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Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah
In a definitive and “ excellent homage to a star who left this planet too soon” (Questlove), the life, career, tragic death, and evolution of Aaliyah into a music legend are explored—featuring in-depth research and exclusive interviews.
By twenty-two years old, Aaliyah had already accomplished a staggering hit records, acclaimed acting roles, and fame that was just about to cross over into superstardom. Like her song, she was already “more than a woman” but her shocking death in a plane crash prevented her from fully growing into one.
Now, two decades later, the full story of Aaliyah’s life and cultural impact is finally and lovingly revealed. Baby Girl features never-before-told stories, including studio anecdotes, personal tales, and eyewitness accounts on the events leading up to her untimely passing. Her enduring influence on today’s artists—such as Rihanna, Drake, Normani, and many more—is also celebrated, providing Aaliyah’s discography a cultural critique that is long overdue.
“There’s no better way to pay your respect to R&B’s true angel than to lose yourself in the pages” (Kim Osorio, journalist and author of Straight from the Source ) of this “dazzling biography” ( Publishers Weekly ) that is as unforgettable as its subject.
This book was written without the participation of Aaliyah’s family/estate.
By twenty-two years old, Aaliyah had already accomplished a staggering hit records, acclaimed acting roles, and fame that was just about to cross over into superstardom. Like her song, she was already “more than a woman” but her shocking death in a plane crash prevented her from fully growing into one.
Now, two decades later, the full story of Aaliyah’s life and cultural impact is finally and lovingly revealed. Baby Girl features never-before-told stories, including studio anecdotes, personal tales, and eyewitness accounts on the events leading up to her untimely passing. Her enduring influence on today’s artists—such as Rihanna, Drake, Normani, and many more—is also celebrated, providing Aaliyah’s discography a cultural critique that is long overdue.
“There’s no better way to pay your respect to R&B’s true angel than to lose yourself in the pages” (Kim Osorio, journalist and author of Straight from the Source ) of this “dazzling biography” ( Publishers Weekly ) that is as unforgettable as its subject.
This book was written without the participation of Aaliyah’s family/estate.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published August 17, 2021
79 people are currently reading
743 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
September 8, 2021
First let me start by saying R.I.P. Aaliyah, you were one of a kind and deeply missed🙏🏽💔.
⠀
I have mixed emotions about this book. It was an emotional roller coaster for sure. The first 60 pages made me angry because there was way too much talk of R. Kelly. I understand Aaliyah’s career began with R. Kelly and being that the book is written in chronological order, the R. Kelly situation came first in her musical career. However, Aaliyah’s life didn’t start with R. Kelly. Her career may have, but her life didn’t! Therefore, why not start from the real beginning, when she was born? Starting her life story at the darkest moment in her life is equivalent to starting black history with slavery. We were kings and queens first! That part should never be left out! Aaliyah was a queen before R. Kelly. He was not her beginning!
⠀
Next, I felt boredom. By the middle of the book, Iandoli went into great detail about the making of Aaliyah’s music, image and her accomplishments. I found this part of the book monotonous as it was filled with musical stats, information about who wrote what song, and who produced what track. For me this was boring because I already knew 95% of the information. I watched it all unfold as it happened throughout Aaliyah’s career. I didn’t need the recap.
⠀
Then came Chapter 10 “Things Fall Apart”page 155, and the narrative got extremely heavy. Here I experienced deep sadness. It was during these pages the author went into great and very disturbing detail about the tragic flight that took Aaliyah’s life. This part broke my heart all over again. There was a lot that I didn’t know regarding the whole situation. It was all very disturbing.
⠀
Another story that broke my heart was learning that music producer Stephen “Static Major” Garrett had passed. This was something I did not know, more depressing news.
⠀
The book ended with letters written to Aaliyah from fans. And photographers accounts of their final shoots with Aaliyah. These chapters were a little more mellow. Therefore, my mood pick up just a little.
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Overall I give this biography 2 1/2 ⭐️s. I believe this book is for the new Aaliyah fan. If you weren’t around when Aaliyah was at the top of the charts, and you weren’t blessed to see Aaliyah take the world by storm, then this book may be for you. Simply because, it is a comprehensive account of Aaliyah’s musical journey and accomplishments.
But for a day one Aaliyah fan like me, someone that watched Aaliyah and followed her career, this book just didn’t sit right with my spirit. There was not one person that was close to Aaliyah involved with this project. What was discussed stirred up too many unpleasant emotions. I know it’s meant to be a “love letter” from the author. But it read more like a Wikipedia. An editorial for the masses. This was a cold, heavy journey. I’m glad it’s over.
⠀
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I have mixed emotions about this book. It was an emotional roller coaster for sure. The first 60 pages made me angry because there was way too much talk of R. Kelly. I understand Aaliyah’s career began with R. Kelly and being that the book is written in chronological order, the R. Kelly situation came first in her musical career. However, Aaliyah’s life didn’t start with R. Kelly. Her career may have, but her life didn’t! Therefore, why not start from the real beginning, when she was born? Starting her life story at the darkest moment in her life is equivalent to starting black history with slavery. We were kings and queens first! That part should never be left out! Aaliyah was a queen before R. Kelly. He was not her beginning!
⠀
Next, I felt boredom. By the middle of the book, Iandoli went into great detail about the making of Aaliyah’s music, image and her accomplishments. I found this part of the book monotonous as it was filled with musical stats, information about who wrote what song, and who produced what track. For me this was boring because I already knew 95% of the information. I watched it all unfold as it happened throughout Aaliyah’s career. I didn’t need the recap.
⠀
Then came Chapter 10 “Things Fall Apart”page 155, and the narrative got extremely heavy. Here I experienced deep sadness. It was during these pages the author went into great and very disturbing detail about the tragic flight that took Aaliyah’s life. This part broke my heart all over again. There was a lot that I didn’t know regarding the whole situation. It was all very disturbing.
⠀
Another story that broke my heart was learning that music producer Stephen “Static Major” Garrett had passed. This was something I did not know, more depressing news.
⠀
The book ended with letters written to Aaliyah from fans. And photographers accounts of their final shoots with Aaliyah. These chapters were a little more mellow. Therefore, my mood pick up just a little.
⠀
Overall I give this biography 2 1/2 ⭐️s. I believe this book is for the new Aaliyah fan. If you weren’t around when Aaliyah was at the top of the charts, and you weren’t blessed to see Aaliyah take the world by storm, then this book may be for you. Simply because, it is a comprehensive account of Aaliyah’s musical journey and accomplishments.
But for a day one Aaliyah fan like me, someone that watched Aaliyah and followed her career, this book just didn’t sit right with my spirit. There was not one person that was close to Aaliyah involved with this project. What was discussed stirred up too many unpleasant emotions. I know it’s meant to be a “love letter” from the author. But it read more like a Wikipedia. An editorial for the masses. This was a cold, heavy journey. I’m glad it’s over.
⠀
August 20, 2021
4 stars. Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah is an ode, a love letter to the life and legacy of the late Aaliyah and it is beautiful in that regard. It’s very well written and put together. However, and I’m trying very hard not to be “that fan” but because this was written without any assistance or guidance or even the blessing of Aaliyah’s family it comes off almost face value. There’s a lot of quotes from people that had been close to her (and Aaliyah herself) but these are all gathered from various sources that have been out for years so there’s nothing new here if you’ve been a fan like myself.
That’s not to take anything away from this book at all because I think it’s a fantastic read especially if you’re just getting into Aaliyah and are curious about her career and her impact. Iandoli does a wonderful job with that and you can tell this comes from a place of genuine love and care. It’s very cohesive, well written and well researched.
