The long-awaited streaming release of Aaliyah’s 1996 album One in a million has arrived today, as promised by the Blackground Records label earlier this month. The launch is highlighted in a dispute between Barry Hankerson of Blackground, Aaliyah’s uncle and former owner-owner of his owners, and Aaliyah Haughton’s estate.
“Aaliyah’s heritage has always been ready to share Aaliyah’s musical legacy, but it has been met with a dispute and a lack of transparency,” said Paul LiCalsi, the estate’s lawyer, earlier this year. month. “For almost 20 years, Blackground has not been accountable to the estate on a regular basis in accordance with its recording contracts. In addition, the estate was not informed of the imminent publication of the catalog until the agreement was completed and the plans were set. The Estate has demanded that Blackground provide a full account of its past revenue and disclose the terms of its new agreement to distribute Aaliyah’s long embargoed music. “
Blackground stated Billboard that a royalty payment was made to the estate earlier this year. “The estate will receive everything it is entitled to receive under the terms of our agreement. Blackground has shared our deployment plans with farm representatives and given them the opportunity to participate and provide input and the farm has chosen not to do so. ”
One in a million has numerous collaborations with Missy Elliott and Timbaland, as well as contributions from Slick Rick, Jermaine Dupri and Treach. It includes “One in a Million”, the single written by Diane Warren “The One I Gave My Heart To”, “If Your Girl Only Knew” and “Hot Like Fire”.
Aaliyah died in a 2001 plane crash at the age of 22. So far, Aaliyah’s only album officially available on streaming services was her 1994 debut Age is nothing more than a number.
Read “Aaliyah, Britney and the Commodification of an Artist’s Legacy.”