ONE IN A MILLION

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One in a Million is the second studio album by American R&B singer Aaliyah, released by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records on August 27, 1996 (see 1996 in music). Selling over two million copies in the United States^[2] within a few months, the album was notable for being Aaliyah's breakout album and a major milestone in the careers of songwriter/producer Missy Elliott and Tim "Timbaland" Mosley. Elliott and Mosley wrote and produced the bulk of the album. Other producers included Rodney Jerkins, Jermaine Dupri, and Kay Gee. The album was executive produced by Barry Hankerson and Jomo Hankerson. It features all of the hit singles, "If Your Girl Only Knew", "One in a Million", "Got to Give It Up", "4 Page Letter", "Hot Like Fire", and "The One I Gave My Heart To". The album was certified 2x Platinum on June 16, 1997.^[3] The album is currently out of print in the United States, however, copies of the 2006 reissues (which was released in Germany), can possibly be found in some stores as an import, or can easily be imported upon request. The album was ranked number 90 on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest albums of the 90s.

Timbaland confirmed in a 2003 interview that he and Aaliyah recorded 57 tracks for the album, but the majority of the tracks were cut and remain unreleased^{[citation needed]}. One of those tracks included the song, "Sugar & Spice", the first track Aaliyah did with Timbaland & Missy Elliott; however due to label disagreements with the song, it never made the final cut of the album. On October 8, 2010, a rare demo version of the song performed by 1990s R&B group, Sugah (which included notable R&B singer, Tweet) was leaked; reports have also surfaced that the track may have also been used as a sample for another R&B group, Tha' Truth, for their 1997 song, "Candy".

The album debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 40,500 copies in its first week. In its 22nd week on the chart the album peaked at 18. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA On October 23, 1996; over 500,000 copies shipments. On February 5, 1997, the album was certified Platinumwith over 1,000,000 copies shipments; making it, at the time, her second platinum album. On June 16, 1997, the album was certified 2x Platinum, with more than 2 million copies shipments. After Aaliyah's death, One in a Million returned to the Billboard 200, and U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. During this time the album also topped the Top Catalog Albums for 12 weeks. To date, it has sold over 3.7 million albums in the country.

"If Your Girl Only Knew" is a R&B/dance-pop song written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland for Aaliyah's second studio album, One in a Million (1996). It also was produced by Timbaland, and released as the album's lead single during the third quarter of 1996 (see 1996 in music). The song was re-released in 1998 as a limited edition double A-side single with the single, "One in a Million". Aaliyah has referred to this song as her own version of Patti LaBelle's "If Only You Knew". Notably, "If Your Girl Only Knew" was one of the earliest songs that showcased the production talent of Timbaland.

Released as the album's lead single in August 1996, it peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending October 19, 1996^[2], becoming her third single to reach the top 20. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks. "If Your Girl Only Knew" was also a hit in the UK, peaking in the top thirty of the UK Singles Chart at number 21 when it was originally released by itself. It was re-issued with "One in a Million" as a double A-side and reached a new peak position of number 15. "If Your Girl Only Knew" was also a hit in many other countries.

In the video, Aaliyah, her brother, and clique appears at a party. She wears a dark leather outfit with her trademark sunglasses and bandana. Scenes include Aaliyah sitting in a futuristic chair, at a party, (the party scene is shot in black-and-white, but Aaliyah remains in colour) Aaliyah and various others in an elevator, and also a close up of Aaliyahs face. Colour editing is used on her eyes here, and they change colour towards the end of the video. Cameos include Missy Elliott, Timbaland, 702, Lil' Kim, Ginuwine, and her brother Rashad. The video was directed by Joseph Kahn.

"One in a Million" is an R&B song by American recording artist Aaliyah from her second studio album, One in a Million (1996). The song was the third main single from One in a Million following "Got to Give It Up", but in North America the song was the second single, because "Got to Give It Up" was not released until 1998 in the U.S. "One in a Million" was name-dropped in Foxy Brown's 1997 single "Big Bad Mamma". Thirteen years later, rapper Diamond mentioned the song in her verse on Dondria's single "Shawty Wus Up".

"One in a Million" is a R&B song written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, who also produced the song.

The song became a U.S. hit on the Billboard R&B charts, reaching number one on the R&B Airplay Chart for six weeks; it also became a U.S. airplay hit based on its R&B and Rhythmic airplay, propelling the song to peak within the top ten of the Hot 100 Airplay Chart at seven. It was also a top twenty hit in the UK, reaching number fifteen as part of a double A-side with the re-release of "If Your Girl Only Knew".

