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

"Black Rockers United has been a space where Black Rockers from across the globe can find a hub to talk about music, their experiences in their scenes, as well as their daily lives. With that said, although Aaliyah was not a Rock Artist, she was indeed a Black Rocker and at the time of her death, was actually pursuing her interests to collaborate with Rock artists to expand her art.

After Aaliyah finished recording her third and final self-titled album, she was in contact with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails—whom she was a big fan of—and wanted to work on some music with him. They had each other's contact information and would go over the details. She was also supposed to record music with Jonathan Davis of Korn for the Queen of the Damned soundtrack (which to this day is considered one of the most popular movie soundtracks in the Rock/Metal genre).

Sadly, due to her untimely death, those collaborations never happened. Queen of the Damned, Aaliyah's second and final movie, was arguably one of her best works as an artist for many reasons. One, it posthumously connected Aaliyah's interests to her career, something she never got to achieve in life. Two, her character, Akasha, became a cult figure in the goth sub-culture, which she always loved and admired.

Queen Akasha, vampire matriarch from ancient Egypt (Queen of the Damned, 2000)

Three, it showcased the depth of her acting skills and left many wondering "What could have been?" And lastly, it posthumously provided a gateway for Aaliyah in the Rock/Metal world to which she always wanted to enter. In closing, 20 years after her death, Aaliyah's art and legacy showcased her more than an artist, but who she was as a person.

Her willingness to pursue her personal interests in terms of the music she enjoyed while trying to incorporate that into the music she was known for can be viewed as her not "stepping out her comfort zone" but rather into it." ⁠— Kim