Missy Elliott has paid tribute to her late friend and collaborator Aaliyah on the 30th anniversary of the R&B singer’s seminal album, One in a Million, per vice.com. In a post on X, Elliott described the 1996 record as a “futuristic and distinctive” work of art that remains influential.
Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash in 2001 at the age of 22, released One in a Million following her 1994 debut, Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number. The album marked a significant creative shift, driven by production from Timbaland and mentorship from Jodeci’s Devante Swing, which introduced a groundbreaking sound defined by innovative drum patterns and sampling.
Elliott, who co-wrote iconic tracks for the album including its title track and “If Your Girl Only Knew,” reflected on the creative process in a 2012 interview with MTV. She recalled how she and Timbaland were initially nervous about working with Aaliyah due to their own anonymity at the time, but found her to be immediately welcoming and without pretension.
The Virginia artist’s tribute echoes similar sentiments she shared in 2025, marking what would have been Aaliyah’s 46th birthday, where she underscored the singer’s enduring and unique legacy.