An American recording artist, actress and model. At the age of 12, she signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records. Hankerson introduced her to R. Kelly, who became her mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer. After facing allegations of an illegal marriage with Kelly, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records. In 2000, she appeared in her first major film, Romeo Must Die and subsequently filmed her part in Queen of the Damned.

In 2001, Aaliyah and eight others were killed in an airplane crash in the Bahamas.