Following the release of her catalog on streaming platforms, a new album from Aaliyah is set to arrive this month.
The long-awaited project, titled Unstoppable, will feature Aaliyah’s first new music in more than 15 years.
“That will be out in January,” Aaliyah’s uncle and Blackground founder, Barry Hankerson, told Star 99.7’s Geno Jones.
He also revealed the star-studded guest list, which includes Snoop Dogg, Future, Ne-Yo, and Drake, who Hankerson calls “one of her biggest fans.”
Barry Hankerson confirms Aaliyah’s new “album†will be dropping this month. pic.twitter.com/n7AQpfvESr
— AALIYAH LEGION (@AaliyahLegion) January 4, 2022
“The body of work is pure hip-hop and R&B,” Hankerson told Billboard. “I think it’s going to be big with urban and R&B stations. Some of the people that Aaliyah liked are on the album. She loved Snoop Dogg, who’s done a great record in collaboration with Future. They’re going in now to refreshen their vocals. Ne-Yo gave us an excellent song; also Drake.”
Unstoppable will also include a collaboration with Chris Brown. “It’s vintage R&B with strong vocals,” he said of the Timbaland-produced track. “I look for that one to also get a very special reaction from listeners.”
The first single, “Poison” featuring The Weeknd, dropped last month. Hankerson plans to put out one more single before the album’s release.
It’s been 20 years since Aaliyah died in a plane crash in the Bahamas at age 22. Hankerson hopes Unstoppable serves as a lasting tribute to her legacy.
“I think she would be very happy with the selections we made and the guests because the artists themselves made it known to us how much they wanted to work with her and be a part of her legacy,” Hankerson said. “And I pray that she is happy. Aaliyah would love hearing herself with the current stars of the industry that she cared so much about. And that’s all I wanted to do.”