However, if you’re looking for a read that really lets you get to know the enigma that was Aaliyah as a person this isn’t the read for you. You’re better off watching her interviews and piecing it together that way but this was still a great read and I’m sure other Aaliyah fans will enjoy it just as much as I did. It’s a lovely book and while I’m always going to be here for anything that keeps Aaliyah’s legacy out there I’m still holding out hope that one day we will finally get something from her official estate (I’m naive that way) but for what it is this is a beautiful and loving dedication to a talent that was taken away way too soon.
Aaliyah was a huge part of my childhood and I remember the shock of hearing of her passing on that awful August day in 2001. Fourth grader me was absolutely devastated. She’s been gone two decades now but she’s just one of those talents and beauties that you never forget. Her career was short but she left a huge mark. I applaud Iandoli for this passion project and I definitely recommend it. It’s not the definitive story of Aaliyah but it is something.
That’s not to take anything away from this book at all because I think it’s a fantastic read especially if you’re just getting into Aaliyah and are curious about her career and her impact. Iandoli does a wonderful job with that and you can tell this comes from a place of genuine love and care. It’s very cohesive, well written and well researched.
However, if you’re looking for a read that really lets you get to know the enigma that was Aaliyah as a person this isn’t the read for you. You’re better off watching her interviews and piecing it together that way but this was still a great read and I’m sure other Aaliyah fans will enjoy it just as much as I did. It’s a lovely book and while I’m always going to be here for anything that keeps Aaliyah’s legacy out there I’m still holding out hope that one day we will finally get something from her official estate (I’m naive that way) but for what it is this is a beautiful and loving dedication to a talent that was taken away way too soon.
Aaliyah was a huge part of my childhood and I remember the shock of hearing of her passing on that awful August day in 2001. Fourth grader me was absolutely devastated. She’s been gone two decades now but she’s just one of those talents and beauties that you never forget. Her career was short but she left a huge mark. I applaud Iandoli for this passion project and I definitely recommend it. It’s not the definitive story of Aaliyah but it is something.
August 19, 2021
I just finished the book and I’ll give it 2 stars…. I wanted to enjoy it. Honestly, I was looking forward to it. I’m a huge Aaliyah fan.
More and more towards the release date of the book, the writer just gave me a bad vibe. Snakey, desperate, untrustworthy, annoying. This seems like such a cash grab because she knows Aaliyah fans are so starved for content and product. The book is full of information fans already know. And as for the general public, I don’t think they’ll really care about most of it.
As much as Aaliyah is an inspiration to us all and an icon, she was private and reserved. She didn’t let us in and that’s how she liked it. That’s why she was so attracting. She was elusive and mysterious. So, we can only really go by what let us know about. Which wasn’t much at all. Because of this, the book relies heavily on telling the stories of others. R Kelly, Barry Hankerson, Timbaland etc. It seems like a desperate attempt to fill pages. Not to mention the pages and pages of letters from fans. I don’t need 15 year olds telling me how much they miss someone when they weren’t even alive to actually know who she was. It’s dumb. I know many find Aaliyah at different times and she touches people to this day, but it just seemed like a bunch of kids heard they could be in a book so they wrote something really quick in the hopes of seeing their names in print..
Then three chapters talking about photographs. Photographs that aren’t in the effing book Kath! More page filling. The hardcore fans will know the photos she’s referencing but the general public don’t have a clue and you haven’t given them a reference because you obviously can’t afford the rights to the photos. In fact there is only one page in the entire book with pictures. A contact sheet.
Then there’s the long mention of online fan accounts and websites. Obviously a great source for someone who is writing a book, I get it. A quick shout out would have been nice but more page filling occurs with the writer feeling the need to list about ten accounts with information of who runs them, why they started the account/site, and where they come from. Why not give us their hair and eye colour while you’re at it.
I give two stars because I did like reading about the making of the last album(Even though she referenced songs that were only added as bonus tracks three years later so not actual songs from the album).
I liked reading about the politics of it all and the tension with the label and production.
I liked reading about her relationship with static.
I also liked being reminded of the fan forums and Aaliyahs online interaction with her fans via her website. Those were times I cherish.
That’s about it.
It seems obvious that her editors were pushing her, or maybe she was just desperate herself, to find something scandalous about the plane crash. Saying she was drugged. Funnily enough this excerpt leaked to the press two weeks before the books release.. feels very “if you can’t give them something new, make something up”. When there was backlash to this from fans, she posted that there would actually be several viewpoints on what could have happened and that this wasn’t the only version of events she went with. But that was a lie. She’s taken the story as fact and gave no alternative.
Like I said, I was looking forward to this. It was plugged as something that was “from a fan, to the fans” but honestly it doesn’t really seem like she was that big of a fan. The story was told without any heart or real affection.
Now I just wonder what she’s going to do with the money she makes from the book. She’s profiting off of someone’s death. And the book is obviously going to be moderately successful if pre-orders are much to go by. It just doesn’t sit right with me. A portion of the proceeds should go to the memorial fund. If she is that big of a fan. But judging by her Instagram posts, she’s only a big fan of herself.
More and more towards the release date of the book, the writer just gave me a bad vibe. Snakey, desperate, untrustworthy, annoying. This seems like such a cash grab because she knows Aaliyah fans are so starved for content and product. The book is full of information fans already know. And as for the general public, I don’t think they’ll really care about most of it.
As much as Aaliyah is an inspiration to us all and an icon, she was private and reserved. She didn’t let us in and that’s how she liked it. That’s why she was so attracting. She was elusive and mysterious. So, we can only really go by what let us know about. Which wasn’t much at all. Because of this, the book relies heavily on telling the stories of others. R Kelly, Barry Hankerson, Timbaland etc. It seems like a desperate attempt to fill pages. Not to mention the pages and pages of letters from fans. I don’t need 15 year olds telling me how much they miss someone when they weren’t even alive to actually know who she was. It’s dumb. I know many find Aaliyah at different times and she touches people to this day, but it just seemed like a bunch of kids heard they could be in a book so they wrote something really quick in the hopes of seeing their names in print..
Then three chapters talking about photographs. Photographs that aren’t in the effing book Kath! More page filling. The hardcore fans will know the photos she’s referencing but the general public don’t have a clue and you haven’t given them a reference because you obviously can’t afford the rights to the photos. In fact there is only one page in the entire book with pictures. A contact sheet.
Then there’s the long mention of online fan accounts and websites. Obviously a great source for someone who is writing a book, I get it. A quick shout out would have been nice but more page filling occurs with the writer feeling the need to list about ten accounts with information of who runs them, why they started the account/site, and where they come from. Why not give us their hair and eye colour while you’re at it.
I give two stars because I did like reading about the making of the last album(Even though she referenced songs that were only added as bonus tracks three years later so not actual songs from the album).
I liked reading about the politics of it all and the tension with the label and production.
I liked reading about her relationship with static.
I also liked being reminded of the fan forums and Aaliyahs online interaction with her fans via her website. Those were times I cherish.
That’s about it.
It seems obvious that her editors were pushing her, or maybe she was just desperate herself, to find something scandalous about the plane crash. Saying she was drugged. Funnily enough this excerpt leaked to the press two weeks before the books release.. feels very “if you can’t give them something new, make something up”. When there was backlash to this from fans, she posted that there would actually be several viewpoints on what could have happened and that this wasn’t the only version of events she went with. But that was a lie. She’s taken the story as fact and gave no alternative.
Like I said, I was looking forward to this. It was plugged as something that was “from a fan, to the fans” but honestly it doesn’t really seem like she was that big of a fan. The story was told without any heart or real affection.
