Nearly a decade has passed since R&B icon Aaliyah’s death, and her impact is still being felt. On Wednesday (August 25), the ninth anniversary of the star’s tragic death at age 22, Missy Elliott and Drake sounded off about the later singer’s effect on music, and several of her celebrity fans took to Twitter to reflect on her enduring style and influence.

Funky songstress Janelle Monáe credits Aaliyah’s unique look and mesmerizing footwork with keeping her on the straight-and-narrow. “Aaliyah was an inspiration,” the Midwestern-born artist tweeted. “Always kept me & my friends in [Kansas City] out of trouble. Too busy in the mirror doing her ‘swoop’ bang & dance moves.:)”

Many stars co-signed each other’s thoughts about the late hitmaker, who died in a plane crash in the Bahamas after shooting her “Rock the Boat” video with Hype Williams. DJ Drama re-tweeted Trina’s “R.I.P Aaliyah ‘We Will Always Love You’ ” shout-out. Rick Ross re-tweeted T.I.’s “R.I.P. Aaliyah” message, while Mary J. Blige re-tweeted Ne-Yo’s missive about the fallen star.

“Today is the day that the R&B Angel Aaliyah passed on,” the singer-songwriter wrote. “RT if you loved her the way I did!!WE MISS YOU BABYGIRL!!!!”

“We’ll always love you Aaliyah,” Nicki Minaj tweeted. Minaj’s Dream Team associate Diddy revealed that an unheard Puffy/Aaliyah collabo cooked up in the Caribbean is somewhere in the vaults. “Unknown fact: Aaliyah + I recorded a track in Trinidad that was never released- I wish I could find those tapes now,” Diddy tweeted. “Damn. RIP AALIYAH.”

Timbaland protégé Keri Hilson said she felt a strong connection to the “One in a Million” singer. “#ripAaliyah I feel like you were a sister I’ve nvr had the pleasure of meeting,” Hilson tweeted. “No one will ever replace your shine, nor should one try.”

Ciara, whose agile moves, belly-bearing tops and sassy vocals are reminiscent of the late singer’s, agreed with Hilson that no one will be able to fill the void Aaliyah left behind. “RIP Aaliyah,” the ATL songstress typed. “U can NEVER be replaced!!”

Source: MTV

RIP Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001)

(CNN) — Three years ago, Nicki Minaj was getting fired from jobs more often than she was paying her rent on time.

The Trinidad-born, New York City-raised artist has written lyrics about having an alcoholic father who once tried to burn down the house with her mom inside.

Certainly, Onika “Nicki Minaj” Maraj seems to be an unlikely candidate to become one of the most intriguing hip-hop artists of today.

After spending the early part of her childhood at her grandmother’s house, Minaj eventually landed in Queens with her parents. By the third grade, she already had an affinity for singing and acting and would later attend the famed LaGuardia Arts High School to study drama.

“I was thinking in my head I was going to be a famous actress,” Minaj says. “When I got out of high school, I didn’t really want to take time and go and audition, I just wanted to get a job and work and get my own place.”

Minaj quickly became bored with the nine to five and decided to give rap music a shot.

A friend in her neighborhood asked Minaj to write a hook for his song, and the young 20-something delivered a chorus and verse that left her collaborator in awe. Figuring if she really put her mind to it that she could succeed in rap, Minaj decided to quit her last job. And then she told her mother.

“I will never forget the panic and fear in her eyes,” she says. “My heart just frickin’ collapsed for a second. My mother was always like, ‘Yeah, you can do anything,’ but her eyes couldn’t lie …”

That was then.
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Click the thumbnail of the photo above to view the full sized image!

Thanks to my friend Billy over at Kesha Daily for sharing with us!

“Don’t Mess With” (Original Version) / “Don’t Mess With” (Remix Version)
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In a little known fact, Nicki Minaj along with her former group, “The Hoodstar$” were the rappers behind the very well known World Wrestling Entertainment track “Don’t Mess With” for former Women’s Champion Victoria.

This track was recorded back in 2004 and the credits were never properly given to Nicki for rapping on the song, (on the CD in which the song was sold, the credits are listed as vocals: The Hood$tars (Lou$tar, Scaff Boogs, Nicki Maraj & SVN-Up) however thanks to reader CJ for sending us in the scoop! I’ve provided you guys with both the original as well as the remix versions of the song to download!

Nicole is engaged to Benji’s twin brother Joel, and was stunned when she was voted one of the most powerful black women on Twitter in a website poll. Nicole, who has African American, Caucasian and Mexican heritage, took 23rd place on the list, and Benji chose to see Nicole’s title as a new way to meet women.

Shortly after she announced the news on the social networking site, Benji took to his account to beg her to set him up with some of the other women on the list.

“Now that ur 1of the 100most powerful Black Women on twitter can U get me a date w/ @Ciara or @Nickiminaj i’m over bein single (sic),” Benji wrote.

Joel was also impressed with his fiancée’s achievement. He joked that he had been aware of Nicole’s “power” for a long time as she controls his life.

“My one and only @nicolerichie is named one of the 100 most powerful black women on twitter. My life is like twitter. She runs it (sic),” he wrote.

Joel and Nicole have two children together.

Kimora Lee Simmons, Alicia Keys, Paula Abdul, Brandy, Tyra Banks, Rihanna, Jordin Sparks, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Oprah Winfrey also appeared on Black Web’s list of the 100 most powerful black women on Twitter.