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Aaliyah’s discography on its way to streaming services
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Photo: Redferns
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Aaliyah’s discography on its way to streaming services
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Aaliyah’s albums will drop in chronological order starting Aug. 20.

Rumors that Aaliyah’s discography will be making its way to streaming services have been confirmed. On Thursday (Aug. 5), Barry Hankerson — Aaliyah’s uncle and owner of her masters — announced that her music will be available to stream this month. Spotify and TIDAL later disclosed that the singer’s catalog will be featured on their respective platforms.

Per USA Today, Aaliyah’s debut project, One in a Million is set to drop on Aug. 20. Her self-titled album will come out on Sept. 10, and her final record, I Care 4 U will be available on Oct. 8. The news comes after multiple teases of her catalog’s debut on streaming services, which was delayed due to conflicts with Aaliyah’s estate.

“There was a conversation we (Diane Haughton, Aaliyah’s mother) had that didn’t want the music out, and whatever my sister told me, I tried to do what she wanted me to do,” Hankerson explained during a recent interview with Billboard. “As a parent, I would understand if she did not want the music out. Because who wants to hear the voice of your daughter who’s gone? So when she said that to me, I said, ‘OK, we’re not putting it out. I don’t know when, but one day we will.’”

On Wednesday night (Aug. 4), prior to Hankerson’s official announcement, the verified Instagram account for his Blackground Records 2.0 label promoted the website AaliyahIsComing.com alongside the hashtag #AaliyahIsComing. Fans immediately celebrated the good news, but Aaliyah’s estate denounced the project and clarified their separation from it.

“Protecting Aaliyah’s legacy is, and will always be, our focus,” the estate wrote in a statement. “For 20 years we have battled behind the scenes, enduring shadowy tactics of deception with unauthorized projects targeted to tarnish. We have always been confused as to why there is such a tenacity in causing more pain alongside what we already have to cope with for the rest of our lives.”

It continued, “Although we will continue to defend ourselves and her legacy lawful and justly, we want to preempt the inevitable attacks on our character by all the individuals who have emerged from the shadows to leech off of Aaliyah’s life’s work.”