To Chica (Albania): the day you were Aaliyah for Halloween was the day I knew you would be my friend forever. L.A.V.
To Steph, who read this book before the world did and hears all of my thoughts on anything and everything. I couldn’t have asked for a better accountability partner and friend. Keith loves Stove forever.
To Tamika, I seriously don’t know what I would do without you. You have kept me from spiraling so many days of every week. I love you so much and can never repay you. Glad you, me, and Maggie have this #BrewHa crew, ha. Love you Mags! And of course, hi Kennedy!
To Jonathan, who sees my potential even when I don’t. You are the greatest. Love you.
To KC, for always being my light in transit. You bring out the #writer in me. Love you.
To Janice, for being my musical partner in crime and in cry hahaha. Love you!!
To Munny, for being so supportive through this process and always. Love you so much.
To Tra and Bree, I love you my sisters (Kel too haha!). I can’t thank you both enough for being the best support system since we were kids. You mean the world to me.
To Porscha, for always listening and being my partner in water sign crime. I love you, P. Your pep talks are epic. Can’t wait to keep our teamwork going in this space.
To Georgette, for the Aaliyah candle that I’ve burned at every milestone. Love you Gza!
To Laura Stylez, for being the first to know about this book. Thank you for being the best. Love you! Love to Ricardo and Kenza too!
To Marvis, for being my favorite sparring partner hahaha. You’re the greatest.
To Lil’ Kim, for coming through with stories about Baby Girl. Every time you talk, you know I’m listening, in awe of you. Appreciate you always, my friend.
To Phoebe Robinson, for commiserating with me during this entire ride!
To Chanel Pettaway, for being an amazing friend (and publicist).
To Dart Adams, for helping me with these thank you’s.
To Simone Amelia Jordan, Roderick Scott, Marsha Gosho Oakes (Hawk), and Michael Gonzales, for digging up treasured Aaliyah relics for my research. I appreciate you, friends.
To dream hampton, for taking part in this book and for also being a wonderful mentor and friend. Also, thank you for always laughing at my jokes. Someone has to.
To Rapsody, Lolo Zouaï, Kash Doll, Jim Jones, Ja Rule, Vikki Tobak, Tameka Foster, Jimmy Douglass, April Walker, Kimya Warfield-Rainge, and Cola Walker (the queens of Walker Wear), Jim DeRogatis, Tim Barnett, Donnie Scantz, Bashir, Eddie OTCHERE, Eric Johnson, and of course Jonathan Mannion. Your input was so valued for this book. I can’t thank you all enough.
To Kingsley Russell, your bravery in telling your story is so appreciated.
To #TeamAaliyah, who became my friends: Aali, Sandy, Erica, Frances, Ashley, Terrell, Nathan, and Tonica. As an Aaliyah fan, I never had a place to really talk about just how much she impacted my life. You all provided that (and so much more). Sandy, you and Erica are my favorite five-hour convos. Aali, Indie says hi.
Thank you also to Shonda Rhimes, Alison Eakle and the team at Shondaland, my dear friends Kim Osorio and Vanessa Satten, my lil’ sis Se’era Ricks, my forever girl Marisa Mendez, Questlove, Robert Glasper, Vic Mensa, Nina Sky, India Shawn, Jada Gomez, Daniel Sozomenu, Amaiya Davis, B. Dot, Rebstar, JFK, Leah McSweeney, JoJo, Kid Sister, Leandra Williams, Ebro, Peter Rosenberg, Carl Lamarre, Jake Paine, Alvin “Aqua” Blanco, Chuck Creekmur, Jermaine Hall, Jerry Barrow, Big Ced, Jahi Sundance, Dove, Cherry Martinez, Queen D. Scott, Marisa Mendez, Se’era Spragley Ricks, Dan Charnas, Elliott Wilson, Clover Hope, Kierna Mayo, Marisa Bianco, Joe Carozza, Ashley Kalmanowitz, Jason Davis, Jamie Sward, Low Key, Kaz, Soren Baker, J57, Erin and MadeMe, Mary Pryor, FWMJ, D, Sarah Mary Cunningham, Krista Schlueter, Toni and Haus of Swag, Jaime and WKiD Creations, Victoria Hernandez, MC Debbie D, Neil Martinez-Belkin, Marcus J. Moore, Thembisa Mshaka, Adelle Platon, Gary Suarez, Sean Kantrowitz, Eric Diep, Sara Marcus, Andres Tardio, Tai Saint Louis, William Ketchum III, Theola Borden, Ayanna Wilks, Nicole Hajjar, Dana Meyerson, Tracy G, Nadia Ali, Keyaira Boone, Jemeni, Rashaun Hall, Cassandra Spangler, Karissa Kindy, Jamal Jimoh, Gabby Rosenthal, Mecca, Roberta Magrini, Trent Clark, Tommy Cherian, Michelle McDevitt, Lydia Kanuga, Kierra Felton, Kristin Somin, Amanda Zimmerman, Chantz Brewer, Vanderslice, Laura (my bae-bor and London), Kiara, Nuri, Ginetta, Alissa, Caca (Lorena), Dita, Russ, Pri, Dunny (Lauren), Jasmine (My Jazzy), Jay, Sally, Huron, and all of my other friends and colleagues. Sorry if I’ve missed anyone.