Now I just wonder what she’s going to do with the money she makes from the book. She’s profiting off of someone’s death. And the book is obviously going to be moderately successful if pre-orders are much to go by. It just doesn’t sit right with me. A portion of the proceeds should go to the memorial fund. If she is that big of a fan. But judging by her Instagram posts, she’s only a big fan of herself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2021
There is something to be said about celebrity memoirs especially when the celebrity tragically passes away. I do have to preface this by stating prior to reading this book I knew very little about Aaliyah except for the most general information that most individuals know. With that being said, I don't think that this book is going to do well amongst true Aaliyah fans. A great portion of the information that Iandoli describes in this book is information that has been accessible for years. There isn't anything that's necessarily new and by default this book will feel like a cash grab; HOWEVER, as someone who knew very little about Aaliyah's life, the relationships she cultivated while being in the music industry, and the battles she faced by entering the industry at such a young age all proved to be an insight to a very thoughtful, caring, creative, and complex human.
Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah also includes some interesting insights to the music industry at large. There is complexity behind how artists are treated by record companies. While everything appears to be glamorous by those on the outside, the reality is strikingly different. Iandoli covers some pretty interesting parts of Aaliyah's life, from the time she spent growing up in Chicago, to her ties with R. Kelly, the time she spent rebuilding her career, and then her rise to stardom. It was great to hear more about her relationship with Timbaland and Missy Elliot. I learned that she was also close to Lil Kim which was new knowledge to me. The technical information about record sales and the production work behind the music was also really interesting for me as a reader, but will most likely cause some individuals to be bored. When Iandoli begins her retelling of the moments leading up to Aaliyah's death and what happened before, during, and after the plane crash, I grew extremely solemn. Learning so much about Aaliyah and the potential that she had as a young artist in the industry made her death feel even more tragic and unfair. In fact, when details were revealed about how she didn't even want to get on the plane, I completely broke down. I was young when Aaliyah died and only become more familiar with her music as I got older. Reading this book definitely gave me more appreciation for her not only as a musician, but as a person. She's one of those people that was destined to make this world a little better with their presence.
One of the biggest criticisms that I have of the text is how Iandoli wove R. Kelly into the narrative. While it's hard to tell all of Aaliyah's story without mentioning him, I do feel like it was a bit unfair to open the book with discussing his grotesque and possible sexual abuse of Aaliyah. While we can't discount this as a part of the narrative, I think that it would have been more appropriate to maybe open the book discussing her accolades then transition into a more linear timeline which would still ultimately include R. Kelly. It's almost as if their relationship was utilized as a way to entice readers and that didn't completely sit well with me.
Overall, this was an interesting perspective into Aaliyah's life. It will be an interesting read for those that don't know much about Aaliyah, but probably won't add anything new to those that do know quite a bit about her life.
Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah also includes some interesting insights to the music industry at large. There is complexity behind how artists are treated by record companies. While everything appears to be glamorous by those on the outside, the reality is strikingly different. Iandoli covers some pretty interesting parts of Aaliyah's life, from the time she spent growing up in Chicago, to her ties with R. Kelly, the time she spent rebuilding her career, and then her rise to stardom. It was great to hear more about her relationship with Timbaland and Missy Elliot. I learned that she was also close to Lil Kim which was new knowledge to me. The technical information about record sales and the production work behind the music was also really interesting for me as a reader, but will most likely cause some individuals to be bored. When Iandoli begins her retelling of the moments leading up to Aaliyah's death and what happened before, during, and after the plane crash, I grew extremely solemn. Learning so much about Aaliyah and the potential that she had as a young artist in the industry made her death feel even more tragic and unfair. In fact, when details were revealed about how she didn't even want to get on the plane, I completely broke down. I was young when Aaliyah died and only become more familiar with her music as I got older. Reading this book definitely gave me more appreciation for her not only as a musician, but as a person. She's one of those people that was destined to make this world a little better with their presence.
One of the biggest criticisms that I have of the text is how Iandoli wove R. Kelly into the narrative. While it's hard to tell all of Aaliyah's story without mentioning him, I do feel like it was a bit unfair to open the book with discussing his grotesque and possible sexual abuse of Aaliyah. While we can't discount this as a part of the narrative, I think that it would have been more appropriate to maybe open the book discussing her accolades then transition into a more linear timeline which would still ultimately include R. Kelly. It's almost as if their relationship was utilized as a way to entice readers and that didn't completely sit well with me.
Overall, this was an interesting perspective into Aaliyah's life. It will be an interesting read for those that don't know much about Aaliyah, but probably won't add anything new to those that do know quite a bit about her life.
March 20, 2022
I know about Aaliyah but was too young to remember her life and legacy. Reading about her was great! If you don’t know her, read this book. If you really really know her, you should skip it because it’ll feel redundant.
Sidebar: Her family wasn’t involved in the making of the book and that wasn’t my favorite thing, otherwise I would’ve given it 4 stars.
Sidebar: Her family wasn’t involved in the making of the book and that wasn’t my favorite thing, otherwise I would’ve given it 4 stars.
April 27, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Simon & Schuster - Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
Being a huge Aaliyah fan I was jumping for joy when I heard this book was being released. I had so many questions about her career, her music, and of course her relationship with R. Kelly that has been on my mind for many years and I wanted to see it from her perspective (even though she is dead) and Kathy Iandoli does a phenomenal job with her passive voice illustrating what Aaliyah would have said if she were writing the book herself. I must say after I finished the book not only were my questions answered and some were tough to read (yes, there were a few heartbreaking moments) but also, I love and respect Aaliyah even more now.
We will consider adding this title to our Biography collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
Being a huge Aaliyah fan I was jumping for joy when I heard this book was being released. I had so many questions about her career, her music, and of course her relationship with R. Kelly that has been on my mind for many years and I wanted to see it from her perspective (even though she is dead) and Kathy Iandoli does a phenomenal job with her passive voice illustrating what Aaliyah would have said if she were writing the book herself. I must say after I finished the book not only were my questions answered and some were tough to read (yes, there were a few heartbreaking moments) but also, I love and respect Aaliyah even more now.
We will consider adding this title to our Biography collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
December 30, 2021
Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah
I Picked Up This Book Because: Had to.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Scribd
Dates Read: 12/1/21 - 12/4/21
Stars: 3 Stars
Narrator(s): Bahni Turpin
The Story:
I had a lot of mixed feelings. A lot of this book didn’t even feel like it was about Aaliyah. What was about her felt uncomfortable because I do not necessarily care for stories people are not telling themselves. It's like we are talking about her with no chance for her to give her input and yes I knew that going in but I didn’t think I’d feel it so strongly.
The Random Thoughts:
I Picked Up This Book Because: Had to.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Scribd
Dates Read: 12/1/21 - 12/4/21
Stars: 3 Stars
Narrator(s): Bahni Turpin
The Story:
I had a lot of mixed feelings. A lot of this book didn’t even feel like it was about Aaliyah. What was about her felt uncomfortable because I do not necessarily care for stories people are not telling themselves. It's like we are talking about her with no chance for her to give her input and yes I knew that going in but I didn’t think I’d feel it so strongly.
The Random Thoughts:
August 24, 2021
Armed with a passion for her subject, publishing pedigree and an extensive bibliography, long-time journalist Kathy Iandoli attempts to tackle the enigma that is Aaliyah.
Almost 20 years ago to the day, the 22-year-old ingénue left us with more questions than answers, as much potential as aura, and just as well, more than anything, timeless music.
If you were to play Try Again or Are You That Somebody, your head will surely bop. If you wanted to slow it down, I Don’t Wanna would certainly put you in the mood.
As I read Iandoli’s love letter to Aaliyah, I remembered, jarred from a slumber only our fallen idols can awaken.
But Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah, is not just for those who were there. It bridges the prickly musical path that often does not allow growth and has crushed many a dream, and at the very least, stalled careers.
Here, Iandoli keeps Aaliyah forever young, forever aspirational, forever growing and forever relevant.
