Nearly 25 years after its release, Aaliyah’s sophomore album One in a Million finally arrived on all streaming services Friday (Aug. 20).
One in a Million was first released Aug. 27, 1996, via Blackground and Atlantic Records. Produced by Timbaland and Missy Elliott — who are also credited as featured artists on the album alongside Treach and Slick Rick — the multiplatinum project spans 17 tracks, including singles “If Your Girl Only Knew,” “Got to Give It Up” and the Billboard Hot 100 No. 9 hit “The One I Gave My Heart To.”
Aaliyah’s uncle and Blackground Records founder Barry Hankerson recently told Billboard about how he secured a new partnership with EMPIRE, which will allow the late R&B songstress’ catalog to be available on streaming for the first time ever. Much of Aaliyah’s music has been left off digital service providers for more than a decade following her death in a plane accident on Aug. 25, 2001, when she was only 22 years old.
One in a Million — which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and hit No. 18 on the Billboard 200 — is the first album to be released as part of the new partnership; her 1994 debut album Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number is the only album remaining in circulation since its masters are owned by Jive.
Spotify will be updating its “This is Aaliyah” playlist to reflect the late artist’s catalog finally finding a home on streaming services, including her top hits and deep cuts.
Listen to One in a Million below.
