![]() The estate of a deceased person rests solely in the hands of the executor(s) of estate. While there are some laws regarding deceased persons as it relates to HIPAA, there are no laws prohibiting posthumous projects. However, the nature of Barry Hankerson and his motives to drop Unstoppable are questionable.Ī great number of celebrities have had posthumous projects over the years. It’s part of the mourning process and it provides artists long lasting longevity. Being able to listen to your favorite artist after they have passed, helps fans cope with grief. Why wait until 20 years to release her music? Why release it during R Kelly’s trial? And why wasn’t her estate not Aaliyah’s music available to the public? Is this about Aaliyah’s legacy or is it all about the money?įans and Inclub are here for Aaliyah’s music being available to the next generation. Allegedly, Hankerson has kept Aaliyah’s music tied up for over 20 years according to Complex and many angry fans and kept her music off of streaming platforms completely. There is evidence that Hankerson and Aaliyah’s estate (Her mother and brother) have been battling over Aaliyah’s music for decades. Hankerson has been the executive producer of all Alliyah’s albums including One in a Million, produced by heavy weights Missy Elliot and Timabland. Is Unstoppable about Aaliyah’s Legacy or is it all about the Money?īarry Hankerson has had the rights to Aaliyah’s music since 1996. According to her estate, Aaliyah’s legacy is not being protected and it is being exploited by her uncle, Barry Hankerson, and everyone is involved with the releasing of Aaliyah’s music and Unstoppable. ![]() Now, 20 years later, those comments have gone sour. ![]() Parrish Johnson, former executive of Blackground records stated that the record label didn’t want to “capitalize” off the singer’s death and wanted to “think about legacy we wanted her to have.” In the same article, there were conversations surrounding Aaliyah’s legacy. That album then went on to be certified Platinum. Welkos and Jeff Leeds from the LA Times, in the article Marketing a Star after Death. Her studio album sales increased by “595 percent,” as written by Robert W. The hit single Rock the Boat music video became the highest rated episode of BET Access Granted. According to Ultimate Pop Culture Fandom, her third studio album “Aaliyah” released on July 7, 2001, skyrocketed to number 1. Right after her death, Aaliayah’s music became grossly successful. At the time of her death, the singer was estimated to be worth 8 million dollars. She made a lasting impression on pop culture. It’s been 20 years since Aaliyah graced this planet with her impeccable style and music. Allow the grieving process, honor their legacy and estate. So, what is the moral thing to do? The most honorable thing to do is allow previous works to flourish. In all posthumous projects, the artist does not have a say. Releasing Unstoppable during this time comes off as crass and money hungry. With Aaliyah’s case, the circumstances surrounding her career, abuse, and death is disturbing. These types of projects are complicated and need to be handled with care. For music artist, their death, can spark a lot of posthumous projects years after their life. Unfortunately, this new knowledge doesn’t translate to when a celebrity passes on. We learned from Olympian Simone Biles and tennis superstar, Naomi Osaka, that celebrities aren’t a slave to their craft. When it comes to celebrities, there is this idea that they owe everything to fans. What are the motivations behind these projects? And who is cashing in on the money? Most fans appreciate posthumous projects but still many questions loom in the background. Posthumous albums are not ethical, and they don’t exemplify moral decency. This January, Aaliyah’s highly anticipated posthumous album “Unstoppable” will be released and we aren’t here for it.
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