Making their rounds to promote their newest singles, Missy Elliot and Timbaland visited NYC’s Hot 97 to chat with Angie Martinez. However, the conversation quickly shifted to how they felt about the Drake/Aaliyah song/pending posthumous album, and why they won’t be participating in the project.
The producers both say they never received a call regarding any album idea, or never spoken to Drake. “I don’t think that’s even in the works…I think it’s blown out of proportion,” Timbaland said. But if a call were to come, Missy says she needs the backing of Aaliyah’s family to move forward. “I have to respect her family…We’re talkin’ about unfinished music, and we don’t know what her reasoning was for not putting those records out…it’s spiritually something else, very, very touchy,” she explained.
Angie asked the longtime musical collaborators what they thought about what seems like Drake’s obsession, since he has two tattoos in memory of the late entertainer. While Timbaland was skeptical of their authenticity, Missy thought Drake just had a profound connection as a fan. “He’s a human being too and a lot of people [who have Michael Jackson tattoos] might not have met Michael Jackson, but feel a connection with him.”
When asked if he likes the Aaliyah/Drake collab “Enough Said,” Timbaland said he hasn’t heard it yet. “I only heard a snippet of it,” he confessed. Angie asked, “Do you wanna hear it?” Timbaland answered with a mumbled “No.”
Missy Elliott and Timbaland, two of the biggest names in hip-hop, recently spoke out on Hot 97 about Drake’s proposed collaboration with Aaliyah. This is a major deal for fans who have wanted an Aaliyah project since her untimely death in 2001. The duo addressed the news as well as their own collaborations together that shaped the sound of R&B and Hip Hop today.
The late Aaliyah has been gone for almost 20 years now, but she still holds a place in many people’s hearts – especially those within the music industry. Her gracefulness and unique style made her one of the most beloved artists of all time, making it only natural for fans to be eager for any type of new material from her catalogue when news broke out about Drake wanting to collaborate with her on some unreleased tracks.
Needless to say, this announcement caused quite a stir throughout social media. And while it’s unclear what Missy Elliott and Timbaland think of the collaboration yet, they were definitely asked their opinion during their recent appearance at NYC’s Hot 97 radio station. Their response was nothing short of interesting – so let’s dive into what they had to say!
Background To Drake-Aaliyah Collaboration
In November 2020, Drake announced that he was collaborating with the late R&B singer Aaliyah on new music. Fans of both artists were excited to hear what this collaboration would bring and how it could honor Aaliyah’s legacy. However, there was also a vocal group of detractors who felt that Drake should not be involved in such an endeavor due to his past comments about her.
Missy Elliott and Timbaland—both close friends and collaborators of Aaliyah’s when she was alive—weighed in on the debate during an appearance on NYC’s Hot 97 radio show. The two had differing opinions but ultimately agreed that the decision to move forward with the project lies solely with their mutual friend and mentor, Barry Hankerson (Aaliyah’s uncle).
Both Missy and Timbaland emphasized their respect for Drake as an artist while making clear they weren’t sure if they would do something like this themselves. Ultimately, they acknowledged that it is up to each individual person connected to Aaliyah what will happen with her unreleased material.
Missy Elliott And Timbaland’s Opinion
Missy and Timbaland both offered their perspectives on Drake’s collaboration with Aaliyah during their appearance on Hot 97. Missy expressed that she believed it was up to Barry, her close friend and mentor, what would happen with the late singer’s unreleased material. She stated: “At the end of the day, I don’t know if we have a say in this because it is not our property.”
Timbaland added his own input, saying he wouldn’t personally collaborate with someone who has said negative things about his close friend but also noted that he respects Drake as an artist. He went on to explain that once people pass away there are some decisions out of an individual’s control: “You can’t stop progress or somebody from wanting to do something…Aaliyah is still here through us; we got to keep her legacy alive”.
Ultimately, Missy and Timbaland agreed that whether or not any new collaborations between Drake and Aaliyah take place should ultimately be left in the hands of Barry Hankerson—someone they both trust immensely. They stressed how important it was for him to make sure whatever happens honors the legacy of Aaliyah—the woman they will always remember fondly.
Conclusion
Paragraph 1:
Missy Elliott and Timbaland expressed their opinion on the Drake-Aaliyah collaboration. They feel that Aaliyah, who passed away in 2001, isn’t here to speak for herself and it wouldn’t be appropriate for anyone else to do so without her permission or input. Although they recognize the importance of preserving her legacy and appreciating her music, they don’t think that a collaboration between two artists would truly honor what she’s done.
Paragraph 2:
I agree with Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s perspective on this issue. It is important to remember Aaliyah’s musical contributions and keep them alive, but any attempt at a collaboration should come from someone who actually knew her or was involved in her career while she was alive. I believe that honoring an artist like Aaliyah requires more thoughtfulness than just creating new music together.
Paragraph 3:
Although we may never know what kind of song could have been produced by Drake and Aaliyah if she were still around today, it doesn’t seem like such a project will ever happen as long as those closest to Aaliyah are against it. We must respect the wishes of Missy Elliott and Timbaland when it comes to how best to pay tribute to one of R&B’s most beloved stars.
