Aaliyah broke all of our hearts nearly 11 years ago when she was killed in a tragic plane crash at the mere age of 22 years old. Although the popular R&B singer was so very young when she died, she had already given us several years of amazing music, and entertaining performances. 

Unlike Tupac Shakur, when Aaliyah passed away, there was not much music of hers out there for us to listen to. Many of us up until 2012 are still playing some of her greatest hits from the 90s. However, all that’s about to change now that Drake, one of Aaliyah’s biggest fans, has stepped in. 

Drake has confirmed that a new Aaliyah album is in the works, and he will be the executive producer of the project. Of course when this news first came out, he received criticism from various people including Aaliyah’s former producer Timbaland.

In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, Timbaland boldly stated: 

“I know they trying to drop some Aaliyah records, but if he do it, it should be with me and Missy. The proper way for him to do that would be for me, him and Missy to be all on the record.  But to put it on his record, would just not be right.”

Drake may have called him up after hearing this interview, because sources say that Timbaland has definitely signed onto the project. 

However, Timbaland and Missy may be the least of Drake’s worries. The late singer’s family has also stepped in and declared that they haven’t given anyone permission to put together a new Aaliyah album. Her brother, Rashad Haughton, posted on his facebook:

“There is no official album being released and supported by the Haughton family.”

Despite all of this, Drake still says the album is a go. In a backstage interview with MuchMusic, the rapper/singer says:

“People should be really excited. People thought it was my single; it’s not my single. It’s all off of an Aaliyah project that me and 40 are commanding and 40′s just doing some incredible music right now. To get 13, 14 new Aaliyah songs, everybody should be excited. It’s not about me. It’s not about 40. It’s about her and her fans and us just getting the opportunity to give you something that we feel is great. 

And the people around her, everybody from her family to her old management and label, were like, ‘If there’s anyone out that can do it right now, it’s [you] and 40′. And that was an honor and we’re going to pull in some classic people, anybody who used to work with Aaliyah that was essential in her career we definitely hope to have them involved.”

Drake may be a little delusional about getting support from her family. Aaliyah’s brother and mother definitely should have a say in the project being made. However, if Timbaland wanted to produce her album….he had plenty of time to do so! Why is he speaking up now?

Nonetheless, we can’t wait for this new album!