With a style unmatched, a sweet, yet alluring personality and charisma, I’m almost certain Aaliyah would’ve continued to transcend the entertainment business for years to come.
Already an accomplished singer, model, pop star, and actress, Iandoli shows us Aaliyah was becoming all things to all people.
Interestingly enough Iandoli doesn’t shy away from a fight, and faces head-on, the dark spectre that is R. Kelly; while also acknowledging his importance to Aaliyah’s success.
In Baby Girl, we also find the usual suspects: Missy, Timbaland, Static Major, Dame Dash but each is treated fairly and with respect for their shortcomings as well as their strengths and impact.
Iandoli has given us something to hold onto; something tangible, as if all the magazine articles written about Aaliyah, were captured in one book; however, this work is helmed by someone immersed in the culture, and if anything, Aaliyah represented everything that was beautiful about the culture.
Then one day, she flew away and became an angel.
Almost 20 years ago to the day, the 22-year-old ingénue left us with more questions than answers, as much potential as aura, and just as well, more than anything, timeless music.
If you were to play Try Again or Are You That Somebody, your head will surely bop. If you wanted to slow it down, I Don’t Wanna would certainly put you in the mood.
As I read Iandoli’s love letter to Aaliyah, I remembered, jarred from a slumber only our fallen idols can awaken.
But Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah, is not just for those who were there. It bridges the prickly musical path that often does not allow growth and has crushed many a dream, and at the very least, stalled careers.
Here, Iandoli keeps Aaliyah forever young, forever aspirational, forever growing and forever relevant.
With a style unmatched, a sweet, yet alluring personality and charisma, I’m almost certain Aaliyah would’ve continued to transcend the entertainment business for years to come.
Already an accomplished singer, model, pop star, and actress, Iandoli shows us Aaliyah was becoming all things to all people.
Interestingly enough Iandoli doesn’t shy away from a fight, and faces head-on, the dark spectre that is R. Kelly; while also acknowledging his importance to Aaliyah’s success.
In Baby Girl, we also find the usual suspects: Missy, Timbaland, Static Major, Dame Dash but each is treated fairly and with respect for their shortcomings as well as their strengths and impact.
Iandoli has given us something to hold onto; something tangible, as if all the magazine articles written about Aaliyah, were captured in one book; however, this work is helmed by someone immersed in the culture, and if anything, Aaliyah represented everything that was beautiful about the culture.
Then one day, she flew away and became an angel.
Read
August 7, 2023DNF at 50%. Been trying to get through this book for months, having both the audio and physical copies available to me and I can’t have it on my “shelf” any longer. This felt like someone writing a middle school paper on a famous person, going on and on and on in rambling paragraphs that were just not interesting to me. It’s a shame I couldn’t get through just a tiny bit more of the book because a large chunk at the end appears to be a ton of fan mail and photo outros whatever that is, which I would have skimmed through and considered the book finished. I already knew a lot about Aaliyah being a huge fan of her music growing up and crying in bed when I heard the news on the radio the day she died. The R Kelly stuff is difficult, I get it, but this author rubbed me the wrong way immediately by saying she wasn’t going to write about him then writing so much about him. I’m not even saying it shouldn’t have been included but why make me read a long ass intro about how you weren’t going to write about him? I was so bored. Glad Aaliyah is on Spotify now and people can discover or rediscover her by her music rather than this book that really didn’t give anyone new information that isn’t easily googleable.
August 20, 2021
Finished the book in 1 day. Unfortunately, it is not that long because Baby Girl… “better known as Aaliyah” (Timbaland’s voice)… did not live beyond 22 years. Quick and interesting read, but only for the first 100 or so pages. I’m not sure if fans who were here prior to her death will pick this up, as it is a reiteration of most things we already knew about her. This may be more for people who are just now discovering her music within the last few years of her death, as it is now finally becoming available on streaming services.
For the most part, I liked it. Reading about the days leading up to Aaliyah’s passing were difficult. Enjoyed reading about her second and third album recordings, but hated hated hated that R. Kelly’s name and trials were discussed as much as they were when I truly felt they didn’t need to be.
IMO, the fan letter sections could’ve been shortened, glazed over most of it. And I admit to skipping the end chapters about photo shoots, which would’ve been amazing to see if it actually had the photos being discussed? It was a weird section to include without the visuals, also weird for a biography of a celebrity to not include any pictures at all (there was only 1).
And I know this is not the fault of the author, but the book just does not feel complete without testimonials from people who knew Aaliyah, like close friends & family who we all know will never speak on her life as they knew her and hold her memory dear to their hearts. It just feels like the book was written from outside of that bubble, and really all the author could talk about was her career and how certain songs and music videos came to be. This book is entirely about Aaliyah’s career, not necessarily Aaliyah Dana Haughton, the woman.
For the most part, I liked it. Reading about the days leading up to Aaliyah’s passing were difficult. Enjoyed reading about her second and third album recordings, but hated hated hated that R. Kelly’s name and trials were discussed as much as they were when I truly felt they didn’t need to be.
IMO, the fan letter sections could’ve been shortened, glazed over most of it. And I admit to skipping the end chapters about photo shoots, which would’ve been amazing to see if it actually had the photos being discussed? It was a weird section to include without the visuals, also weird for a biography of a celebrity to not include any pictures at all (there was only 1).
And I know this is not the fault of the author, but the book just does not feel complete without testimonials from people who knew Aaliyah, like close friends & family who we all know will never speak on her life as they knew her and hold her memory dear to their hearts. It just feels like the book was written from outside of that bubble, and really all the author could talk about was her career and how certain songs and music videos came to be. This book is entirely about Aaliyah’s career, not necessarily Aaliyah Dana Haughton, the woman.
August 23, 2021
For me this book was a lot of things that I already knew or already assumed. It did give me validation on some of my theories surrounding Aaliyah and her circumstances. I will say that the book heavily, in the beginning focused on Robert Kelly. I think it was at least three chapters of a book that were on Kelly and not really having much to do with Aaliyah. But after that he isn’t really brought up agin, unless it’s in passing. I kind of feel like all the information biography could be found From past interviews with people who are very close with her end her own interviews. It wasn’t as personal as I thought it would be. I would like more stories from Timberland and Missy Elliott, and even Dame Dash. So for that, I just found it a little meh. If you’re a Aaliyah fan or were too young to know her story, then I think this would be a good read.
December 21, 2021
Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah by Kathy Iandoli
Published August 17, 2021
<3 This is some of the best investigative storytelling I have read. I had to pause for a mental health cause when it got to the details of her death. It was heartbreaking to learn of ALL the details. I had to binge watch a few episodes of The Jeffersons to get some much needed comic relief. Listening to this really took me down memory lane. As sad AF as it was in some areas, this is a #MustRead to acquaint, reacquaint yourself with #BabyGirl and some other pivotal times in #HipHop #Rap and R&B culture and history. Moreover, this sister's first book "GOD Save The Queens" will really take you back into time with the recap of Women in music history. <3
In a definitive and "excellent homage to a star who left this planet too soon" (Questlove), the life, career, tragic death, and evolution of Aaliyah into a music legend are explored—featuring in-depth research and exclusive interviews.
By twenty-two years old, Aaliyah had already accomplished a staggering amount: hit records, acclaimed acting roles, and fame that was just about to cross over into superstardom. Like her song, she was already "more than a woman" but her shocking death in a plane crash prevented her from fully growing into one.
Now, two decades later, the full story of Aaliyah's life and cultural impact is finally and lovingly revealed. Baby Girl features never-before-told stories, including studio anecdotes, personal tales, and eyewitness accounts on the events leading up to her untimely passing. Her enduring influence on today's artists—such as Rihanna, Drake, Normani, and many more—is also celebrated, providing Aaliyah's discography a cultural critique that is long overdue.
