Story by: Gail Nobles
Cover Illus.by: Gail Nobles

Aaliyah's impact on music is clear, especially when we look at the evolution of a genre called New Jack Swing. This genre first popped up in the late 1980s and became known for mixing R&B with hip-hop. Think of it as music that had catchy beats and a fusion of live instruments with electronic sounds. Teddy Riley was one of the main producers behind this style, and artists like Keith Sweat and Bobby Brown helped bring it into the mainstream.

Now, let’s talk about Aaliyah. She burst onto the music scene in the early 1990s with her first album, "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number," released in 1994. This album had a sound that was very much inspired by New Jack Swing, blending R&B rhythms with hip-hop elements. While she came a bit later than the initial wave of New Jack Swing, Aaliyah took what had been established and added her own flair. Her style became smoother and more polished, appealing to a whole new generation of fans.

To give you some context, the movie "New Jack City" came out in 1991, a few years before Aaliyah's debut album. This timeline shows that although Aaliyah didn’t start the New Jack Swing movement, she certainly played a significant role in carrying its influence into the future. Her music helped shape R&B throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, ensuring that the legacy of New Jack Swing continued even after its peak. Aaliyah really connected the dots between the past and a new, contemporary sound, making her a crucial part of that musical journey.

I'm Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening.

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