Missy Elliott and Timbaland Sound Off on Drake-Aaliyah Collaboration

While promoting her new singles, Missy Elliott was bombarded with questions about the posthumous Aaliyah album. She and Timbaland shared their thoughts on Drake’s role and why they won’t be involved.

Earlier this summer, Blackground Records tapped Drake and Noah “40” Shebib to executive produce the project, but Timbo has his doubts about the whole thing. “I don’t think that’s even in the works,” he told Angie Martinez on Hot 97. “I think it’s blown out of proportion.”

Neither Missy nor Timbo has spoken to Drake, but they respect the wishes of Aaliyah’s family. “My response would be a little different because I have to respect her family and until they come and say we’re ready to do an Aaliyah album, then I don’t really want to try and get into that because it’s really sensitive,” explained Missy.

She also isn’t sure if Aaliyah would want her unfinished recordings released. “We’re talking about unfinished music and we don’t know her reasoning for not putting those records out,” said Missy. “Maybe she didn’t feel like they were her best work. We don’t want to tap into that. It’s spiritually something else, very, very touchy—unless her parents came in and conducted that.”

While Timbaland questioned Drake’s Aaliyah tattoos, Missy was more understanding. “He’s a human being too and a lot of people might not have met Michael Jackson, but feel a connection with him.”