One In A Million was the second studio album by R&B icon Aaliyah. Released in 1996, Aaliyah is shown in a new light with her smoother, more seductive singing. This was moreso Aaliyah’s coming-of-age, after stepping out of the shadows as R. Kelly’s protégé and surviving the debacle of their annulled secret marriage.
For One In A Million, Aaliyah brought the massive talents of Timbaland & Missy Elliott to the forefront. The three talents turned out big influential hits with “If Your Girl Only Knew,” “4 Page Letter,” and the trendsetting, infectious title track. These songs would become the blueprint for scores of similar hits with other artists, as well as propelling Missy Elliott’s groundbreaking solo album to the top in 1997.
Aaliyah also netted a pop hit with “The One I Gave My Heart To,” written by hitmaker Diane Warren. This song showed off the stronger, more confident voice she would later use on 1997’s Oscar-nominated “Journey To The Past”. All in all, One In A Million was a pivotal record for R&B in the 1990s, and a career-redefining milestone for Aaliyah herself.