In the summer/fall of 1996 (when this album was released), R&B and Hip Hop music was becoming very exciting. Dr. Dre had just left Death Row records, and Puffy's Bad Boy records was really heating up. Notable acts and their songs included: Blackstreet's "No Diggity", Keith Sweat's "Twisted", the New Edition "Home Again" reunion, 112's "Only You", and LL Cool J's "Loungin (Who do you luv?)" remix featuring Total.

That summer/fall, we also experienced a major tragedy - the passing of the late, great Tupac Shakur. Now in the summer/fall of 2001, we are dealing with the passing of Aaliyah, and the news hit this reviewer hard. I can remember dancing with friends at house parties back in 1994 to "Back & Forth". I also remember later that summer just loving both versions of "At Your Best", her second single - particularly the mysterious sound and video of the remix...

Flash back to 1996: I was a sophomore at the University Of California at Santa Barbara, and I'm listening to "One In A Million" in my friend's car - and we love it. Aaliyah's new sound was undeniable, and I'll try to describe it...

"Beats 4 Da Streets" is a Missy/Timbaland intro that flows right into "Hot Like Fire" - a delicate and mysterious street cut (later remixed into the fifth U.S. single). "One In A Million" comes in next, and this 'percussive ballad' will forever be a classic. "A Girl Like You" (featuring Treach from Naughty By Nature) sounds like a throwback to her 'Age Ain't Nuthin But A Number' days...it's a fresh party starter.

"If Your Girl Only Knew" is the seductive midtempo that set things off for Aaliyah as the album's lead single. I absolutely loved "Choosy Lover", a syrupy 80s flavored Isley's remake that segues into a new-school version that works just as well. Then on "Got To Give It Up", Aaliyah sounds like she's giving Janet Jackson a major run for her money on this playful Marvin Gaye remake featuring rapper Slick Rick. "4 Page Letter" is an amazingly vulnerable 'percussive ballad' that served as the album's third U.S. single in the spring of 1997.

The next few songs serve to fill out the album nicely - particularly "Giving You More", "I Gotcha Back" (with it's West Coast aftershocks), and the ballad "Never Giving Up" - but it's "Heartbroken" that really did it for me. A third 'percussive ballad' in the vein of "One In A Million" and "4 Page Letter", "Heartbroken" easily could have been a single, but for now it will remain a hidden gem...

We continue on with "Never Comin Back" which is GREAT (has a live feel), "Ladies In Da House" with Timbaland and Missy, and her vocally powerful ballad, "The One I Gave My Heart To" (which became the fourth U.S. single). The outro, "Came To Give Love" then ends the 'One In A Million' album perfectly...

Later that fall, Ginuwine made his debut, and by the summer/fall of 1997, the "Superfriends" musical collective of Aaliyah, Timbaland, Missy, Ginuwine and Magoo had been formed, along with R&B group Playa; it was a beautiful thing...

Aaliyah, you will be truly missed...

C.H.R.


Aaliyah's Best CD   July 25, 2004
Westley (Stuck in my head)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Aalyiah's second CD, "One in a Million," displayed her artistic growth and moved her to the forefront of R&B artists. Whereas her first CD was produced completely by R. Kelly, Aaliyah went for a more varied sound on this CD by using a number of producers, notably Timbaland. In addition, Missy Elliot provides "vocal arrangements" and raps on the CD - it's probably the best incorporation of Missy's sound ever. The CD was one of the first big hits produced by Timbaland with Missy Elliot, and it really signaled a change in the sound of R&B music.

"If Your Girl Only Knew" was the first single (#11 on the Top 100) and features Timbaland rapping. It still sounds really contemporary, even though the sound has been copied by innumerable producers and artists. "One in a Million" is perhaps the best song on the CD, with Missy Elliot on background vocals and a great "chirping cricket" sound effect. Although it wasn't released as a single, it went to #25 on the Top 100 Airplay chart. The biggest song off the CD was the ballad, "The One I Gave My Heart To," which went to #9 and was certified for gold sales.

However, nearly every song on the CD is great - several more songs should have been released, particularly "Hot Like Fire" and the remake of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" (with a rap by Slick Rick). "Choosy Lover" is another one of my favorites; a remake of an old Isley Brothers' song that has a great, laid-back groove that flips part-way through to become more urgent. Even though "One in a Million" was released back in 1996, I still really love listening to this CD. A real breakthrough that still sounds great: a real reminder of Aalyiah's tremendous talent.



This album Is the Bomb!   November 25, 2001
Lucille Mcgee (East Point,GA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I'm A really big aalyah fan and i consider this her best album.
1)Beats 4 da streets intro-THis is the best intro i've heard
2)Hot like fire-good song but they should have put the timbaland remix here.
3.One in a million-Excellent song!Highlight of the album.
4.A girl like you-Great song it grows on you.
5)If your girl only knew-Tight song.Really good beats.
6)Choosey lover(old school/new school)-A bit long and slow But the new school is tight!
7)Got to give it up- One word...WACK!The rest of the songs are good especially No.8-4 page letter,13.heartbroken,16.the one I gave my heart to,17-the outro is really tight! rip Aaliyah!


