No one has picked up the mantle
Beyonce is more of an all-around pop artist; and Rihanna’s brand of pop emphasizes more edgy, hard-dance influences. TLC disbanded shortly after Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died just months following Aaliyah. Mary J. Blige has become more of a middle-of-the-road adult contemporary artist. There really isn’t a “hip-hop soul” superstar today that echoes Aaliyah. Everyone that attempted to, (from Tweet to Ashanti to Ciara), has fallen out of the spotlight. Part of the reason she’s still so beloved is because no one has taken her place. And because the world is forever left to wonder what else she might have done.