"There's no better way to pay your respect to R&B's true angel than to lose yourself in the pages" (Kim Osorio, journalist and author of Straight from the Source) of this "dazzling biography" (Publishers Weekly) that is as unforgettable as its subject.
This book was written without the participation of Aaliyah's family/estate.
Published August 17, 2021
<3 This is some of the best investigative storytelling I have read. I had to pause for a mental health cause when it got to the details of her death. It was heartbreaking to learn of ALL the details. I had to binge watch a few episodes of The Jeffersons to get some much needed comic relief. Listening to this really took me down memory lane. As sad AF as it was in some areas, this is a #MustRead to acquaint, reacquaint yourself with #BabyGirl and some other pivotal times in #HipHop #Rap and R&B culture and history. Moreover, this sister's first book "GOD Save The Queens" will really take you back into time with the recap of Women in music history. <3
In a definitive and "excellent homage to a star who left this planet too soon" (Questlove), the life, career, tragic death, and evolution of Aaliyah into a music legend are explored—featuring in-depth research and exclusive interviews.
By twenty-two years old, Aaliyah had already accomplished a staggering amount: hit records, acclaimed acting roles, and fame that was just about to cross over into superstardom. Like her song, she was already "more than a woman" but her shocking death in a plane crash prevented her from fully growing into one.
Now, two decades later, the full story of Aaliyah's life and cultural impact is finally and lovingly revealed. Baby Girl features never-before-told stories, including studio anecdotes, personal tales, and eyewitness accounts on the events leading up to her untimely passing. Her enduring influence on today's artists—such as Rihanna, Drake, Normani, and many more—is also celebrated, providing Aaliyah's discography a cultural critique that is long overdue.
"There's no better way to pay your respect to R&B's true angel than to lose yourself in the pages" (Kim Osorio, journalist and author of Straight from the Source) of this "dazzling biography" (Publishers Weekly) that is as unforgettable as its subject.
This book was written without the participation of Aaliyah's family/estate.
October 28, 2021
Aliyah’s impact on music and pop culture is truly unmatched. Rereading the details of her death absolutely gutted me. She was taken so young and so unfairly. Her unfortunate relationship with R. Kelly is just being unraveled further in 2021. The unknown of what Aliyah experienced under that relationship, both professionally and personally is heartbreaking, and yet again unfair. I appreciate the author’s mission in providing the factual truth surrounding the little we knew about her short life and honoring her talent and legacy.
January 30, 2022
DNF in 20%. This book is just not that interesting to me. The author has clearly done a lot of research, but I already know a lot of what's in this book. In addition, I feel like there is a lot of unnecessary information that slows down the pace of the book. I felt like I was forcing myself to read just because I wanted to like this book.
September 29, 2021
Wish there were more pictures
Read
October 10, 2021Really just did a quick skim and dip through. I will do a deeper read at another time. It hurt to lose Aaliyah. And Left Eye. And Whitney. I just could not drag myself through a bio of someone who should still be here. Will do so in the future though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2021
It is the perfect swan song to the legacy and amazing life of a life taken too soon.
October 10, 2022
I grew up with Aaliyah. Though this book did not have any groundbreaking information I didn't already know, I still sobbed at the end, reading the letters of people who loved Aaliyah just as much as I did. She truly was an angel on Earth and I will forever be saddened by her premature, senseless death and angered by all the people that did not protect her when she was alive.
September 21, 2021
I never knew this much of her life. Yes I loved her music and beauty, but man at such a young age she had a whole life to live and become one of the greatest artists! But such a tragedy when we lost her and such a tragic way. The details on her death was almost like I was there watching it all. Definitely gone to soon and no matter what she will always be a legend.
August 30, 2021
Maybe this is the definitive book about Aaliyah… so far? Because I absolutely believe this could have been done better. This book only reaffirmed my opinion that fans absolutely should not write biographies. Hopefully a better researcher and thinker becomes interested enough in Aaliyah’s life to really put in the work and do her justice. Two stars (and even that is a stretch).
December 31, 2021
I was in seventh grade when Aaliyah died in a plane crash, and I remember my friends and I being completely shocked by her death. I enjoyed how this book gave me a fuller sense of her career and musical progression, something I wasn’t aware of since I was so young. The parts about her fruitful collaborations with Missy Elliot and Timbaland were a highlight.
With R. Kelly on trial, Aaliyah’s underage (and likely coerced) marriage to him was bound to come up, and I appreciated the way the author handled this painful subject. It’s ridiculous that the news painted a 14-year old girl as the sexual aggressor in the relationship - Iandoli does a great job discussing this topic.
I also loved hearing about how Aaliyah’s music continues to live on for a new generation of fans, despite its absence on many streaming services. Aaliyah will certainly not be forgotten.
If you like music-themed books, I’d definitely recommend this one! Thank you to Atria Books for my NetGalley ARC.
With R. Kelly on trial, Aaliyah’s underage (and likely coerced) marriage to him was bound to come up, and I appreciated the way the author handled this painful subject. It’s ridiculous that the news painted a 14-year old girl as the sexual aggressor in the relationship - Iandoli does a great job discussing this topic.
I also loved hearing about how Aaliyah’s music continues to live on for a new generation of fans, despite its absence on many streaming services. Aaliyah will certainly not be forgotten.
If you like music-themed books, I’d definitely recommend this one! Thank you to Atria Books for my NetGalley ARC.
October 14, 2021
If I could give it zero stars I would. This book was not needed. All it was, was a book done by a "fan" looking to make a buck off of Aaliyah's death with the impending 20th anniversary around the release date. This book was nothing more than 2nd, 3rd and 4th hand accounts from published interviews that Aaliyah herself had done and others in her life. The author spoke to nobody firsthand. These were all pull quotes and excerpts from news articles, magazines and video shows such as TRL, Video Soul, 106 & Park etc. A total waste. And this lady really should be ashamed. I'm not even an Aaliyah fan and I knew all of this. I honestly think she's overrated and her death helped throw her into this false sense of "icon" status that her weren't born at the time she died social media fans and maybe they're just finding out this stuff but I knew it. All of it. A complete waste & this lady should be ashamed to even call herself a fan of Aaliyah.
April 10, 2021
I was given the opportunity to read this advanced copy of this book and I always preface this by saying I'm not a fan of reading, but of course I'm a fan of Aaliyah. Who isn't ?!? Myself, like everyone else then felt like we grew up with Aaliyah and she was a friend. Even though she was a huge superstar she always came off humble and relatable. Since not ever single moment of a superstar's life was tweeted out back in the day we knew only what we read in a magazine or saw on TV. This book is a complete puzzle made of of intricate pieces and stories that embody the magic that was Aaliyah.Kathy Iandoli has definitely done "Baby Girl" justice! Do yourself a favor and pre-order Baby Girl : Better known as Aaliyah Now on Amazon! You will definitely want this in your hands when it drops on 8.17.21 ❤️
February 25, 2023
3.5 stars Kathy. CAUSE you started with I’m not going to talk about R. Kelly and then I’m almost halfway into the book and he’s still the topic. Also, I’ve never heard of nor sought out the gruesome details of the plane crash that took her BUT you felt the need to place that in the center in the book… yep, no thanks for that. I’m getting physically upset as I write this review now cause WOW, we didn’t need that at all! Lastly, I had just arrived at school when I found out about Aaliyah passing & I was definitely hurt hearing that she had left this earth too too soon. Did I learn anything new… nah, this story has been told TOO MANY TIMES; I blame me cause I knew that there wouldn’t be anything new but I TRIED IT lol. I thought it would maybe go into her childhood not realizing that she was a kid when we met her y’all. 😢 RIP Aaliyah.
