Aaliyah

Age Ain't Nothing But A Number

R. Kelly's 1st Protege! (4.5 stars)

Review Score:

(8/10)
You can pretty much tell R. Kelly did this record. From the sizzling "Throw Your Hands Up" to the infectious remix of "Back & Forth", this record almost tops his solo debut released a few months before Aaliyah's in late '93. And that has always been its downfall. At times, the production and arrangement outshines Aaliyah's artistic talent. Nevertheless, that didn't halt Aaliyah's popularity, as displayed by three HUGE hits ("Back & Forth", "Age Ain't Nothin' But A Number", At Your Best"), with "Back & Forth" topping the charts.

Other than the single highlights, other quality tracks include the heartfelt "Street Thing", (which is one of the few times Aaliyah displays her vocal charisma), the party-tune "I'm So Into You", and the precariously produced "Old School", (which features a sultry-delivered rap by Mr. Kelly).

What has always amazed me about this record was that Aaliyah being only 15 at the time of its release. That clearly showed that she was going to be a major star, regardless if she had the best in the business behind (and in front of) the boards. With that said, this is a cornerstone album, merging the '90s swing and urban soul into one wholesome set. It is also important because Aaliyah would completely forgo R. Kelly (mainly because of their alleged marriage fallout) and change her entire sound, with substantial help from Missy and the Timbaland team on her sophomore release two years later. I rated it a 4.5 because of its star quality album tracks and hit singles. It would have been a 5 if there was one more hit. However, that does not take away from its already stellar record. In other words, Aaliyah's debut is a definite purchase for a fan of '90s urban music, and a wise investment for any music lovers' collection.

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