One in a Million (1996)

 

One in a Million is the second studio album by American singer Aaliyah. It was released on August 13, 1996, by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records.

After facing allegations of illegal marriage with her mentor R. Kelly following the success of her debut studio album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994), Aaliyah severed all ties with him as Blackground ended its contract with Jive Records and signed a new distribution deal with Atlantic. Throughout that period of turmoil and media scrutiny, Aaliyah began recording her second studio album with Sean Combs, who soon abandoned the project, prompting Aaliyah and her management to seek new collaborators. She subsequently began recording with producers such as Jermaine Dupri, Vincent Herbert and Craig King, before meeting previously unknown Timbaland and Missy Elliott, who quickly became the album's primary contributors.

One in a Million is an R&B, pop and hip hop record experimenting with genres such as trip-hop, electronica, funk and jungle music. Its lyrical themes predominantly address relationship circumstances, such as commitment, abstinence and heartbreak. Upon its release, the album garnered generally positive reviews from music critics, mostly directed towards its innovative production and Aaliyah's progressed vocal performance. It debuted at number 20 on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 40,500 copies, before reaching number 18. Within several months, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). By 2011, it had sold over three million copies in the United States and eight million worldwide.

One in a Million was heavily and extensively promoted with media appearances and live performances. It produced six singles—"If Your Girl Only Knew", "Got to Give It Up", "One in a Million", "4 Page Letter", "The One I Gave My Heart To" and "Hot Like Fire"—with "The One I Gave My Heart To" becoming the album's highest-peaking single at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100. Following its 2021 reissue, the album peaked at number ten on the US Billboard 200. Retrospectively, it has been listed among the best albums of its era and genre by numerous publications and has been credited for re-establishing Aaliyah's image, elevating careers of Timbaland and Elliott, and influencing mainstream music trends of the decades since its release.