she released the song "[[Are You That Somebody?]]" which was featured on the ''[[Dr. Dolittle (film)|Dr. Dolittle]]'' [[Dr. Dolittle (soundtrack)|soundtrack]].<ref name=98grammy>{{cite magazine|title=Nine Things We'll Never Forget About Aaliyah|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956672/nine-things-well-never-forget-about-aaliyah|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen SoundScan|access-date=March 17, 2012|date=August 25, 2010|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629144115/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956672/nine-things-well-never-forget-about-aaliyah|url-status=live}}</ref> The song peaked at number 21 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="Billboard 2001"/> and earned Aaliyah her first [[Grammy Award]] nomination.<ref name=98grammy/>

In 1999, Aaliyah landed her first big-screen acting role in ''[[Romeo Must Die]]''.<ref name=romeo99>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1424659/aaliyah-jet-li-to-star-in-cross-cultural-romeo-and-juliet/ |date= April 6, 1999|access-date=May 14, 2022|title=Aaliyah, Jet Li to star in cross-cultural "Romeo And Juliet"|work=[[MTV News]]|archive-date=May 14, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220514102147/https://www.mtv.com/news/1424659/aaliyah-jet-li-to-star-in-cross-cultural-romeo-and-juliet/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She starred opposite martial artist [[Jet Li]], playing a couple who fall in love amid their warring families.<ref name=romeo99/> Released on March 24, 2000, the movie grossed US$18.6&nbsp;million in its first weekend, ranking number two at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Basham|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1424656/aaliyah-dmx-ginuwine-pitch-in-for-romeo-lp/|date=February 18, 2000|title=Aaliyah, DMX, Ginuwine Pitch In for "Romeo" LP|work=[[MTV News]]|access-date=May 14, 2022|archive-date=May 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514102148/https://www.mtv.com/news/1424656/aaliyah-dmx-ginuwine-pitch-in-for-romeo-lp/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,85088,00.html|title='Romeo' and Julia |last=Wolk|first=Josh|date=March 26, 2000|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607180948/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,85088,00.html |access-date=May 10, 2009|archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref> Aaliyah purposely stayed away from reviews of the film to "make it easier on" herself, but she heard "that people were able to get into me, which is what I wanted."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/07/22/hip-pops-aaliyah-flaunts-versatility/|title=Hip-pop's Aaliyah Flaunts Versatility|date=July 22, 2001|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=August 16, 2014|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141205210921/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2001-07-22/news/0107220074_1_aaliyah-barbra-streisand-jennifer-lopez}}</ref> In contrast, some critics felt there was no chemistry between her and Jet Li, as well as viewing the film as too simplistic.<ref name=Vibe2001CoverStory>{{cite news|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/aaliyahs-2001-vibe-cover-story-what-lies-beneath|title=Aaliyah's 2001 Vibe Cover Story: 'What Lies Beneath'|date=January 14, 2015|publisher=Vibe.com|access-date=February 22, 2015|archive-date=February 22, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150222070654/http://www.vibe.com/article/aaliyahs-2001-vibe-cover-story-what-lies-beneath|url-status=live}}</ref> This was echoed by Elvis Mitchell of ''[[The New York Times]]'', who wrote that while Aaliyah was "a natural" and the film was conceived as a spotlight for both her and Li, "they have so little chemistry together you'd think they're putting out a fire instead of shooting off sparks.<ref>{{cite news |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9907E7D71E3AF931A15750C0A9669C8B63 |first=Elvis |last=Mitchell |title=Romeo Must Die (2000) FILM REVIEW; Hip-Hop Joins Martial Arts but Lets Plot Muscle In |date=March 22, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222224228/https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9907E7D71E3AF931A15750C0A9669C8B63 |archive-date=February 22, 2015 }}</ref>

[[File:Aaliyah Dana Haughton 02.jpg|thumb|Aaliyah in 2000]]
In addition to acting, Aaliyah served as an executive producer of the [[Romeo Must Die (soundtrack)|film's soundtrack]], for which she contributed four songs.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/27/arts/aaliyah-22-singer-who-first-hit-the-charts-at-14.html|title=Aaliyah, 22, Singer Who First Hit the Charts at 14|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=August 27, 2001|work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 10, 2009|archive-date=September 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913061406/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/27/arts/aaliyah-22-singer-who-first-hit-the-charts-at-14.html| url-status=live}}</ref> "[[Try Again (Aaliyah song)|Try Again]]" was released as a single from the soundtrack; the song topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], making Aaliyah the first artist to top the chart based solely on [[airplay]]; this led the song to be released in a 12-inch vinyl and 7-inch single.<ref name="Billboard 2001" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Bronson|first=Fred|title=The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits|publisher=Billboard Books|year=2003|page=896|isbn=0-8230-7677-6}}</ref> The music video won the [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]] and [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film|Best Video from a Film]] awards at the [[2000 MTV Video Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite news| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/915759.stm|title=MTV Video Music Awards: The winners|date=September 8, 2000|work=BBC News|access-date=May 21, 2009|location=London|archive-date=December 5, 2014| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141205091839/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/915759.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> It also earned her a [[Grammy Award]] nomination for Best Female R&B Vocalist.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1510034.stm|title=R&B's Aaliyah dies in plane crash|date=August 26, 2001|work=BBC News|access-date=May 21, 2009|location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090623203342/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1510034.stm| archive-date= June 23, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> The soundtrack went on to sell 1.5&nbsp;million copies in the United States.<ref name=USSales>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/79059/aaliyah-returns-to-music|title=Aaliyah Returns to Music|last=Hall|first=Rashaun|date=July 20, 2001| magazine= Billboard|access-date=July 23, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090802031044/http://www.billboard.com/| archive-date= August 2, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>