When considering Aaliyah's track record, it's befitting that her name (Ah-Lee-Yah) means “the highest, most exalted one, the best.” Her success as both a recording artist and actress actually makes the name a self-fulfilling prophecy. At 21, she has had a successful recording career, has established herself as a major motion picture actress and has proven to be an accomplished businesswoman.

Aaliyah was to appear in the Warner Brother's highly anticipated sequels Matrix 2 and Matrix 3. Aaliyah was to star opposite Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne in the films directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski.

Just before her demise, she has completed filming “Queen of the Damned”. The movie was directed by Michael Rymer and will be released early next year. She played Akasha, the title role in the super-natural adventure, which is based on the third novel in Anne Rice's “Vampire Chronicles”. Aaliyah starred along with Stuart Townsend, Vincent Perez and Lena Olin.

Aaliyah made her motion picture debut in “Romeo Must Die”. Co-starring Jet Li, the film was a box office success and led to Aaliyah's huge hit record, “Try Again,” which was produced by Timbaland. The Romeo Must Die soundtrack sold in the millions and spent weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard soundtrack chart. Her performance earned her nominations for MTV's 2001 Movie Awards for both “Best Female Performance” and “Breakthrough Performance Female” and the song earned nominations for MTV's 2000 Music Awards for both “Best Female Video” and “Best Video in a Film.” Aaliyah served as executive producer of the soundtrack and had two other cuts on the record including one with DMX.

Discography

2001 Aaliyah's third and last album, the self-titled “Aaliyah,” was released only in July. The first single “We Need a Resolution” has recently hit radio and the video debuted April 26th on MTV. Produced by Timbaland, the album is on Blackground Records, which is owned and run by Barry and Jomo Hankerson, Aaliyah's uncle and cousin.

1998 “Are You That Somebody” was Aaliyah's huge hit in that year. The track taken from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack was produced by Timbaland and was written by Static. The song is infectious, known for its clever sampling of a baby crying. Later the same year, Aaliyah performed the song “Journey To The Past” from the motion picture Anastasia at the Academy Awards.

1996 Aaliyah's second record, “One In A Million” was released. The first single off the album, “If Your Girl Only Knew,” went double platinum and contains Timbaland's signature syncopated beats and Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot's poignant lyrics. Jermaine Dupri, Rodney Jerkins, J. Dibbs, Daryl Simmons, Kay-Gee, Vincent “V.H.” Herbert and Craig King were also involved with producing “One In A Million.” The album was multi-platinum and an international hit.

1994 At the tender age of 14, Aaliyah released her first album, “Age Ain't Nothing But A Number.” It was an instant success. The first single, “Back and Forth,” was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a No. 1 R & B song. The follow up single, a remake of the Isley Brother's “At Your Best (You Are Love)” reached Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was No. 2 at R & B radio.

From an early age, Aaliyah has found satisfaction in her music. When she didn't win the local vocal competition on “Star Search” as a pre-teen, she did not let it deter her from continuing to sing. At age 11, she landed a five-night stint performing with Gladys Knight's troupe in Las Vegas. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she was raised in Detroit. She graduated from the Detroit Performing Arts High School in 1997 with a 4.0 GPA. She credits her success to the support from her family. She was managed by her parents as well as her brother Rashad, who served as her mentor and creative consultant.

Tributes to Aaliyah

The world of R&B and hip-hop went into a silence when they lost a very talented singer and actress in a plane crash.

Aaliyah Haughton, will be fondly remembered as the darling of the stars. Stars such as Puff Daddy, DMX and R. Kelly have paid their tribute to the R&B singer.

'She was on of those individuals who would light up a room. She always greeted you witha smile. Her time was coming.' Sean 'Puffy' Combs said. He later added that Aaliyah's family was the closest he'd ever seen.

Rapper DMX who was Aaliyah co-star in “Romeo Must Die”, said she was 'talented, classy, warm, beautiful, compasionate and humble. Aaliyah was a down to earth sister with enough energy to put anyone on a cloud.'

Ginuwine was left speechless by the star's death. 'Words can't express what I'm feeling. She was family and I will truly miss her.'

R. Kelly, the man who produced Aaliyah's debut album, “Age Ain't Nothing But A Number”, said in a statement: 'I'm deeply saddened by this tragic loss.'

The person whom would sorely miss her would be the producer who had spawned many of her hits, Timbaland. 'She was like blood and I lost blood,' he said. 'Me and her together had this chemistry. I kinda lost half of my creativity to her. Beyond the music she was a brilliant person.

Ja Rule and Ludacris joined Aaliyah's fellow R&B star, Monica in the tributes in the middle of their performances at the annual Powerhouse Back To School concert in Anaheim, Los Angeles on Saturday. 'It's numbing,' said Ja Rule. 'For someone so talented it's sad to think they're not going to contribute to music or film anymore.'

'We've been friends since 1996,' said Monica. 'Like her records, she was easy to like. Everyone's going to miss her.'

'I am crushed and heartbroken over the loss of such a beautiful and talented woman whom I loved deeply and who meant the world to me,' said Damon Dash, the CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records and the man in her life.

Performers at the Lady Of Soul awards in California are expected to pay tribute to Aaliyah

“You won't see me tonight you won't see me tomorrow I'll be gone by daylight And you'll be so full of sorrow

- featuring Aaliyah, taken off the song “You Won't See Me Tonight”