Songs promise loving support to a jilted guy (“I Care 4 U”), demand trust from a controlling partner (“Don’t Know What to Tell Ya”) and express devotion to a man in her life (“Don’t Worry,” “One in a Million”). “At Your Best” tells a love interest, “You’re a positive motivating force within my life.” Aaliyah warns listeners to avoid “Erika Kane,” a wicked conniver who ruins people for sport.
Mild profanities crop up. Sexual strategizing is central to “Are You That Somebody,” “Try Again” and “More Than a Woman” (which talks of “midnight grinding”). “All I Need” fondly recalls passionate love-making. Even on reasonably innocuous tunes, the artist uses words like “lovers” and “intimacy” which, while not explicit, have a sexual connotation. An immodest CD photo seems tame compared to the images on several salacious music videos packaged with this project (“We Need a Resolution,” “Rock the Boat,” etc.).
The 22-year-old singer/actress died in a plane crash in August 2001. These eight new songs, six previously released tracks and bonus DVD aren’t a legacy worth the attention of young R&B fans. Some positive moments, but they’re too rare. For more edifying urban female stylings, consider CCM’s Out of Eden or Trin-i-tee 5:7.