Wow!!   June 9, 2001
Kiran Rajagopalan (Boston, USA)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

This album is great! Like I said earlier, WOW!! This is one of my favorite albums because Aaliyah's unique style combining phat hip hop beats with stellar R and B vocals is what makes me keep listening to this CD. I also recommending her first album, "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number" also. Remember, look out for her new album dropping this summer.

SONGS FROM THE ALBUM

2. Hot Like Fire (featuring Missy Elliott and Timbaland)- A single off the Album. *Okay Song*

3. One In A Million (featuring Missy Elliott)- Album's Title Track. *Great Song*

4. A Girl Like You (featuring Treach of Naughty by Nature)- *Great Song*

5. If Your Girl Only Knew (featuring Missy Elliott and Timbaland)- A single off the album. *Great Song*

6. Choosey Lover (Old School/New School)- A little too long! It should have been separated into two tracks. The old school part is boring, but the new school part's beats are great.

7. Got to Give Up (featuring Slick Rick)- *Annoying Song*

8. 4 Page Letter (featuring Missy Elliott and Timbaland)- A single off the album. *One of my favorite songs off the album!*

9. Everything's Gonna Be Alright (featuring Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins)- *Okay Song*

10. Giving You More- *Good Song*

11. I Gotcha Back- *Good Song*

12. Never Givin' Up (featuring Tavarius Polk)- *Great Song*

13. Heartbroken (featuring Missy Elliott)- My favorite song off the album! She should have released this.

14. Never Comin' Back- *Great Song*

15. Ladies in Da House (featuring Missy Elliott and Timbaland)- *Good Song*

16. The One I Gave My Heart To- A single off the album. *Great Song*


The 90s Classic   November 12, 2005
C. Hawkins (Boston, MA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Aaliyah was never one for the ultra catchy upbeat songs. All of her major hits were mid-tempo or slow jams, and even if they were faster (R U That Somebody?)they were still the jam. Yet always the life and vibrancy was never missing from her person, and even after all this time I only think of her in the present tense...I own all of her CDs and One in a Million is just that one-in-a-million. I am always blown away by the maturity of her voice. When she first came out I was experiencing the transition summer between 1st and 2nd grade, and I thought that she was a grown-ass woman even though she was 14. Two years later when she was 16, the body was still rocking, the hair still flowing, the hits still coming, and the voice even MORE mature. I love the fact that she owns her voice, in a way that many others don't. Especially in this age of American Idol, every wants to either always hit that glory note or have a gimmick (i.e. John Stephens, from the 3rd season, gimme a break). Hers was just crisp, strong and flowing. Her songs didn't revolve around the bridge. They were all-encompassing experiences. In One in a Million, we witness the beginning of Aaliyah's and Tim and Missy's relationship. The majority of the tracks are a collaboration between these three. Nearly All the tracks are listenable, including the intro and outro...

Beats 4 Da Streets (Intro): love it, can u spell out ur name with such flava 10/10

Hot Like Fire: mid-tempo bob-yo-head joint, this was the jam in '96, if u don't know u better ask somebody...10/10

One In A Million: the title track, she really killed with slow jams on this one...10/10

A Girl Like You: this one's cool for those smoove hip-hop heads, features Treach...7.5/10

If Your Girl Only Knew: this was that huge single, also mid-tempo, dancing to this one's easy, the drums tell you where the beat is...this song is just sick...10/10

Choosey Lover (Old School/New School): she obviously loves her some Isley brothers (i.e., At Your Best), and her remakes are always on point...this one is also an update...9.7/10

Got To Give It Up: this one is funky and features Slick Rick; it samples an older song...I don't know which one, I was born in 1987...8/10

4 Page Letter: "turn my music up", this song taught me about what sexy was when I was in the third grade, it's just sultry...10/10

Everything's Gonna Be Alright: this is faster cut...definitely not single material, but you can groove to it...7.9/10

Giving You More: more sexy mid-tempo, but ain't on the level of others...7.75/10

I Gotcha' Back: this is another song with a hip-hop feel...7.5/10

Never Givin' Up: this is a duet, it's just perfect and romantic, without being saccharine;you'll be in love too after a listen...9.9/10

Heartbroken: this is my jam, the harmonies in the background set it off...10/10

Never Comin' Back: you gotta hear this one, it was either recorded live or simulated to make it sound that way...it's slammin' either way...it has tons of attitude...10/10

Ladies In Da House: this one'll have you bopping that head again...9/10

The One I Gave My Heart To: this ballad is full of sugar, and I don't care...it's just beautiful and totally different from the rest of the album, listen for the passion in her voice...10/10

Came To Give Love (Outro): again she scores with outro...just groove...10/10

I never before have heard and album this smoove and cool without trying. Man, you can even jam to the duds. I miss her brand of R&B, and her spirit badly. She's just an angel in every way.