*Aaliyah loves Trent Reznor... or at least his music. The young singer is such a big fan that she called up the Nine Inch Nails frontman and asked him to produce a track on her upcoming as-yet-untitled album. A spokesperson for the R&B singer says that the two camps are now in negotiations. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> *Aaliyah, who is best known for her hit song "Are You That Somebody" off of the "Dr. Dolittle" soundtrack, is currently in New York working on her album and is set to start recording within the next few weeks. Rapper and producer Timbaland will be producing the bulk of the project, with about seven to eight tracks. Also popping up as possible guests are her fellow Blackground family members Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Playa, and Ginuwine. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> *Aaliyah Seeks Out Wyclef Jean, Considers Old Puffy Tune For New Record Although her current hit, "Are You Somebody?" has still not fallen off the charts, singer Aaliyah is already back in the studio recording her third, as-yet-untitled album. Aaliyah is currently holed up with rapper-producer Timbaland, and also has plans to cut a few tracks with some of her other "Blackground" family members, including Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Ginuwine and Playa. Outside her musical family, Aaliyah has also expressed an interest in hooking up with DMX and is also considering finishing up a song that she and Puffy started for her last album, but never got around to completing. But in a recent interview with the MTV Radio Network, Aaliyah said that one potential collaborator remains at the top of her wish list -- the Fugees' Wyclef Jean. "I don't wanna say too much," Aaliyah said sheepishly, "but I like Wyclef because he's different, you know. He's got his own sound and he stays true to his sound and I really admire and like that." <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> *Spike Lee, Aaliyah, Wu-Tang React To Jordan Retirement News After one brief stint in retirement, the man widely hailed as the greatest player in NBA history officially left the game that he has ruled for the last 15 years on Wednesday. Michael Jordan, whose last shot gave his Chicago Bulls a win over the Utah Jazz and another NBA title last June, announced his retirement at a press conference at Chicago's United Center on Wednesday. "I thought about saying two words: I'm gone, but I figured I owed the fans and the media more than that," Jordan joked during the announcement. What he offered was at times simple ("I am here to announce my retirement from the game of basketball."), and at other times humble ("I think the game itself is a lot bigger then Michael Jordan.") Of course, Jordan's retirement is about more than the Bulls losing a key player. It is about Michael Jordan, already a figure of mythical proportions, officially stepping into the world of legend. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> *Aaliyah Talks New Album Aaliyah is not going to make it to the MTV Video Music Awards next Thursday because she says that she'll be in the studio recording her next as-yet-untitled album. Her current hit "Are You That Somebody?" from the "Dr. Dolittle" soundtrack arrived too late to scare up any nominations, but she says that she'll be watching the event on television as she works. The album she's recording will be the follow-up to her double platinum 1996 album, "One In a Million." Though not quite ready to share a lot information on the project, the R&B singer did talk a bit about it with MTV News at the KMEL All Star Jam [Live QuickTime] in San Francisco this past weekend. "I haven't really started anything just yet," Aaliyah said of the project. "I do have some ideas... I'm gonna keep them a little secret. But definitely, I will be working with my family, Timbaland, Missy ("Misdemeanor" Elliott), Playa, G (Ginuwine). So those are the people that will definitely be on the album. [450k QuickTime] But as far as other ideas, I haven't really decided a lot of things just yet." <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> *"My parents support everything I do," Aaliyah told MTV News. "Every road I take they're there with me, they're walking right there beside me. And as far as it being sexy, I would prefer to say sensual. Sensual is being in tune with your sensual self. Sexy, I mean that's in the eye of the beholder, such as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So if people term it sexy, it's different. So I just think it's being sensual, I would rather term it as that." <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> <>**This will be updated sometime in the near future**<> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Amanda's Opinion: I think Aaliyah is very cool. I love her latest song "Are You That Somebody?" Its also got a great video! Right now though,I believe that she may become a one-hit-wonder. Who knows though, she could be like Sugar Ray, and come out with another great hit! Lindsey's Opinion: I really love the song "Are You That Somebody?" I love dancing to it. I have one question, Why don't someone buy her a belt?