She first gained recognition at the age of 10, when she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. At the age of 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records. She released her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number the album sold three million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry.
Aaliyah worked with record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott for her second album, One in a Million, which sold three million copies in the United States and more than eight million copies worldwide. In 2000, Aaliyah appeared in her first film, Romeo Must Die. She contributed to the film's soundtrack, which spawned the single "Try Again". The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 solely on airplay, making Aaliyah the first artist in Billboard history to achieve this goal. After completing Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah filmed her role in Queen of the Damned, and released, in 2001, her self-titled third and final studio album, which topped the Billboard 200. Unfortunately, the 22 year old singer's life was tragically cut short in a 2001 plane crash after filming her video for "Rock The Boat" in The Bahamas.
Aaliyah became famous in her own right during the mid-1990s with several hit records from the songwriting/production team of Missy Elliott and Timbaland, and their associate Steve "Static" Garrett. Notable for recording several hit singles, including "One in A Million" and "Try Again", Aaliyah has sold over 32 million records total worldwide, including posthumous releases. Two posthumous albums have been released since Haughton's death: I Care 4 U in December 2002, and Ultimate Aaliyah in April 2005, the latter of which was released as a box set that included her greatest hits and a documentary on her life. Haughton also ventured outside of music, modeling for Tommy Hilfiger and starring in two motion pictures (Romeo Must Die & Queen of The Damned) before her untimely death.
What If
Aaliyah Lyrics
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(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
I hate a jealous man, one who doesn't understand
That I'm attractive so of course men want to take my hand
And lead me off around the corner or maybe to their place
But when they speak, you get mad jumping all up in they face
But on the other hand when women come and speak to you
You kiss and hug 'em like it's something that you let me do
You're only jealous 'cause you know that ish you put me through
I might turn right around and do that ish to you
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
I hate a lying dude, one who doesn't know the rules
If you goin' cheat, burn the receipt from the hotel room
But instead you're up in my face saying you were at friends
But they all call, asking me where the hell you been
Why they keep treatin' us this way?
hot grits is a new game we play
We'll burn (oh)
We'll cut you (oh)
We'll kill you (oh)
We don't have to take it no more
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place (what would you do?)
(What if) was all up in my face? (what would you say, baby?)
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
Why they keep treatin' us this way?
hot grits is a new game we play
We'll burn (oh)
We'll cut you (oh)
We'll kill you (oh)
We don't have to take it no more
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
In Aaliyah's "What If," the singer is expressing her frustration towards her partner's jealousy and possessiveness in their relationship. She imagines what it would be like if every man she saw, or any man approached her, what her partner would say or do. The chorus repeats the phrase "what if," emphasizing the hypothetical scenarios that Aaliyah is considering, which could lead to the end of the relationship if her partner cannot resolve his trust issues.
Aaliyah addresses the double standard that pertains to relationships, where men are allowed to engage with other women, but women are always held to a different standard. She sings, "But on the other hand when women come and speak to you / You kiss and hug them like it's something that you let me do." She suggests that her partner is only acting possessive because he knows he has been treating her badly, and he does not want her to do the same to him.
The repeated phrase, "hot grits is a new game we play," is a reference to the famous case of Al Green's wife, who poured boiling-hot grits on him while he was showering, and then committed suicide. Aaliyah warns that women have had enough of being mistreated and suggests that men should beware of their actions before they face such severe consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
What if every guy I saw was sittin' down at the bar?
Imagine if every guy I see is just sitting at the bar, minding their own business.
What if I told him to give me a call?
What if I decided to give out my number and let guys call me instead of being approached in person?
What if every guy in the place was all up in my face?
What if every guy in the room was aggressively hitting on me?
What if, what if, what if?
All of these hypotheticals are just that: hypotheticals. There's no point in worrying about them, but I can't help but wonder.
I hate a jealous man, one who doesn't understand.
A man who is possessive and untrusting is unattractive to me.
That I'm attractive so of course men want to take my hand.
I know that some men find me attractive and want to pursue me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to cheat on my partner.
And lead me off around the corner or maybe to their place.
Some men may try to convince me to leave with them or go to their place, but I would never do that.
But when they speak, you get mad jumping all up in they face.
You get jealous and confrontational when any man speaks to me in a friendly manner.
But on the other hand when women come and speak to you.
You don't seem to mind when women talk to you.
You kiss and hug 'em like it's something that you let me do.
You're okay with me being affectionate with women if it means you get attention from them too.
You're only jealous 'cause you know that ish you put me through.
You're jealous because you know you've given me a reason not to trust you.
Why they keep treatin' us this way? hot grits is a new game we play. We'll burn (oh), We'll cut you (oh), We'll kill you (oh), We don't have to take it no more.
I'm tired of being mistreated by men and I won't stand for it anymore. I'll retaliate if I have to, to protect myself and other women.
What if every guy in the place was all up in my face? (what would you say, baby?)
What if every man in the room was aggressively hitting on me and not taking no for an answer? What would you do or say to protect me?
What if every guy I saw was sittin' down at the bar? (What if) I told him to give me a call? What if (what if), what if, what if?
What if I decided to take control of how I interact with men and give them my number instead of being approached in person? What are the risks and benefits of this approach?
What if every guy in the place was all up in my face? (what would you say?)
What would you say or do if every man in the room was aggressively hitting on me and not taking no for an answer?
Lyrics Β© DistroKid, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeffery Walker, Durrell Babbs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind