American singer Aaliyah released three studio albums, two compilation albums, and 32 singles. Aaliyah was born in Brooklyn, New York City and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At age 10, she appeared on Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. At age 12, Aaliyah signed a deal with Jive Records and Blackground Records. During that time, she met R. Kelly through her uncle Barry Hankerson; eventually, he became her mentor, sole lead songwriter, and producer for her debut album. Released in 1994, Aaliyah's debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold three million copies in the United States. Months after the release of her album, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records due to allegations of an illegal marriage with Kelly.
In 1996, Aaliyah worked with unknown record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott for her second album, One in a Million. The album was a commercial success selling three million copies in the United States and over eight million worldwide. While working in between albums, she contributed to several movie soundtracks before starring in her debut feature film, Romeo Must Die, in 2000. Aaliyah executive produced the film's soundtrack and contributed four songs, including "Try Again". "Try Again" topped the Billboard Hot 100 solely on radio airplay, making Aaliyah the first artist in Billboard history to achieve this feat. Aaliyah earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocalist for the song.
After completing Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah shot her second film Queen of the Damned and released her third and final album, Aaliyah, in 2001. A little over a month after her album's release, Aaliyah died in a plane crash in the Bahamas after filming the music video for her single "Rock the Boat". In the wake of her death, Aaliyah has achieved commercial success with several posthumous releases.
As of December 2008, Aaliyah has sold 8.1 million albums in the United States and an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide. On the Billboard Hot 100, Aaliyah has spent 289 weeks on the chart, while her three studio albums and two compilation albums have spent 202 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, as of June 2025.
Albums
Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications. Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications US USR&B AUSPeak (ARIA Chart) positions for Australia: Top 50 peaks: Top 100 peaks until December 2010: "Back & Forth": "One in a Million": One in a Million: Ultimate Aaliyah: CANPeak chart positions for albums in Canada: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number: One in a Million: Aaliyah: I Care 4 U: GER NLD NZ SWE SWI UK Age Ain't Nothing but a Number Released: May 24, 1994 (US) Label: Blackground, Jive Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download 18 3 — 20 — 44 — — — 23 US: 3,000,000 RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Gold MC: GoldOne in a Million Released: August 27, 1996 (US) Label: Blackground, Atlantic Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download 10 2 93 33 — 62 — 41 — 33 US: 3,000,000 RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Gold MC: Gold Aaliyah Released: July 17, 2001 (US) Label: Blackground, Virgin Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download 1 2 41 6 9 9 25 23 6 5 US: 2,600,000 UK: 303,000 RIAA: 2× Platinum ARIA: Gold BPI: Platinum BVMI: Gold MC: Platinum IFPI SWI: Gold "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications US USR&B AUS CAN GER NLD NZ SWE SWI UK I Care 4 U Released: December 10, 2002 (US) Label: Blackground, Universal Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download 3 1 43 25 2 10 10 37 3 4 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Gold MC: Gold IFPI SWI: Gold Special Edition – Rare Tracks & Visuals Released: March 30, 2005 (Japan) Label: Avex Trax Formats: CD+DVD — — — — — — — — — — Ultimate Aaliyah Released: May 10, 2005 Label: Blackground Formats: CD, digital download 41 21 82 — — — — — — 32 BPI: Silver RMNZ: Gold "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Singles As lead artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and originating album. Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USR&B AUS CANPeak chart positions for singles in Canada: "Back & Forth": "At Your Best (You Are Love)": "The One I Gave My Heart To": "Are You That Somebody?", "We Need a Resolution", and "Miss You": "Try Again": "Rock the Boat": GER NLD NZ SCOOfficial Scottish chart peaks: "Back & Forth": "At Your Best (You Are Love)": "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number": "The Thing I Like": "If Your Girl Only Knew": "Got to Give It Up": "One in a Million": "4 Page Letter": "Hot Like Fire": "The One I Gave My Heart To": "Journey to the Past": "Are You That Somebody?": "Try Again": "We Need a Resolution": "More Than a Woman": "Rock the Boat": "Don't Know What to Tell Ya": SWI UK "Back & Forth" 1994 5 1 100 70 — 38 48 73 — 16 RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver RMNZ: Gold Age Ain't Nothing but a Number"At Your Best (You Are Love)" 6 2 — 76 — 40 39 90 — 27 RIAA: Gold "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" 75 35 — — — — — 78 — 32 "Down with the Clique" 1995 — — — — — — — — — 33 "The Thing I Like" — — — — — — — 86 — 33 Age Ain't Nothing but a Number and A Low Down Dirty Shame - Soundtrack "If Your Girl Only Knew" 1996 11 1 — — — — 20 85 — 15 One in a Million "Got to Give It Up"(featuring Slick Rick) — — — — — — 34 98 — 37"One in a Million" — — 69 — — — 11 85 — 15 RIAA: Gold RMNZ: Gold "4 Page Letter" 1997 — — — — — — 49 94 — 24 "The One I Gave My Heart To" 9 8 — 65 — 74 28 88 — 30 RIAA: Gold"Hot Like Fire" — — — — — — — "Journey to the Past" 1998 — — — — — — — 35 — 22 Anastasia - Soundtrack "Are You That Somebody?" 21 — — 11 31 3 1 56 41 11 RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver NVPI: Gold RMNZ: Platinum Dr. Dolittle - Soundtrack "I Don't Wanna" 2000 35 5 — — — — — — — — Next Friday Soundtrack and Romeo Must Die - Soundtrack "Try Again" 1 4 8 5 5 3 13 26 8 5 ARIA: Platinum BPI: Gold BVMI: Gold RMNZ: Platinum Romeo Must Die - Soundtrack "Come Back in One Piece"(featuring DMX) — 36 — — — 59 — — — — "We Need a Resolution"(featuring Timbaland) 2001 59 15 44 26 66 37 — 44 56 20 Aaliyah "Rock the Boat" 14 2 49 63 70 12 — 32 59 12 BPI: Silver RMNZ: Gold "More Than a Woman" 25 7 37 — 34 38 — 10 16 1 BPI: Silver "Miss You" 2002 3 1 — 14 8 14 — — 15 76 I Care 4 U "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" 2003 — — 34 — 57 57 — 49 30 22 "I Care 4 U" / "Don't Worry" 16 3 — — — — — — — — "Come Over" 32 9 — — — — — — — — "Are You Feelin' Me?" 2005 — — — — — — — — — — Ultimate Aaliyah "Enough Said"(featuring Drake) 2012 — 55 — — — — — — — — "Poison"(featuring the Weeknd) 2021 — — — — — — — × — — TBA "Gone"(with Tank) 2025 — — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory."×" denotes periods where charts did not exist or were not archived.
