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Happy 35th Birthday Aaliyah!

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Today would have been Aaliyah's 35th birthday. In honoring the trend-setting singer, it seems best to revisit the timeless 10-Year Letter tribute mix from DJ Brainchild. The good news that a posthumous collaborative LP with Drake has been canceled provides even more reason to celebrate. News of the project from Drizzy and Noah "40" Shebib followed the release of "Enough Said" - Drake's rework of an Aaliyah song featuring his vocals on the track. Shebib backed out of the project shortly after it was announced, explaining his reasons for distancing himself in an interview with Vibe:

"The world reacting to Drake's involvement so negatively, I just wanted nothing to do with it. Ultimately, I wasn't comfortable and didn't like the stigma."

Compounding Shebib's aversion to the idea was likely a public denunciation of the project from the deceased singer's family. It seems that some things are best left alone. Aaliyah's oft-celebrated catalog would definitely qualify, especially considering the top notch production that went into her original releases courtesy of Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Static Major and others. There seems no better way to show true appreciation for the life and works of Aaliyah than to return to the music. Clocking in just below the 1-hour mark, 10-Year Letter is a sobering reminder of the singer's massive impact in such a short time. It is also a celebration of a multitude of jams and the massively popular style of an r&b icon who will never be forgotten. Stream the 10-Year Letter mix from DJ Brainchild below. Celebrate properly. Happy Birthday Aaliyah!

10-Year Letter: An Aaliyah Anniversary + Tribute Mix by Djbrainchild on Mixcloud