Aaliyah‘s uncle Barry Hankerson has issued a statement following the digital reissue of her second album ‘One In A Million’.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed the singer’s former label Blackground Records, which was founded by Hankerson, will re-release its entire catalogue digitally after securing a new partnership with independent label EMPIRE.
The move thrilled fans but sparked criticism from Aaliyah’s family, with the attorney for her estate Paul LiCalsi telling Billboard Blackground had “failed to account to the estate with any regularity in accordance with her recording contracts”.
Despite the backlash, her sophomore album made its debut on digital platforms this week, and Hankerson expressed his gratitude to those involved in the project, including her parents and managers, Diane and Michael Haughton.
He wrote: “As the owner of Aaliyah’s catalog and label Blackground Records, I want to thank you all for allowing ‘One In A Million’ to chart #3 in the world.
“I cannot take the credit for managing Aaliyah as that was never a title I held. That title belonged to Diane Haughton and her husband who managed Aaliyah from the start of her career until her passing.
“I want to thank Diane, Aaliyah’s manager, for allowing and choosing Blackground Records to become her label.”
Hankerson also thanked his son Jomo for his involvement in the reissue campaign, along with Aaliyah’s fans, who he credited “for keeping her music alive”.
“I’m sorry it took so long, but when you lose a family member so unexpectedly, it takes time to deal with that type of grief.
“I decided to release Aaliyah’s music in order to keep her legacy alive.”
Aaliyah’s self-titled third and final album will be reissued on September 10, before compilation albums ‘I Care 4 U’ and ‘Ultimate Aaliyah’ are added to streaming services on October 8.
Alongside music from the late singer, who passed away aged 22 in a 2001 airplane accident in the Bahamas, music from JoJo, Toni Braxton and more will also be made available online, in addition to physical reissues.
