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ABC RadioTank has collaborated with many notable stars in the past, including Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Jamie Foxx and Monica.
But the R&B singer-songwriter-producer tells Billboard in a new interview that getting the opportunity to write for Aaliyah one fateful summer was both a learning experience and “a blessing” for him.
He explains, “I first met Aaliyah on the road. We kind of built a good rapport and relationship. I was very well-versed by being with her.”
“That summer [consisted] of sitting down, building and talking…being there in the studio with her, was damn-near like being in there with a family member at that point. I think, more so, for me, it was just about learning.”
The “When We” singer adds,”It was all a learning process…when I was able to write for her album, that was a blessing, as well. For Aaliyah to get on the phone and tell me, ‘Hey! I need records like this. I need something like that.'”
“And, for her to believe that I could deliver that, was just amazing.”
In 2001, Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas after filming her music video for “Rock the Boat.”
Now, following Tank’s latest album release, Savage, the artist is looking ahead to using his talents and music industry knowledge to developing artists under his record label, R&B Money.
“It is really about the artists that we sign…and putting them in a space where they can look up 17 years later,” he says.
“I am looking forward to writing for my artists. I want to develop and prayerfully give them the gift of the kind of career that I have had.”
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aaliyah being learning process:Tank remembers student studio teacher while
