copy of writeup

Greetings, fellow Popheads, we're your cohosts, nt96 and fadedblue and welcome to the 2000s Futuristic R&B Rate!!

This month we're gonna be rating three forward thinking artists who have made indelible marks on the genre: Aaliyah, Brandy and Kelis! Without further ado, lets take a deep dive into their albums!


Aaliyah - Aaliyah

Singer and R&B icon, Aaliyah got her start at the tender age of 15, with her 1994 debut album, Age Ain't Nothing But A Number. Her silky smooth vocals combined with the new jack swing beats made her teen pop star to look after. Two years later, producer Timbaland and Missy Elliot got ahold of her, and that's when the real magic started. Her sophomore album, One In A Million, traded the 90s hip hop beats for something more sleek, dare I say...futuristic? Critics and audiences alike took note of the smooth, stuttering beats, something unheard of at the time. It was at this moment where Aaliyah, Missy and Timbaland became forces to be reckoned with, something akin to the Midas touch in the Hip Hop/R&B world. Over the years, Aaliyah steadily climbed up the ranks. She recorded Journey to The Past for the film, Anastasia. At just 19, she became the youngest singer to perform at the Grammys ceremony. She also recorded Are You That Somebody for the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack and became an instant classic. She kicked off the new millennium in style with her film debut, Romeo Must Die co-starring Jet Li. Her single Try Again topped the charts based on airplay alone, the first artist to achieve that feat.

After 5 years, she finally announced her self-titled album, Aaliyah, aka "The Red Album". Described as her version of Control, this album marks a transition from the shy, mysterious pop girl image to a matured, young woman. The album received rave reviews and everything seemed to go well for the artist.

At least we hoped. On August 2001, Aaliyah and 8 others were killed in a plane crash, she was 22. The shocking end of her career still lingers today as many people lament on what could've been.

All tragedies aside, in her 7 years, she changed the R&B landscape and no where proves that better than the Aaliyah album. Drawing from a multitude of genres, Aaliyah is an eclectic album by heart. Opening with We Need A Resolution, the song is moves in a seductive, hypnotic manner, permeated with a Middle Eastern vibe as idiosyncratic beats move along with its sample. Loose Rap has a low-key aquatic production reminiscent of The Neptunes. Rock The Boat's calypso rhythm and songwriting shows off a more sensual side of Aaliyah that we've never seen before. More Than A Woman continues the trademark Arabic influences coupled with a more grandiose, electronic backdrop. Never No More, I Care 4 U and I Refuse slows things down as the former song asserts an end to physical abuse, the middle distresses unrequited feelings for a friend in need of consoling and the latter signals the end of gaslighting. Read Between The Lines boasts a samba-inspired flavor while Extra Smooth and U Got Nerve asserts that she's not putting up with trite pick-up lines OR unfaithful lovers respectively. It's Whatever conveys a fluttery, tranquil atmosphere. I Can Be on the other hand, expresses the unbothered intentions of being a side chick (Take notes SZA). Those Were The Days hones its futuristic vibe while Aaliyah reminisces on the passionate days of a relationship gone stale. What If brings an edgier, alt rock vibe altogether. And finally, Try Again returns centerstage with its squelching acid synths and futuristic beats, bringing the album to a satisfying close. Overall, this album left a lasting impression on the musicscape, redefining the sound of the new millennium and influencing acts such as The Weeknd, Drake, Beyonce, The xx, Solange and many others. For the longest time, the best way to listen to her albums was through YouTube, but after 20 years of being in the dark, we can finally stream her music in its entirety! Growing up with her music, this album is among my all-time favorites and I hope you'll enjoy it too!




Brandy - Full Moon


Growing up the 90s, Brandy Norwood's success was instant as it was meteoric. Her clean image coupled with the lead roles of Moesha and Cinderella earned her a reputation of being America's sweetheart, an R&B Princess and a role model for many black women. Despite her massive success, the hectic lifestyle as well as emotional abuse from a failed relationship resulted in her having a nervous breakdown. With the second album being a multi platinum success, Brandy dreaded the idea of making a third that failed to meet expectations. Because of all this, she decided to take a hiatus to reflect and introspect. Over the years, she gained creative control of her next project as well as gradually honing her vocal craft, until finally in 2002 she released her latest album, Full Moon.

The album features a more electronic production, heavily inspired by European nightclubs. Her first single, aptly titled Full Moon vocally showcases Brandy at her fullest potential, all thanks to Vocal Stacking, a technique where you record yourself singing a line and then recording over that one, but perhaps in harmony or the same tone in order to give your vocals a fuller tone. Usually, there's 4 vocal recordings in stacking, however in Brandy's case, she recorded and perfected each note 16 times! Songs like I Thought and What About Us features squelching basslines and aggressive beats, adding an edgier side to Brandy's sound. All in Me has Brandy pleading with her lover to have faith in her, before the song switches to 2-step breakdown in the middle. Like This and Apart showcases neo-soul sensibilities, with the latter taking it a step further by blending modern R&B with Middle Eastern music. Can We continues the futuristic R&B aesthetic with lyrics focusing on trying to get her lover to clarify their problems. Anybody, on the other hand, has Brandy reminding her lover to keep their hurtful relationship a secret. It's Not Worth It showcases a more hurtful side of Brandy as she struggles to hold her relationship together after it's fallen apart. In addition to futuristic bops, Full Moon also provides soulful ballads with topics ranging from intimacy (When You Touch Me, Come a Little Closer), Longing (Nothing), God in third person (He Is), romantic trials (Love Wouldn't Count Me Out), the joys of finally finding the perfect lover (WOW) before finally closing the album with a duet with her brother, Ray J (Die Without You).


Full Moon's initial reviews were generally mixed, however as time went on, it earned its much deserved acclaim from critics, musicians and producers alike. This era marked a change in Brandy's image as well. No longer sporting the "girl next door" image, she traded her signature boxer braids with sleek, straight hair and heavy makeup, asserting the public that she's now a woman. Thanks to her impeccable vocal work, Full Moon sparked the idea of giving Brandy the nickname, "The Vocal Bible". Songwriter Sean Garrett credits the vocal work on the album for his approach to writing, saying "I take a lot from what [Brandy] and Rodney did on the Full Moon album. I was extremely impressed with it and I always try to outdo that album." B.Slade spoke of the album, commenting Full Moon single-handedly changed the vocal game. "It has been the template for vocal choices and background vocal arrangements [for years]." R&B singer Melanie Fiona especially admired the singer's work on that album, dubbing Norwood the "Harmony Queen". Neo soul singer India.Arie often cites the album, particularly the song "He Is" as being the template for a wide array of singers. Canadian R&B singer Keshia Chanté credited the album for inspiring her writing for her album Night & Day, while American singer Luke James referred to Full Moon as the "bible" of 2000s contemporary R&B, calling it the "blueprint of how to do vocals".