♪
>>> AALIYAH.
>> I THINK SHE MADE MUSIC THAT WAS FOUNDATIONAL FOR A LOT OF
WAS FOUNDATIONAL FOR A LOT OF
ARTISTS WHO ARE TOP OF THE
CHARTS RIGHT NOW. >> Jason: AALIYAH, 20 YEARS
>> Jason: AALIYAH, 20 YEARS
AFTER HER DEATH, WE CELEBRATE
THE DETROIT-RAISED.
>> A LITTLE GIRL WE KNEW OFF OF
7 MILE IN DETROIT. >> Jason: AALIYAH, A LOOK BACK
>> Jason: AALIYAH, A LOOK BACK
AT HER LIFE AND HER LEGACY.
>> Karen: AALIYAH WAS JUST 22 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE AND 8 OTHERS
YEARS OLD WHEN SHE AND 8 OTHERS
DIED IN A TWIN-ENGINE PLANE
CRASH ON THEIR WAY TO THE
BAHAMAS FOR A VIDEO SHOOT. >> Jason: IT WAS SHOCKING THEN
>> Jason: IT WAS SHOCKING THEN
AND SHOCKING NOW.
AALIYAH WAS AN ACTRESS, A MODEL,
A FASHION TRENDSETTER, A GIRL
FROM DETROIT WHO WAS SHAPING THE
MUSIC INDUSTRY AND SO MUCH MORE.
>> Karen: TONIGHT, WE BEGIN OUR
COVERAGE WITH HOW THE CITY OF DETROIT SHAPED THIS R&B ICON.
DETROIT SHAPED THIS R&B ICON.
♪
>> Karen: DETROIT IS A BREEDING
GROUND FOR MUSICIANS.
>> IF YOU CAN MAKE IT IN
DETROIT, YOU CAN MAKE IT
ANYWHERE. ♪[SINGING]♪
>> ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS IN
DETROIT, THEY WANT TO BE LIKE
AALIYAH.
>> Karen: THE CITY WHERE SHE WAS
RAISED, IN THIS HOME ON THE CITY’S WEST SIDE.
CITY’S WEST SIDE.
>> SHE WOULD COME OVER TO UNCLE
BARRY’S HOUSE AND PLAY THE PIANO AND SIT AROUND, SO SHE’S ALWAYS
AND SIT AROUND, SO SHE’S ALWAYS
CALLED ME UNCLE MARVIN.
>> Karen: SHE WAS BORN INTO A
MUSICAL FAMILY.
HER UNCLE BARRY HANKERSON WAS A
RECORD PRODUCER AND MANAGER
MARRIED TO GLADYS KNIGHT FOR A
TIME PERIOD.
>> AS SHE GREW, I WAS SO PROUD. >> Karen: AT 10 YEARS OLD, SHE
>> Karen: AT 10 YEARS OLD, SHE
PERFORMED "MY FUNNY VALENTINE"
ON STAR SEARCH, A NATIONAL
COMPETITION SHE WOULD NOT WIN, BUT THAT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE
BUT THAT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE
YOUNG PERFORMER.
>> A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN HER
VIDEOS, I TAUGHT HER. I’M PRODUCE TO SAY THAT.
I’M PRODUCE TO SAY THAT.
>> Karen: DID YOU KNOW SHE WAS
GOING TO BE BIG?
>> I HAD THAT FEELING.
JE NE SAIS QUOI, THAT STAR
QUALITY.
>> Karen: THE THEATER NAMED
AFTER THE FAMOUS STUDENT AND THE
ARTWORK THAT FLANKS THE SCHOOL
HALLWAYS HONORS THE DETROITER.
>> THEY KNOW THIS IS THE SCHOOL
WHERE AALIYAH WENT AND LEARNED
HER CRAFT AND EMERGED THE STAR
THAT SHE IS.
>> Karen: TUNE-UP MAN FROM THE
BOUNCE REMEMBERS HER WHEN SHE
WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND VISITED
HIS RADIO STUDIO PROMOTING HER MUSIC.
>> SHE WAS SO POLISHED AND
PROFESSIONAL.
