Wow, 7 years ago today Aaliyah passed in a horrible plane crash that also took the lives of 7 other passengers.  She was only 22 years old.  I'm 24, wow.  She was an amazing talent and a good person.  I remember meeting her at Fat Beats in Downtown Brooklyn.  It was around the time Romeo Must Die came out and she was doing an in store.  She was super late and her management team wanted her to wrap the in store early leaving tons of people on line without having said hi or getting an autograph or whatever (me and my friends included).  She absolutely refused to leave early and was willing to be late and penalized from whatever meeting or event she had to attend after this one.  The store made this huge announcement that she had to leave and she jumped up with the sweetest but stern voice and said "No!, These people have been waiting on line and I'm not leaving until I meet every one  of my fans."  and she did just that, I know because I was damn near at the end of the line. 
I'll never forget she had on a huge brown sweat suit and a brown bandanna.  She was GORGEOUS and so tiny.  But overall you could tell she had a good heart.  I get strong ass vibes from people (I'll tell you about it one day) but I got the best vibe from her.  I don't remember exactly what I said (this was back when I used to get nervous around celebs) but I know I thanked her for staying to see us.  She said something really sweet signed my Romeo Must Die poster (that I still have hanging on my wall to this day) and off I went.  She might have hugged me or shook my hand but I honestly don't remember. 
The industry is sorely lacking people with her grace and talent.  I loved the fact that she was herself, always.  She wore the baggy clothes, tims, hats, everything she shouldn't have in an indusrty where sex sells and her talent spoke for itself.  The Aaliyah album is still on heavy rotation in my ipod. We need a Resolution, Rock the Boat, Never No More, I Care 4 U, I Refuse, It's Whatever, I Can Be, What If, and Erica Kane just in case you were wondering.
RIP