Aaliyah

I've been singing all my life. I've always wanted this. I sang in church, in school plays, and my parents gave me vocal lessons. My parents always said this was destined for me.
Aaliyah

I'm the interpreter. I'm the one who takes your words and brings them to life. I was trained to sing and dance and laugh, and that's what I want to do.
Aaliyah

I think it's important to take a break, you know, from the public eye for a while, and give people a chance to miss you. I want longevity. I don't want to get out there and run myself ragged and spread myself thin.
Aaliyah

Whatever will be, will be.
Aaliyah

I want people to remember me as a full on entertainer and a good person.
Aaliyah

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people stay for awhile and leave Footprints on our hearts and we are never the same.
Aaliyah

It's hard to say what I want my legacy to be when I'm long gone.
Aaliyah

I don't think about my previous success. I'm happy that the work I did has been very successful. All I can do is leave it and God hand's and hope the fan feel where I'm coming from.
Aaliyah

I've always been mysterious. There are times when I don't understand myself...I think I'm a bit of a vampire in real life, and there are times when I just want to be myself.
Aaliyah

Well, I think that the image is a part of me. I wear the baggy pants, the hats, the whole nine. And you know, I may add a little for the excitement and the intrigue in the videos, but my family has told me that little air of mystery that surrounds me is for real.
Aaliyah

This is something that I've wanted for so long, and for it to finally come to fruition is amazing.
Aaliyah

Keep working hard and you can get anything that you want. If God gave you the talent, you should go for it. But don't think it's going to be easy. It's hard!
Aaliyah

You have to enjoy your job; you should wake up every day and love what you do.. I honestly do... From the bottom of my heart to the depths of my soul, I am truly happy.
Aaliyah

Everything is worth it. The hard work, the times when you're tired, the times where you're a bit sad... In the end, it's all worth it because it really makes me happy. There's nothing better than loving what you do.
Aaliyah

My parents just tell me, if you know what you want, you should stay determined and go for it. You can do anything.
Aaliyah

I'm a homebody. I'm very close to my brother [who escorted her to the premiere of Romeo]. We have a very tight family unit. I'm a simple girl.
Aaliyah

I wanted to be different and original but still have it be something my fans could get into. There also are some big, beautiful ballads. I told my producers that I wanted tracks that are going to blow up in the clubs, but I also wanted songs that were very melodic and with a lot of instrumentation.
Aaliyah, USA Today

It's fun to be creative and innovative and come up with something crazy. So I need people to work with who are not going to be afraid to take it to the left a bit.
Aaliyah, The Daily Telegraph in London

I wanna be the best at what I do. I wanna sing, I wanna dance, I wanna act. That's about it.
Aaliyah, The Daily Telegraph in London

People are gonna look up to me because I'm young, black, and female.
Aaliyah, VIBE Magazine

That's why I work every day. Ev-er-y day. I want to knock people out.
Aaliyah, VIBE Magazine

I don't know what's going to happen in the next five or 10 years. At some point I wanted to have a family and settle down, but I don't see that happening for a very long time because I really love this. This is my life, my world.
Aaliyah, Honey Magazine

You know we're in a business where things are just unpredictable. You don't know what's going to happen...we were lucky Blessed, I think is a better way to put it.
Aaliyah, Honey Magazine, April 2000

I go through the same problems all young people go through. Being in this business, I accept that there are positives and negatives but having a strong family base and a belief in God enables me to weather the storms.
Aaliyah, MusicGala.com

Everyone who was involved thought that some space was needed after all the negative things that were said. R Kelly is a wonderful producer and a wonderful artist. He's all good, but that time was very tense, so it's not really appropriate for us to see each other.
Aaliyah, MusicGala.com

When you get into this business you have to grow up quickly. But I wouldn't say I've lost any of my childhood, I've always been a mature child. My Mom says I've been like that since I was little kid. I make time for my friends and I make time for things that other kids do. This is a business and I knew what I was getting into. I make time for being a kid, but I also know when to put on my business hat and go for the business.
Aaliyah, MusicGala.com

Of course, the advantage is that, being in this business, you get to learn a lot, experience a lot of new things, and you can become real successful. The disadvantage is, of course the negative media. People may try to manipulate you and control you, and those are the things you have to avoid. But if you maintain strong family values and you believe in God, you can be successful. So, it's been tough, but I've gotten through it because I stuck with my family and my deep belief in God.
Aaliyah, MusicGala.com

I met Robert before he came out with Born in the 90's . He came to my house and I sang for him, and from there we went into the studio and started working together.
Aaliyah, VIBE Magazine, 1995

It's in how you carry yourself. I've always been a very mature person, and I've always known what I wanted. And I go after it no matter what.
Aaliyah, The Fader

There is always a bit of pressure to do a good album -- to do good work, period. I really put a lot of pressure on myself, more so than other people. But I try not to let that overwhelm me to the point where I can't even do good work. I just put it aside and do the best that I know that I can.
Aaliyah, Dallas Morning News

I'm a survivor, and I can handle anything. I'm very confident about that. I come from a very strong family, and they are always there to protect me. If I need any help, I'll just call on my mummy or my daddy or my brother, to whom I'm very close.
Aaliyah, MusicGala.com, 1995