At Their Best: 7 Dope Artists Continuing What Aaliyah Started

Source: Jeffrey Mayer / Getty

Today marks Aaliyah‘s 39th birthday and if she were still alive, we can only imagine how she would’ve looked at today’s current artists.

Would she see her influence? Would she be hopping on other people’s tracks?

Surely the smooth vocalist would have been pushing music forward herself. Aaliyah was more than sunshades and crop tops. She was a visionary and her impact is continually felt.

Swipe through to check out artists  who are building on Aaliyah’s legacy via sound, style, or just overall fierceness.

Kelela

Source: Getty Images / Getty

With the help of Missy Elliott and Timbaland, Aaliyah took R&B to the future at a time when heavy samples and typical rap beats dominated the airwaves. Kelela continues Aaliyah’s legacy of thinking forward with her atmospheric songs and spacious beats. The R&B princess can definitely be felt in Kelela’s track “Frontline.”

Syd

Source: Graham Denholm / Getty

Syd is another artist whose music has traces of Aaliyah’s sound. She mixes sexy jams with heavy beats, making for the perfect combination. Listen to “Know” and try not to body roll. We dare you.

Kehlani

Source: Rick Kern / Getty

Whether through her vocals, her style or her overall demeanor, Kehlani keeps things cool and smooth just like Aaliyah.  A sexy night with bae could definitely be brought to the next level with songs like “Distraction.”

Bryson Tiller

Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty

Most people know Bryson Tiller as the leader behind trap soul. The combination of such a percussive genre with R&B is something Aaliyah definitely could have been on board with. Bryson is even dipping into her “Rock the Boat” territory with his release “Run Me Dry.”

Tinashe 

Source: MARK RALSTON / Getty

Tinashe is always pushing the boundaries of R&B with her electronic and glitchy influences. Add in some sexy choreography and you have an artist surely inspired by Aaliyah.

H.E.R. 

Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty

Aaliyah will definitely put you in an emotional space with songs like “I Care 4 U.” H.E.R. continues the moody feels with songs like “Avenue.” Blast this on a late night drive and you’ll be diving deep into your emotions.

Drake

Source: WENN.com / WENN

There’s no way you can be one of Aaliyah’s biggest fans and not be influenced by her. Drake loves the princess of R&B so much, he even got a tattoo of her.

Don’t act like Drake’s somber music didn’t inspire a generation of artists. A lot of his sounds can be credited to Aaliyah and it continues to show in his music.