As fans celebrated the life and music of singer-actress Aaliyah on the anniversary of her death on Aug. 25, 2001, celebrities began to pour out stories of their memories of the late singer. One such account came from fellow 90’s R&B star Brandy, who spoke with Billboard’s The Juice about the significance of her long-term friendship with Aaliyah.
In the interview, Brandy spoke of her first encounter with the enigmatic singer and revealed that she was a source of inspiration for both her and fellow R&B teen star Monica.
“I met Aaliyah when I was about 15. It was, I think, at a rehearsal for the Soul Train Awards and someone introduced us,” said Brandy. “I was so excited to meet her, because she was the first girl on the scene. She came out before Monica and I did, she was our inspiration. At the time, record companies did not believe in kid acts, and it was just inspiring to see someone that was winning — and winning being themselves. When I met her I embraced her, I was so happy to meet her. I told her how much I loved her. She said the same thing about me and we connected. It was a great moment — I’ll never forget.”
As Brandy explains, the two quickly became close friends and the Never Say Never singer recalls that, despite the media’s efforts to make the two enemies, she and Aaliyah remained strongly supportive of each other.
“We performed at a radio event together. I remember going on before her and I could see her in a section where they kept the artists … she was just bobbing her head [and] really being supportive,” explained Brandy. “It felt like [there] was no competition, or any of that. She was just very, very supportive. Then when she got on to perform, the entire place was singing her songs word for word, and so I was I. I was trying to sing louder than everybody else so she could hear that I knew her stuff and that I was being just as supportive as she was to me.”
During her friendship with Aaliyah, Brandy explains that she learned to admire her friend’s quiet charm and her fearless sense of individuality.
“She wasn’t boastful. She was humble and unique. She wasn’t afraid to express her individuality,” said Brandy. “That’s what I learned from her. What you saw was real. There wasn’t anything put on and anything fake about Aaliyah. That’s what I loved about her. I have every one of her albums, and I know the words to all of her songs. It’s just unfortunate that she’s not here with us physically. She will live on forever.”
According to Brandy, Aaliyah’s impact will be felt for many years to come, and if she was here today, she would be a force to reckon with in the entertainment industry.
“Honestly, I think she would be one of the biggest influences right now, because she wasn’t afraid to be herself. She was so multi-talented. I don’t think we experienced everything that she was going to become. [Also] I think a lot of people would be in trouble right now if she were still here,” said Brandy. “It definitely would be different, because she started it all. She started it all for my generation, and she will forever be an inspiration for me. Forever. I’m shaken up just talking about her.
“She will forever be an inspiration to me. I love her and want to send love and positive energy out to her family and fans that love her,” adds Brandy. – nicholas robinson
