The first posthumous album by Aaliyah, since her death more than 20 years ago, is scheduled for release in January and a faction of her fanbase is far from impressed with the guest appearances.
Aaliyah gets first posthumous album in 2022
The late musician’s estate capped off 2021 with the release of her first official single in more than 15 years. Poison, featuring The Weeknd, came as an introduction of Aaliyah to the world of streaming.
For the first time ever, fans could delve into the late singer’s catalogue, a move orchestrated by her record label Blackground Records and founder Barry Hankerson.
“I wanted her adoring fans to get a special gift before the holidays and felt it was the perfect time to release a never-before-heard offering,” Hankerson said.
Despite the furore from Aaliyah’s estate that followed the release of Poison, it seems plans are in place to move ahead with the posthumous album which, at this juncture, remains without an official release date.
Fans react to the feature list
Speaking in an interview with Star 99.7’s Geno Jones, Hankerson was careful to not reveal too many details around the new album, only letting it slip that it will be titled Unstoppable.
“That will be out in January,” he teased.
Perhaps, the part of the interview that left a bitter taste in the mouths of a faction of the late star’s fans was the feature list expected on the album. According to the record label owner, Unstoppable will feature guest appearances from Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, Future, Ne-Yo and Drake.
Suffice it to say, this was far from pleasant news from a number of Aaliyah fans who took to social media to share their disgruntlements:
This is disgusting, having actual abusers on a victim of abuse album, who is DEAD and can’t advocate for herself! This is actually rancid https://t.co/s4au92Of2P
— Charlotte Bayes (@CharlotteBHC) January 5, 2022
i don't quite have the words to sum up how i feel about this. but that uncle facilitating her abuse in life and then pairing her image and music with abusers from the modern era for profit… it's so dark. https://t.co/Bgyb1stzVF
— araminta's sh0tgun (@LordeBarrington) January 5, 2022
It is interesting (?) how to musicians like Chris Brown, Future and Drake, who are surrounded with varying degrees of accusations of the mistreatment of women, Aaliyah has become their passive, perfect Virgin Mary & they in turn have been allowed unfettered access to her legacy https://t.co/fghSfuHONs
— Moya Lothian-Mclean (@mlothianmclean) January 5, 2022
… I just really don’t find it okay for Aaliyah to be aligned with misogynists/abusers. It’s sickening + a slap in the face to her legacy. https://t.co/JN9SQDbqOp
— 𝕮𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖙 𝕶𝖎𝖒 💥 (@TheCourtKim) January 5, 2022
If it doesn’t include @MissyElliott or @Timbaland my interest level is a bold ZERO. #aaliyah #oneinamillion https://t.co/2XCP7wN0QC
— Jasmine “Been Hygenic” B (@JazzyEstates) January 5, 2022