Aaliyah’s One in a Million as a revolution in slow motion in just her second album. Dropping in August 13, 1996, it turned Timbaland and Missy Elliott from fresh faces into household names and flipped the script on what R&B could sound like. But beyond the beats, the vocals, and the undeniable vibes, this album is full of hidden gems and untold stories. Here are five facts about One in a Million that’ll blow your mind and have you hitting play all over again.
1. Timbaland’s Crickets Almost Got Exterminated
Before they became iconic, those ambient cricket sounds on “One in a Million” nearly got the whole track shelved. Radio programmers weren’t ready—they complained the song couldn’t “blend in” with anything on the air. One exec even refused to play it, saying “I’m not spinning anything with bugs.” Atlantic Records wanted a remix. Aaliyah’s team? They locked down the master tapes and dared anyone to touch the mix. Good thing, because that triple-time beat ended up changing R&B forever.
2. Missy Elliott Wrote Hooks Like Bars
Missy was known as a rapper first, so when she started writing for singers, she wrote hooks like rhymes. That’s why Aaliyah’s melodies feel like flow. Missy even admitted she wasn’t sure if Aaliyah would vibe with it—but Aaliyah heard something special. That staccato, half-sung, half-rapped cadence? It became the future of pop and R&B songwriting. What Missy brought to the table wasn’t polished—it was prophetic.
3. Puff Daddy Was Almost the Album’s Architect
Before Timbo and Missy were locked in, Aaliyah hit the studio with Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs. But the energy didn’t click. Combs left the project, and Aaliyah pivoted fast—linking with a young Timbaland and Missy Elliott, then unknown outside the industry. The rest is history. Puff dipped. Aaliyah doubled down. And the result was a sound no one had ever heard before. Let that be a lesson in trusting your gut.
4. Slick Rick Spit His Verse on Work Release
On Aaliyah’s cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up,” you’ll hear none other than Slick Rick. What you might not know is Rick was on work release from jail when he laid down his vocals. His unmistakable delivery floated perfectly over Aaliyah’s whispery falsetto, turning a throwback into a future classic. Aaliyah’s instincts were spot-on again—blending generations, genres, and even parole logistics into musical magic.
5. Japan Got a Hidden Aaliyah Writing Credit
Fans in Japan were gifted with an exclusive One in a Million track called “No Days Go By.” What makes it extra special? It’s the only song on the album where Aaliyah received a co-writing credit. She helped craft the lyrics and arrange the vocals, revealing her artistic hand beyond the mic. If you haven’t heard it, do yourself a favor and hunt it down. It’s the kind of deep cut that shows how invested Aaliyah was in shaping her own voice—literally and figuratively.
From its bold sonic palette to its backstage shakeups, this record redefined what R&B sounded like—and who had the right to make it. Aaliyah trusted her taste, embraced the unknown, and set the culture on a whole new path. Nearly 30 years later, we’re still catching up. Long live Baby Girl.
