The "next Aaliyah" has been in discussion for more than 13 years following the R&B star during 2001. Timbaland believes that 19 year-old Chicago performer Tink is the final answer, and he's got other backers telling him the same thing: Aaliyah herself. The producer/performer told a crowd at the South by Southwest Festival this week that his former collaborator had visited him in a dream to deliver the prophecy (from HipHopDX).
Timbaland appeared at the SXSW Fader showcase to perform with and speak on behalf of his recent signee. Tink debuted a new track that featured a sample of Aaliyah's "One In A Million" and the producer felt the need to justify the decision to the crowd—after all, fans have shown Drake and others that they don't screw around with their icon's legacy.
"I don't touch baby girl's records—y'all know that's Aaliyah," Timbaland said after taking the mic. "I was riding home one day, asleep. She spoke to me in my sleep and said, 'She's the one.'"
No word on how Think reacted to finding out that Aaliyah has chosen her from the great beyond. Although Timbaland's logic is about as on point as Lil B's belief that he's successfully cursed Kevin Durant, there's no doubt that Think has got the goods (check out our profile as part of the Tuesdays Under 21 series from last year).
Timbaland signed her to his Mosley Music Group during 2014, and production is reportedly underway of her first formal release, due later during 2015. The producer also debuted a new version of Rick Ross and Jay Z's "Movin Bass" featuring a contribution from the upstart R&B vocalist last year.
