Album Review: One In a Million by Aaliyah
One of the most essential albums in the history of R&B, 'One In a Million' redefined the genre in the 1990s and established Aaliyah as a legend in the industry.
Taken from Phil’s defunct blog, The Wax Report, an extensive review of the most important albums, covering everything from production to lyricism and overall cohesiveness.
In the 1990s, with the presence of artists such as Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, and Boyz II Men, the North American R&B scene gained more strength year after year. There were strong influences from soul and gospel, inherited from the previous decade, which made the projects released during this period much more vocal and melodic and, at times, less danceable and irreverent. Committed to bringing the genre closer to its roots in the American ghettos and resuming its partnership with rap and hip-hop—which were constantly growing at the time, Aaliyah made her debut in 1994 with the acclaimed and controversial Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number. From then on, the young star was increasingly closer to becoming one of music’s biggest legends. At the age of 17, in 1996, the artist established herself as the biggest promise for the next decade and released her game-changer, One In a Million.
The years leading up to her second studio album were filled with major career achievements and personal troubles: Aaliyah faced a media scandal over her controversial relationship with R. Kelly, switching labels, a world tour, and the sudden rise of a teenager. The numbers on her first album were great for a newcomer, and her success could not be interrupted by personal turmoil. In 1995, she was invited to participate in the track “I Need You Tonight” by the group Junior MAFIA, composed of rappers such as Lil’ Kim and Biggie, which boosted her popularity in the hip-hop/rap world.
To work on her next LP, the artist chose two aspiring composers and producers, who, at the time, were not well known to the public: Timbaland and Missy Elliott. Together, the trio is remembered as one of the greatest partnerships in the history of music, especially in the history of contemporary R&B. The project, in general, also encompasses elements of funk, soul, and pop—and features collaborations with Slick Rick, Treach, and Tavarius Polk, as well as collaborators Rodney Jerkins, Carl-So-Lowe, Vincent Herbert, Jermaine Dupri, and more.
One In a Million is remembered and celebrated to this day for using memorable and innovative resources for the time: the classic instrumental of the title track, for example, is commonly reproduced and referenced by several artists of the genre; “Choosey Lover,” the sixth track on the project, is a cover of a song by the group The Isley Brothers, where Aaliyah uses its original configuration and adds a remixed section, faster and inspired by the hip-hop movement; among other aspects. Another re-recording on the album is “Got to Give It Up,” in partnership with Slick Rick, originally by Marvin Gaye. All tracks, in a way, follow the same pattern of arrangements and instrumental composition, but they don’t sound repetitive. From the slowest to the fastest, the constancy and coherence of the project make it very engaging and iconic.
The songs “If Your Girl Only Knew,” “Got to Give It Up,” “Giving You More,” and “4 Page Letter,” in addition to the title track, are the ones that best represent the album, whether due to the engaging beats or by the singer’s soft and persuasive vocals. Even during the weakest songs, like “Never Givin’ Up,” in partnership with Tavarius Polk, the album remains firm and never becomes tiring or boring. On the contrary—throughout the repertoire, it is possible to recognize the various striking elements that influenced subsequent generations in R&B. Furthermore, several tracks on the album have already been used as samples, interpolations or have been re-recorded in songs by Drake, Kendrick Lamar, JAY-Z, Nipsey Hussle, The xx, and among other artists.
Of all the songs on the project, the one that stands out the most is definitely “One In a Million.” The striking combination of the singer’s soft vocals, the construction of a powerful and fluid instrumental, and the composition of the duo Timbaland and Missy Elliott are elements that transformed the track into one of the most relevant in the artist’s discography and, certainly, marked the history of contemporary R&B.
The impact of One In a Million within the industry is greater than one might imagine. Perhaps the most significant is the launch of Timbaland and Missy Elliott into the recording world, who went on to become acclaimed producers and composers, working in different genres. Furthermore, artists from different generations of R&B have already shown direct influences from Aaliyah’s work in their careers: Beyoncé, Brandy, Kehlani, Ciara, FLO, Frank Ocean, Rihanna, and so many to count.
The effects provided by the artist and her work went beyond music, influencing the fields of fashion, music video production, and urban aesthetics—where the singer is mentioned as one of the precursors of the “streetwear” movement, which gained significant visibility after the artist’s first album, in 1994. Furthermore, following a contract with the Tommy Hilfiger brand established in 1995, the artist is referred to as the main figure of the “tomboy” style among the female public.
Within her own career, the project symbolizes the maturation of the 15-year-old girl who debuted in 1994: her lyrics became more honest and grew along with her mentality, although there are rare records of compositions signed by her. Her visual style became a little more sober, and the media started to respect her as a legend in development, but without stardom on her part. It is a fact to say that this was the work that consolidated the artist as an eternal icon in music, and also brought to the R&B/hip-hop industry sound elements that became characteristic of the genres.
From the photoshoots to the music videos, the One In a Million era was remarkable until its last second. Not only did it expand the artist’s horizons within the industry, but it also paved the way for what would become her most ambitious and adult album. Between 1996 and 2000, Aaliyah starred in films, such as the classic Romeo Must Die (2000), and participated in notable soundtracks, such as Anastasia, which earned her a performance at the 1998 Oscar, and Dr. Dolittle, where she released one of her most acclaimed and remembered songs today—“Are You That Somebody?” with Timbaland. Romeo Must Die also generated one of her biggest hits: “Try Again”. Both songs were included on the singer’s self-titled album, released in 2001.
Still in 2001, about a month after the release of her self-titled album, the third of her career, Aaliyah’s brilliant trajectory was interrupted by a fatal accident. Her legacy is visible to this day—whether in music, fashion, dance, or even cinema. More than 20 years after her passing, we can still understand that she was definitely one in a million.
Standout (★★★★½)
Favorite Track(s): “One In a Million,” “A Girl Like You,” “Choosey Lover” “The One I Gave My Heart To”