Essence Awards 2001

From Drake's reported tattoo of aaliyah on his back to Timbaland's admission to being in cinta with her, the late singer has been the talk of the blogosphere recently. Aaliyah, anda recall, died at the age of 22 in a tragic plane crash with eight others weeks before 9/11. Unlike other artis who have died young, drama hasn't really overshadowed Aaliyah's legacy. Perhaps that's because she kept her family close.

From hari one, they were extremely involved in her career. Her mother's brother, Barry Hankerson, who managed R. Kelly and had also been married to Gladys Knight, initially managed...