To Indie, my dogter, who can now bark all the words to every Aaliyah song. You still sound better than me.
To everyone who reads this book, it’s like Aaliyah said: “You have to love what you do to want to do it every day.” Thank you for making that possible by reading.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathy Iandoli is a critically acclaimed journalist and author. Her work has appeared in Billboard, The Guardian, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Playboy, PAPER, Teen Vogue, VICE, The Village Voice, Cosmopolitan, and many other outlets. She has held editorial positions at top hip-hop/urban websites, including AllHipHop.com, HipHopDX.com, and BET.com. In 2019, she released the book God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop through Dey Street Books / HarperCollins. Iandoli is an alumna-in-residence of Music Business at New York University and has appeared across the media, in television and on radio and panels discussing hip-hop and gender. She lives in the New York metropolitan area.
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www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Kathy-Iandoli
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ALSO BY KATHY IANDOLI
God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
VIDEO
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“ ‘Cannon’s Class’ ” ft. Dame Dash.” YouTube video, 1:11:14. “Nick Cannon,” January 10, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8iV4ZaSFjE&t=3200s
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“Farrakhan Warned R. Kelly about His Former Manager Barry Hankerson.” YouTube video, 18:13. “Prima Donna,” October 23, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRznW1jr1mQ
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RECORDING
Aaliyah: Open-Ended Interview. Jive Records, 1994. Compact disc.
FILM
Bellis, Nigel, and Astral Finnie. Surviving R. Kelly. Aired on Lifetime. Kreativ Inc. Bunim/Murray Productions, 2019.
Bellis, Nigel, and Astral Finnie. Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning. Aired on Lifetime. Kreativ Inc. Bunim/Murray Productions, 2020.
BOOKS
Brackett, Nathan, and Christian Hoard (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Fireside Books, 2004.
DeRogatis, Jim. Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2019.
Farley, Christopher John. Aaliyah: More than a Woman. New York: MTV Books, 2002.
Footman, Tim. Aaliyah. Medford, NJ: Plexus, 2003.
Iandoli, Kathy. God Save the Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop. New York: Dey Street Books, 2019.
Smith, Demetrius. The Man Behind the Man: Looking from the Inside Out. Bloomington, IN: Xlibris, 2011.
Timbaland and Veronica Chambers. The Emperor of Sound: A Memoir. New York: Amistad, 2016.
VIBE Magazine. Hip-Hop Divas. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2001.
Warner, Jennifer. Aaliyah: A Biography. BookCaps Study Guides, 2014.
DIGITAL AND PRINT ARTICLES
“Aaliyah: Angel So Fly.” TheF
ADER.com, August 25, 2011: https://www.thefader.com/2011/08/25/aaliyah-angel-so-fly-2
“Aaliyah Concert Setlists & Tour Dates.” Setlist.fm, n.d.: https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/aaliyah-2bd69c16.html
“Aaliyah Dana Haughton—Facts.” Its_All_About_Howie.Tripod.com, n.d.: http://its_all_bout_howie.tripod.com/aaliyah/id1.html
“Aaliyah Hits Find Home with Apple Music—Illegally.” JetMag.com, January 12, 2017: https://www.jetmag.com/entertainment/aaliyah-compilation-apple-music
“Aaliyah Likes the Way Virgin Puts Out.” HitsDailyDouble.com, May 5, 2000: https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=273432&title+AALIYAH-LIKES-THE-WAY-VIRGIN-PUTS-OUT
“Aaliyah Often Had Her Left Eye Covered, under the Advice of Her Mother.” CapitalXtra.com, n.d.: https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/lists/aaliyah-facts/no-family-on-rock-the-boat-video-shoot
“Aaliyah Plane Was Overloaded by Hundreds of Pounds.” CNN.com, August 31, 2001: https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/americas/08/30/aaliyah.crash
“Aaliyah, R. Kelly Named in Copyright Lawsuit.” MTV.com, May 7, 1997: http://www.mtv.com/news/1424665/aaliyah-r-kelly-named-in-copyright-lawsuit
“Aaliyah, Usher & Others for Tommy Hilfiger.” LipstickAlley.com, April 20, 2014: https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/aaliyah-usher-others-for-tommy-hilfiger.690691
“Aaliyah’s Mom Is Not Here for ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Docuseries by @robinrazzi.” Whur.com, January 3, 2019: https://whur.com/entertainment/whats-the-tea-wrazzi/aaliyahs-mom-speaks-out-against-surviving-r-kelly-docuseries
ABC News. “Aaliyah Stars in ‘Queen of the Damned.’ ” ABCNews.com, February 22, 2002: https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101275&page=1
Alexander, Brenda. “Aaliyah’s Brother Shares Behind-the-Scenes Video of Her Tommy Hilfiger Campaign.” Cheatsheet.com, June 30, 2020: https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/aaliyahs-brother-shares-behind-the-scenes-video-of-her-tommy-hilfiger-campaign.html
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