November 5, 2021
*3 and a half stars*
Very well written, and a clear love letter to the late Aaliyah. I just felt the book took some weird approaches story-wise and lost its way a few times, but it did come in strong in the moments where it really mattered.
To start, I really wish R. Kelly received less attention in this book. Hardcore fans already know about him and his questionable relationship with Aaliyah, and anyone who doesn't know the full details can easily research it online. For something that could have been summarized in a short chapter, it felt like he received a big chunk of the book's beginning. Plus, some of the details weren't entirely relevant to Aaliyah's story. To cite a particular moment, I really didn't like that the details of R. Kelly's infamous 2003 video tape were described in full. Including it in a book dedicated to Aaliyah feels very disrespectful to her legacy.
Sprinkling in more anectotes and quotes could have really boosted the tone of this book, which at times read more like an extended Wikipedia article that name dropped a bunch of names in R&B / hip-hop. Aaliyah's family almost felt like an afterthought, as they aren't mentioned that often in the book. I would have loved to read more about the close relationship Aaliyah had with her brother Rashad and what he's done in the years since her passing to help preserve her legacy!
The book also suffered from its lack of photos. Author Kathy Iandoli recounted so many iconic photoshoots with Aaliyah, and yet none of the photos were included, so it's left to us as the reader to put down the book and pick up our phones to Google the photos that she is describing in order to get a visual to draw reference from.
Instead, the book was padded with a thick collection of fan letters to Aaliyah, written out as paragraphs to fill up the book's pages. While the letters were sweet - they do start to feel redundant and overall I'd argue they disrupted the pacing of the book. I think it would have been more effective and visually appealing if the letters were included as part of a photo collage instead.
One last big critique - when recounting the site of the plane crash that took Aaliyah's life, I really wish the author hadn't put so much trust and faith into the testimonial of a (at the time) 13-year-old airport employee. This employee claimed he saw Aaliyah taking a mysterious pill and then shortly after she was being hauled off on to the ill-fated plane while unconscious. For all we know, this man could be lying, misremembering, or misinterpretting about really happened! A lot of what he said has to be taken as pure speculation, and I feel the author should have treaded more carefully when including his statements. He definitely received the most spotlight out of all the other eyewitness accounts and it felt a little disingenuous / unbalanced.
Ultimately, the biggest heartbreak and moment of gravitas is what really hooked me back in to this book. The chapter covering Aaliyah's death seemed to arrive so suddenly and unexpectedly, like a screeching thud. Yet, this served as a wrenching reminder of how untimely Aaliyah's passing really was. Hot on the tail of her success in films and her eponymous third album, Aaliyah was a star on the rise just beginning to blaze into her full potential.
(I also hadn't known that R&B singer Maxwell reportedly had paid for Aaliyah's funeral - that was so sweet of him!)
While this book isn't perfect, I did enjoy it and it leaves me hoping that more books will be written about Aaliyah in the future.
*Now, many of you hardcore Aaliyah fans probably already know these following facts, but I want to share them in case if anyone out there may not. Plus, I think they're fun and I wish this book could have given them a mention, since they lend an insight into Aaliyah as both a person and an icon with a legacy!*
* Aaliyah was offered the title role in the dance movie Honey, but because of her passing, Jessica Alba took it instead.
* While on set of Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah heard about fellow actor Isaiah Washington harassing a gay crew member and immediately shut it down. (Ironically, Washington was fired from his stint in Grey's Anatomy years later after for saying a homophobic slur).
*Aaliyah's look inspired the character Michiko in the anime Michiko and Hatchin.*
*Aaliyah auditioned for the role of Alex in the 2000 movie Charlie's Angels, but was deemed too young for the part. The role later went to Lucy Liu.*
*Aaliyah and Beyonce seemed to have a mutual respect & admiration for each other and even played off each other at the MTV Movie Awards show in 2000. Beyonce shared a clip of the segment as a tribute to Aaliyah.* (I'm VERY surprised that this one didn't get a mention!)
*Aaliyah was offered the role of Brenda in the black comedy Scary Movie, but turned it down because she feared that the role disrespected her fellow singer and friend Brandy.*
*A Japanese Anime Commercial was released to promote Aaliyah's self-named album. The commercial depicts Aaliyah as a sort of superhero who lives a double life as a singer. A sequel to the commercial was published to YouTube this year as a tribute to Aaliyah 20 years after her passing.*
Very well written, and a clear love letter to the late Aaliyah. I just felt the book took some weird approaches story-wise and lost its way a few times, but it did come in strong in the moments where it really mattered.
To start, I really wish R. Kelly received less attention in this book. Hardcore fans already know about him and his questionable relationship with Aaliyah, and anyone who doesn't know the full details can easily research it online. For something that could have been summarized in a short chapter, it felt like he received a big chunk of the book's beginning. Plus, some of the details weren't entirely relevant to Aaliyah's story. To cite a particular moment, I really didn't like that the details of R. Kelly's infamous 2003 video tape were described in full. Including it in a book dedicated to Aaliyah feels very disrespectful to her legacy.
Sprinkling in more anectotes and quotes could have really boosted the tone of this book, which at times read more like an extended Wikipedia article that name dropped a bunch of names in R&B / hip-hop. Aaliyah's family almost felt like an afterthought, as they aren't mentioned that often in the book. I would have loved to read more about the close relationship Aaliyah had with her brother Rashad and what he's done in the years since her passing to help preserve her legacy!
The book also suffered from its lack of photos. Author Kathy Iandoli recounted so many iconic photoshoots with Aaliyah, and yet none of the photos were included, so it's left to us as the reader to put down the book and pick up our phones to Google the photos that she is describing in order to get a visual to draw reference from.
Instead, the book was padded with a thick collection of fan letters to Aaliyah, written out as paragraphs to fill up the book's pages. While the letters were sweet - they do start to feel redundant and overall I'd argue they disrupted the pacing of the book. I think it would have been more effective and visually appealing if the letters were included as part of a photo collage instead.
One last big critique - when recounting the site of the plane crash that took Aaliyah's life, I really wish the author hadn't put so much trust and faith into the testimonial of a (at the time) 13-year-old airport employee. This employee claimed he saw Aaliyah taking a mysterious pill and then shortly after she was being hauled off on to the ill-fated plane while unconscious. For all we know, this man could be lying, misremembering, or misinterpretting about really happened! A lot of what he said has to be taken as pure speculation, and I feel the author should have treaded more carefully when including his statements. He definitely received the most spotlight out of all the other eyewitness accounts and it felt a little disingenuous / unbalanced.
Ultimately, the biggest heartbreak and moment of gravitas is what really hooked me back in to this book. The chapter covering Aaliyah's death seemed to arrive so suddenly and unexpectedly, like a screeching thud. Yet, this served as a wrenching reminder of how untimely Aaliyah's passing really was. Hot on the tail of her success in films and her eponymous third album, Aaliyah was a star on the rise just beginning to blaze into her full potential.
(I also hadn't known that R&B singer Maxwell reportedly had paid for Aaliyah's funeral - that was so sweet of him!)
While this book isn't perfect, I did enjoy it and it leaves me hoping that more books will be written about Aaliyah in the future.
*Now, many of you hardcore Aaliyah fans probably already know these following facts, but I want to share them in case if anyone out there may not. Plus, I think they're fun and I wish this book could have given them a mention, since they lend an insight into Aaliyah as both a person and an icon with a legacy!*
* Aaliyah was offered the title role in the dance movie Honey, but because of her passing, Jessica Alba took it instead.
* While on set of Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah heard about fellow actor Isaiah Washington harassing a gay crew member and immediately shut it down. (Ironically, Washington was fired from his stint in Grey's Anatomy years later after for saying a homophobic slur).
