A hip-hop journalist looks back at the life and legacy of Aaliyah, who by the time she tragically died at 22 had hit records, acclaimed acting roles, fame that was just about to cross over into superstardom and a then-misunderstood relationship with R. Kelly that strained her career.
... a heartfelt love letter to Aaliyah ... The engaging narrative follows the life of Aaliyah Dana Haughton ... Drawing on interviews and primary sources, Iandoli sensitively details how Aaliyah was abused by R. Kelly, her former mentor and producer ... The well-written, fast-paced chapters come alive when recounting Aaliyah's efforts to find producers for her second album ... The author also carefully traces the last day of Aaliyah's life, when she and members of her crew died in a plane crash in the Bahamas ... Combining the passion of a longtime admirer with the investigative skills of a journalist, Iandoli pays homage to Aaliyah with a work that will delight fans.
... this book is written for all readers: fans will cherish it, and those who haven’t heard of Aaliyah will be fans by the end of it. Iandoli chronicles Aaliyah’s incredible contributions to the music, fashion, and film industries, but doesn’t shy away from covering the sexual abuse she experienced or the troubling circumstances surrounding her death. She also includes letters from fans that serve as an uplifting, gorgeous tribute.
The short yet remarkable life of 'R&B princess' Aaliyah is paid a moving tribute in this dazzling biography ... Weaving together exclusive interviews and in-depth research, Iandoli succeeds in vividly capturing the artist ... Iandoli writes how fans 'new and old... are keeping her legacy alive.' In highlighting her influential career, this promises to do the same.
