Album: Age Ain't Nothing But A Number (Blackground/ Jive)
Songwriters: R. Kelly
Hit #1: May 21st, 1994 (3 Weeks)
The beginning of R. Kelly's ubiquity within the contemporary R&B scene (he would later rival Sean "Puffy" Combs for the ridiculously high number of simultaneously successful records bearing his name in the credits), "Back & Forth" also proved that he didn't necessarily keep his best songs for himself.
A Detroit-raised 15-year-old whose ambition for solo fame was aided with early on-stage duets with legendary aunt Gladys Knight and a stint on "American Idol"-parent "Star Search", Aaliyah was fascinating for how much of an old soul she seemed. Granted, she did have the much older R. Kelly writing and producing her entire first album, but in her own individual choices (that sly, snake-charmer vocal stamp; her mysterious, sunglasses-reliant image; the title of the album) it was obvious that this was one teenaged singer with no interest in the bubblegum route.
Likely aware of that trait, Kelly builds a pleasantly old school soundbed out of "Back & Forth"'s mellow, house party groove, fusing a feelgood hue in it's simple celebration of a weekend's relaxation ("It's Friday and I'm ready to sang..."). With understated grace, the "L-I-Y-A-H" makes her presence known without taking focus from her surroundings, almost melting into the track like another layer of it's lush makeup. Taking on a hypeman role, R. proudly supports his protegee, relishing in the glory of a great artist/ producer chemistry being born.
While it's sad that the much-documented relationship behind the music would cut their lovely collaboration short (with their jeep-friendly cover of The Isley Brothers' "At Your Best (Your Are Love)" standing as their greatest achievement together), it must be noted that without their breaking up, we might never have become privy to the revolutionary shift in Black pop her future material would afford us.
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