*Aaliyah's look inspired the character Michiko in the anime Michiko and Hatchin.*
*Aaliyah auditioned for the role of Alex in the 2000 movie Charlie's Angels, but was deemed too young for the part. The role later went to Lucy Liu.*
*Aaliyah and Beyonce seemed to have a mutual respect & admiration for each other and even played off each other at the MTV Movie Awards show in 2000. Beyonce shared a clip of the segment as a tribute to Aaliyah.* (I'm VERY surprised that this one didn't get a mention!)
*Aaliyah was offered the role of Brenda in the black comedy Scary Movie, but turned it down because she feared that the role disrespected her fellow singer and friend Brandy.*
*A Japanese Anime Commercial was released to promote Aaliyah's self-named album. The commercial depicts Aaliyah as a sort of superhero who lives a double life as a singer. A sequel to the commercial was published to YouTube this year as a tribute to Aaliyah 20 years after her passing.*
April 29, 2022
This book was good, but it focuses almost purely on Aaliyah musically. I wish it had more of her personal life as well.
March 6, 2023
Yep, I remember where I was when Aaliyah died…
I was/am a huge fan of Aaliyah. We were not the same age, but very close and had the same zodiac sign, so it is weird to say, but she was definitely a reflection of myself. She was obviously the more polished, and talented version of me, but I too was a tomboy, sweet (but street), and low key. However, Aaliyah was the first young female singer(that I can recall) that reflected that in mainstream media and made it look so cool and normal. We had a similar look and vibe. It always felt like we were growing up side by side so her story is a personal one for me.
I have mixed emotions about this book. I don’t know if I would have bought it myself, but I got it as a gift. As a fan, I wanted to revisit the details of her life and legacy, but I’m not sure if this one hits the mark. It dives in right off the bat talking about R. Kelly, who coincidentally was given 20 additional years in a 2nd federal trial, as I was reading that part of the book. Honestly, that was a bit triggering as past and present were colliding in a strange way. He was also mentioned many other times in the book, perhaps unnecessarily.
I also found that the details regarding how Aaliyah’s music career was formed to be overkill. There were many, many details about who wrote what song, had deals with which recording company, produced this but not that, had distribution rights…it was too much for someone that doesn’t know the industry. And also maybe too many details given on extraneous people (ie. Tommy Hilfiger). I think these details slowed down the pace of the book and definitely lowered my interest level.
The book does go into some detail about the day of the plane crash and the legacy of her music today. All just really sad and gives further reminders of how the music industry was/is really sh*tty to its artists, which was not unique to Aaliyah alone, but she is an example of the practices at their worst.
There are a few chapters at the end about photoshoots Aaliyah had done at the beginning, middle and end of her career, but there was only ONE compiled(contact sheet) image for the first one. I was confused why there was only the ONE picture in a biographical book about a person, celebrity at that? Maybe the rights were not granted or this isn’t an “official” biography, but I actually had to put down the book and look online to see what was being referenced.
I don’t really think the fan letters added much, and after a few, I just skipped them altogether. I think a few of the most poignant ones would have been more impactful, or, again, including pictures of other ways fans have chosen to memorialize her (murals, paintings, drawings, poems, tattoos, etc.).
Overall, I think this book might be a good start for the fan that was not there at the beginning or is just now discovering her and her music. Day One fans will likely know everything in this book and will probably feel that this book leaves much to be desired. This book will likely have Day One fans, like myself, continually waiting for the stories of her life that come from or are validated her actual family. I’ve now been burned by the movie and a book, so until her fam is on board, I’ll keep living her legacy through her old cds.
I was/am a huge fan of Aaliyah. We were not the same age, but very close and had the same zodiac sign, so it is weird to say, but she was definitely a reflection of myself. She was obviously the more polished, and talented version of me, but I too was a tomboy, sweet (but street), and low key. However, Aaliyah was the first young female singer(that I can recall) that reflected that in mainstream media and made it look so cool and normal. We had a similar look and vibe. It always felt like we were growing up side by side so her story is a personal one for me.
I have mixed emotions about this book. I don’t know if I would have bought it myself, but I got it as a gift. As a fan, I wanted to revisit the details of her life and legacy, but I’m not sure if this one hits the mark. It dives in right off the bat talking about R. Kelly, who coincidentally was given 20 additional years in a 2nd federal trial, as I was reading that part of the book. Honestly, that was a bit triggering as past and present were colliding in a strange way. He was also mentioned many other times in the book, perhaps unnecessarily.
I also found that the details regarding how Aaliyah’s music career was formed to be overkill. There were many, many details about who wrote what song, had deals with which recording company, produced this but not that, had distribution rights…it was too much for someone that doesn’t know the industry. And also maybe too many details given on extraneous people (ie. Tommy Hilfiger). I think these details slowed down the pace of the book and definitely lowered my interest level.
The book does go into some detail about the day of the plane crash and the legacy of her music today. All just really sad and gives further reminders of how the music industry was/is really sh*tty to its artists, which was not unique to Aaliyah alone, but she is an example of the practices at their worst.
There are a few chapters at the end about photoshoots Aaliyah had done at the beginning, middle and end of her career, but there was only ONE compiled(contact sheet) image for the first one. I was confused why there was only the ONE picture in a biographical book about a person, celebrity at that? Maybe the rights were not granted or this isn’t an “official” biography, but I actually had to put down the book and look online to see what was being referenced.
I don’t really think the fan letters added much, and after a few, I just skipped them altogether. I think a few of the most poignant ones would have been more impactful, or, again, including pictures of other ways fans have chosen to memorialize her (murals, paintings, drawings, poems, tattoos, etc.).
Overall, I think this book might be a good start for the fan that was not there at the beginning or is just now discovering her and her music. Day One fans will likely know everything in this book and will probably feel that this book leaves much to be desired. This book will likely have Day One fans, like myself, continually waiting for the stories of her life that come from or are validated her actual family. I’ve now been burned by the movie and a book, so until her fam is on board, I’ll keep living her legacy through her old cds.
August 28, 2021
This was an amazing book. I loved it because it was not just an ordinary tell all book. It was an amazing tribute to Aaliyah. I believe if she was still with us, she would have approved of it for the most part. I could tell that there was research done before this book was released. I learned some things and gained some clarity as well on some things.
I learned that Aaliyah was a much loved young lady that put no limits on her success at such a young age. I learned that although her kindness was often taken advantage of in many ways, she didn’t allow it to stop her shine. I always thought something was off when she was under r Kelly.But, I also loved the music they made together so I feel that myself along with many others was blinded by the great music that we didn’t see the issue that was starring us right in our faces and under our noses. I also learned that the best thing for her career was for her to not only get away from r Kelly but her family as well.
I feel like this book is a great addition to any Aaliyah fan’s book collection because it shows her in a way that I’m not sure any of us ever saw her in. IT’s one book I didn’t want to end because it was just that well written.
I personally loved the format of the book because we were not only told that something happened but there was facts presented to us through people close to her and through interviews that she had.
I loved Aaliyah as an artist both musically and as an actress. She was a very talented young lady. I feel like so many of the youth today need to hear her music and see her in film.
I learned that she was just like me. Somewhat like a quiet storm. She seemed like a quiet and reserved person. I could tell she was not shy just quiet and always grinding to make sure all of her accomplishments were met.
I always knew that she was working with certain people at certain times but this book took it a step further. For example, I knew she loved to work with Missy and Timbaland, the group Playa, bad boy records,etc. But, this book took it a step further and talks about how these friendships and opportunities came to be. No one can say for sure if every detail is accurate except those individuals involved but the way in which the information is presented makes me feel like a lot of it is accurate.