As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album USPeak chart positions for guest appearances in the United States: "Live and Die for Hip Hop": "Up Jumps da Boogie": "Don't Think They Know": USR&BPeak chart positions for guest appearances on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the United States: "I Need You Tonight": "Live and Die for Hip Hop": "Up Jumps da Boogie": "Don't Think They Know": USRapPeak chart positions for guest appearances on the Hot Rap Singles chart in the United States: "I Need You Tonight": "Live and Die for Hip Hop": "Up Jumps da Boogie": FRA NZ SK UK UK R&B "I Need You Tonight"(Junior M.A.F.I.A. featuring Aaliyah) 1995 — 43 12 — — — 66 — Conspiracy "Live and Die for Hip Hop"(Kris Kross featuring Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Mr. Black and Aaliyah) 1996 72 36 11 — 30 — — — Young, Rich & Dangerous "Up Jumps da Boogie"(Timbaland & Magoo featuring Missy Elliott and Aaliyah) 1997 12 4 1 — — — — — RIAA: Gold Welcome to Our World "Don't Think They Know"(Chris Brown featuring Aaliyah) 2013 81 29 — 121 — 7 94 16 RIAA: Platinum RMNZ: Gold X "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Promotional singles Title Year USR&B Album "Are You Ready" 1996 —Sunset Park - Soundtrack
Other charted songs + List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name. Title Year Peak chart positions Album US USR&B FRA "Final Warning"(Ginuwine featuring Aaliyah) 1999 — — — 100% Ginuwine "You Won't See Me Tonight"(Nas featuring Aaliyah) — 44 — I Am... "I Can Be" 2001 — — — Aaliyah "I Refuse" — — 25 "Where Could He Be"(featuring Missy Elliott and Tweet) 2005 — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name. Title Year Other performer(s) Album "Summer Bunnies" (Summer Bunnies Contest Extended Remix) 1994 R. Kelly, Carey Kelly "Summer Bunnies" single "Your Body's Callin" (His & Hers Extended Remix) R. Kelly Remix City, Volume 1 "One in a Million" (Remix) 1997 Ginuwine Sprung soundtrack "Best Friends" Missy Elliott Supa Dupa Fly "Night Riders" (Remix) Boot Camp Clik "Night Riders" single "Man Undercover" Timbaland & Magoo, Missy Elliott Welcome to Our World "Up Jumps da Boogie" (Remix) "One Man Woman" 1998 Playa Cheers 2 U "John Blaze" Missy Elliott Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment "Final Warning" 1999 Ginuwine 100% Ginuwine "You Won't See Me Tonight" Nas I Am... "Stickin' Chickens" Missy Elliott, Da Brat Da Real World "Turn the Page" Music of the Heart soundtrack "Ain't Never" 2000 Outsiderz 4 Life Outsiderz 4 Life "Are You Feelin' Me?" Romeo Must Die OST "I Am Music" 2001 Timbaland & Magoo, Static Major Indecent Proposal "Don't Think They Know" 2005 Digital Black Memoirs of a R&B Thug "She Crazy" 2010 Rick Ross, Ne-Yo Ashes to Ashes "Shakin" 2015 Timbaland, Strado King Stays King
Video albums + List of video albums with selected chart positions. Title Details Peaks Notes UK DVD UK Music Video Aaliyah Released: 2001 Label: Blackground, Virgin Format: DVD 98 6 A bonus DVD featured on select editions of the Aaliyah album (2001). It Includes four music videos and a behind-the-scenes documentary. I Care 4 U Released: December 10, 2002 Label: Blackground, Universal Formats: DVD— — A bonus DVD included with the special edition of the I Care 4 U album (2002). It includes nine music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and the Japananimation commercial for the Aaliyah album. The European edition includes the "Miss You" music video. Ultimate Aaliyah/Special Edition: Rare Tracks & Visuals Released: 2005 Label: Blackground Format: DVD— — Features a 60-minute documentary, rare behind the scenes footage, promo video clips, and interviews with Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, P. Diddy, Damon Dash and Timbaland. "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Music videos