An R&B slow jam, "One in a Million" was considered quite atypical and innovative at the time of its release. The song was the first major display of Timbaland's early drum-skitter-style of programming, with its rambunctious influence owing dues to the then burgeoning drum-n-bass movement in Europe. This frantic drum programming juxtaposed against the rather tranquil manner of the vocal arrangement and the remaining instrumentation was, then, immediately distinguishable from most mainstream R&B/pop. Though Timbaland, Missy Elliott and Aaliyah had been previously at work in the industry for some time, the song was a breakthrough/name-making moment for the lot of them. "One in a Million" was recorded at Pyramid Studios in Ithaca, New York.

The music video for "One in a Million" was directed by Paul Hunter in the autumn of 1996. An extended version of the video was used for the remix which features Ginuwine, Timbaland, and Missy Elliottin 1997. The video starts with Aaliyah lying on top of a black Ford Mustang with Missy Elliott and Timbaland sitting inside of it. Soon, several reporters and fans rush to the car. Then the scene switches to a dark room where Aaliyah is sitting as Ginuwine approaches her. In another scene she is watching him in an off white-colored room via security camera. The scene shifts to a completely white room where Aaliyah is dancing with another male and then to the scene where Ginuwine is looking at the security camera. In the latter scene, Aaliyah enters the room and reveals a tattoo of her name on Ginuwine's arm. Once again, the scene goes back to the dark room, but this time Aaliyah is standing up and performing in a white bodysuit. The video ends with Aaliyah riding in a motorcycle with eighteen year old DEALZ, son of Jackie Jackson.

"4 Page Letter" is a contemporary R&B song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. The song was written by producer Tim "Timbaland" Mosley and Missy Elliott. Mosley produced the song and Elliott provided background vocals. It is the fourth single (third in North America) released from Aaliyah's second studio album, One in a Million (see 1997 in music).

"4 Page Letter" received little airplay on mainstream pop radio, instead receiving more airplay on urban and rhythmic radio stations. It peaked at number fifty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number twelve on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. CD & 12-inch singles were issued in the UK one featured the radio edit and 2 Timbaland produced remixes of "4 Page Letter" and the b-side. The other contained the radio edit backed with remixes of her previous single "One In A Million".

The music video for "4 Page Letter" was directed by Daniel Pearl. The concept for it was created by Rashad Haughton. The video takes place in a forest and shows Aaliyah secretly watching a man dance and then later perform in a Native American village. The video moves to modern time where a group of people watch two men dance outside and then shifts back into the past where Aaliyah and the mysterious man dance in a large ring of fire.

Aaliyah performed "4 Page Letter", along with some other songs, at the 1997 Superfest concert on October 6, 1997 in San Diego, California. She also performed the song, along with others, at Summer Jam 1997, sponsored by New York City radio station Hot 97, on August 10, 1997.

"Hot Like Fire" is a song written by Missy Elliott and Tim "Timbaland" Mosley for Aaliyah's second album, One in a Million (see 1996 in music). It is the fifth release overall and the official fourth single in North America (see 1997 in music). The single was released as a hip hop soul remix produced by Timbaland, titled as "Timbaland's Groove Mix". It samples Art of Noise' "Moments In Love" and Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner".

The song is about a relationship between a female and a male; Aaliyah sings that she wants her boyfriend to wait "a little while longer" before having sex, but when she is ready she will "take him higher". Aaliyah performs most of the song, while Timbaland contributes ad libs and Missy Elliott chants "I'ma make it hot like fire" as the outro. The song was considered a flop because it was not picked up by many radio stations barely making the Top 40 on the R&B Airplay chart and not making The Rhythmic Top 40 altogether.

"Hot Like Fire" was fairly successful in the UK, charting as part of a double A-side single with "The One I Gave My Heart To", which peaked at #30 on theUK Singles Chart. Indie rock band The xx covered the song on their debut album as a bonus track. The song was released on September 16, 1997 as a double A-side with "The One I Gave My Heart To."

The music video was directed by Lance "Un" Rivera. Fatima Robinson directed the choreography. Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Playa, Changing Faces, Lil' Kim, and Junior M.A.F.I.A. made cameos in the video. The video was edited to "Hot Like Fire (Timbaland's Groove Mix)".

The video starts with a large number of people in an urban neighborhood on a very hot summer day. Aaliyah drives a red car with a fire engine. The setting quickly changes to night as Aaliyah gets out of the car to perform the chorus on a steamy stage with sparks in the background. During the second verse, Aaliyah is seen dancing with the crowd. Aaliyah returns to the stage with the dancers to perform the chorus again. Timbaland performs his ad libs and Missy Elliott performs her outro.