I learned that Aaliyah was a much loved young lady that put no limits on her success at such a young age. I learned that although her kindness was often taken advantage of in many ways, she didn’t allow it to stop her shine. I always thought something was off when she was under r Kelly.But, I also loved the music they made together so I feel that myself along with many others was blinded by the great music that we didn’t see the issue that was starring us right in our faces and under our noses. I also learned that the best thing for her career was for her to not only get away from r Kelly but her family as well.
I feel like this book is a great addition to any Aaliyah fan’s book collection because it shows her in a way that I’m not sure any of us ever saw her in. IT’s one book I didn’t want to end because it was just that well written.
I personally loved the format of the book because we were not only told that something happened but there was facts presented to us through people close to her and through interviews that she had.
I loved Aaliyah as an artist both musically and as an actress. She was a very talented young lady. I feel like so many of the youth today need to hear her music and see her in film.
I learned that she was just like me. Somewhat like a quiet storm. She seemed like a quiet and reserved person. I could tell she was not shy just quiet and always grinding to make sure all of her accomplishments were met.
I always knew that she was working with certain people at certain times but this book took it a step further. For example, I knew she loved to work with Missy and Timbaland, the group Playa, bad boy records,etc. But, this book took it a step further and talks about how these friendships and opportunities came to be. No one can say for sure if every detail is accurate except those individuals involved but the way in which the information is presented makes me feel like a lot of it is accurate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2021
I’m only giving one star because I can’t give 0. I love Aaliyah and the legacy she left behind, but other than that this book was overall very boring filled with information that fans may already know or, to be totally honest, not even care about. I honestly didn’t even read the entire thing because I just….couldn’t!!! I don’t mean to be negative, but I’m going to list the reasons I didn’t like this book and why I don’t recommend it…
* Too much R. Kelly talk. Two chapters basically dedicated to this topic.
* Never wrote anything about her personally. Barely anything was mentioned about Aaliyah outside of the music industry unless it was directly relevant to her career. I was looking forward to learning more about her childhood, upbringing l, family, and things like that…
* The book could have been much shorter and served the same purpose (although I don’t see much of one) by removing the unnecessary stats and explanations of people. There was no reason to mention literally every single person she’s ever worked with including make up artists and the careers of other artists. Made it very boring.
* In addition to the above complaint, way too much detail was given about irrelevant things (eg. extreme detail of the Tommy Hilfiger brand - when it was founded, bankruptcy, strategies - why?????? This took up at least 2-3 pages!!!)
* No one significant to Aaliyah was a part of the project. All quotes used from other people is from articles and interviews that are public anyways. Which tells me she didn’t work directly with anyone….NO ONE…that was important to Aaliyah when writing this book. Because of this I almost feel as though it’s disrespectful the amount of information she shared about the plane crash. It does not make her a credible source…at all!
Again, I didn’t finish the book. I felt weird reading it. I don’t know if this author really had the right intentions, especially after seeing that she may have been promoting her book at the cemetery. Although us Aaliyah fans were kind of starved of a documentary or autobiography, we would have been better off without one or waiting until someone that actually knew Aaliyah did something like this. I could say more, but I know for a fact a ton more reviews similar to mine will come poring in to fill in the rest of the negative (I’m sorry) feedback.
* Too much R. Kelly talk. Two chapters basically dedicated to this topic.
* Never wrote anything about her personally. Barely anything was mentioned about Aaliyah outside of the music industry unless it was directly relevant to her career. I was looking forward to learning more about her childhood, upbringing l, family, and things like that…
* The book could have been much shorter and served the same purpose (although I don’t see much of one) by removing the unnecessary stats and explanations of people. There was no reason to mention literally every single person she’s ever worked with including make up artists and the careers of other artists. Made it very boring.
* In addition to the above complaint, way too much detail was given about irrelevant things (eg. extreme detail of the Tommy Hilfiger brand - when it was founded, bankruptcy, strategies - why?????? This took up at least 2-3 pages!!!)
* No one significant to Aaliyah was a part of the project. All quotes used from other people is from articles and interviews that are public anyways. Which tells me she didn’t work directly with anyone….NO ONE…that was important to Aaliyah when writing this book. Because of this I almost feel as though it’s disrespectful the amount of information she shared about the plane crash. It does not make her a credible source…at all!
Again, I didn’t finish the book. I felt weird reading it. I don’t know if this author really had the right intentions, especially after seeing that she may have been promoting her book at the cemetery. Although us Aaliyah fans were kind of starved of a documentary or autobiography, we would have been better off without one or waiting until someone that actually knew Aaliyah did something like this. I could say more, but I know for a fact a ton more reviews similar to mine will come poring in to fill in the rest of the negative (I’m sorry) feedback.
October 12, 2021
Let me start by saying that Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah was not the biography I was expecting. It certainly wasn't the traditional beginning to end life story of an artist.
At first, I wasn't sure I liked that but by chapter 3 I was really starting to see why it was so important to start this biography off with an important, upsetting history of R. Kelly's abuse of the many women trying to make it in the industry over the years. I was worried it would outshine the subject of this history, Aaliyah herself, but it was a very important narrative to lead with as he was, unfortunately, there from the very outset of her career--set up, by her uncle no less, to be the star that guided her. It turns my stomach even now thinking of the ways predators like R. Kelly groom their victims and their families, gaining trust and waiting for the exact right moment to begin secretly abusing that sacred trust.
If you've not already, delete his music from your catalog, unfollow him on platforms like Spotify and request that artist be blocked from your rotation. He doesn't deserve an ounce more of profit while he sits in jail for the hundreds of children he victimized. I digress, and it's easy to do so on such an inflammatory and important topic, which is why I now really get the choices Kathy Iandoli made when creating this very well research profile of the life of Aaliyah.
It was also a really great, quick history of hip hop and the 90s-oughts music landscape, cliques, and sound. It made me super nostalgic and halfway through I ended up playing all of Aaliyahs albums in the background while I read the rest.
Publication Date: September 29th, 2021
Thank you to @NetGalley & @simonandschuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#memoir #nonfiction #books #bookcover #shortreads #bookstagram #literaryfiction #indiereads #indiepublisher #bookrecommendations #bookblog #book #bookstagrammer #inbookstoresnow #bookclubreads #bookclub #booklover #reading #ilovebooks #currentlyreading #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #NetGalley #Aaliyah
At first, I wasn't sure I liked that but by chapter 3 I was really starting to see why it was so important to start this biography off with an important, upsetting history of R. Kelly's abuse of the many women trying to make it in the industry over the years. I was worried it would outshine the subject of this history, Aaliyah herself, but it was a very important narrative to lead with as he was, unfortunately, there from the very outset of her career--set up, by her uncle no less, to be the star that guided her. It turns my stomach even now thinking of the ways predators like R. Kelly groom their victims and their families, gaining trust and waiting for the exact right moment to begin secretly abusing that sacred trust.
If you've not already, delete his music from your catalog, unfollow him on platforms like Spotify and request that artist be blocked from your rotation. He doesn't deserve an ounce more of profit while he sits in jail for the hundreds of children he victimized. I digress, and it's easy to do so on such an inflammatory and important topic, which is why I now really get the choices Kathy Iandoli made when creating this very well research profile of the life of Aaliyah.
It was also a really great, quick history of hip hop and the 90s-oughts music landscape, cliques, and sound. It made me super nostalgic and halfway through I ended up playing all of Aaliyahs albums in the background while I read the rest.
Publication Date: September 29th, 2021
Thank you to @NetGalley & @simonandschuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#memoir #nonfiction #books #bookcover #shortreads #bookstagram #literaryfiction #indiereads #indiepublisher #bookrecommendations #bookblog #book #bookstagrammer #inbookstoresnow #bookclubreads #bookclub #booklover #reading #ilovebooks #currentlyreading #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #NetGalley #Aaliyah
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