>> Karen: HE STILL HAS THE PHOTO
SHE AUTOGRAPHED FOR HIM. >> KEEP PLAYING MY SONGS!
>> KEEP PLAYING MY SONGS!
>> AALIYAH DID A COUPLE OF
THINGS REALLY WELL.
ONE IS THAT SHE COMBINED THIS INNOCENCE WITH THIS SULTRINESS.
INNOCENCE WITH THIS SULTRINESS.
AND THE PACKAGING TOGETHER
WORKED.
>> Karen: KELLY CARTER IS THE
SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER AT THE UNDEFEATED AND A FREE PRESS
THE UNDEFEATED AND A FREE PRESS
REPORTER WHEN AALIYAH WAS MAKING
HER MARK.
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A
YOUNG TEEN GIRL WITH THIS REALLY HOT SONG WHO IS FROM DETROIT.
HOT SONG WHO IS FROM DETROIT.
>> IT IS YOUR BOY TO BUSH --
>> Karen: BUSHMAN REMEMBERS HER
VISIT TO THE STUDIO.
>> THAT’S WHEN SHE HAD THE BIG JERSEY.
>> Karen: SHE WAS A TRENDSETTER. >> THEY CALL IT SWAG.
>> THEY CALL IT SWAG.
>> HER PERSONA WAS MORE
TOMBOYISH BUT SHE WAS DEFINITELY
A GIRLY-GIRL.
>> SHE WAS VERY YOUNG, VERY
MATURE, VERY READY FOR HER
STARDOM.
>> HER VOICE WAS PURE.
I WOULD SAY SHE’S AN ANGEL.
>> Karen: MARCUS WAS PART OF HER
FIRST TOUR. >> SHE TACKLED THE STAGE LIKE
>> SHE TACKLED THE STAGE LIKE
SHE HAD BEEN DOING IT FOR 20
YEARS.
>> Karen: THERE’S NO QUESTION,
SHE IMPACTED AND INFLUENCED THE
SOUND FOR FUTURE ARTISTS. >> WHEN MISSY ELLIOTT PERFORMS,
>> WHEN MISSY ELLIOTT PERFORMS,
YOU CAN STILL SEE SOME AALIYAH
IN THAT PERFORMANCE.
>> IT’S DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT
HER RIGHT NOW AND NOT TALK ABOUT
R. KELLY. >> Karen: AS THE TRIAL AGAINST
>> Karen: AS THE TRIAL AGAINST
R. KELLY BEGINS THIS MONTH, MOST
DISCUSSIONS OF HIS ABUSE START
WITH HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH
AALIYAH WHEN SHE WAS 15 YEARS OLD.
>> I THINK INNOCENCE BEING
STOLEN IS ONE OF THE MOST POUR
RISK THINGS. >> Karen: SHE WOULD BREAK FREE
>> Karen: SHE WOULD BREAK FREE
FROM R. KELLY AND COLLECTING AN
ISSUE OF AWARDS ALONG THE WAY.
SHE BROKE INTO MOVIES.
BUT BEFORE ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD PROJECT, THERE WOULD BE A MUSIC
PROJECT, THERE WOULD BE A MUSIC
VIDEO TO RECORD, AND A TRIP TO
THE BAHAMAS.
AALIYAH HAS BEEN MAKING HEADLINES THIS MONTH.
HEADLINES THIS MONTH.
JUST LAST WEEK, HER SOPHOMORE
ALBUM HIT STREAMING SERVICES AND
APPEARS TO NOT HAVE THE APPROVAL
OF HER ESTATE. HER NAME BROUGHT UP IN COURT
HER NAME BROUGHT UP IN COURT
LAST WEEK DURING THE CRIMINAL
TRIAL AGAINST R. KELLY WHERE AN EX-MARRIAGE TESTIFIED ABOUT A
EX-MARRIAGE TESTIFIED ABOUT A
MARRIAGE SCHEME WAS HAPPENED TO
COVER UP A PREGNANCY OF AALIYAH.
WE TAKE YOU TO THE BAHAMAS AND DIG DEEP NEAR THAT FATAL PLANE
DIG DEEP NEAR THAT FATAL PLANE