The unusual, stuttering beat of this 1998 single recorded for the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack received great acclaim for emphasizing Aaliyah’s vocal prowess, eventually earning the song a Grammy nomination. Stepping away from her accustomed smoother, ballad-like tunes and tones allowed Aaliyah all the more to display her exceptional feeling for rhythm and musical sensibility. Recognized for its use of a baby coo throughout the song, most notably sampled from Prince’s hit song “Delirious”, the production of “Are You That Somebody?” both complemented and challenged Aaliyah’s voice to create a sound mimicked well into the 21st century.

Two versions of the music video exist, the one with extracts from Dr. Dolittle being the most widespread (and the third most-played on MTV that year). But both feature the clip’s most recognizable characteristics: the futuristic entry into a cave (in L.A.’s Griffith Park), Playa on the background during Timbo’s rap, and Aaliyah’s range of dancing styles—including a short yet sweeping flamenco at the end.

As The Rolling Stone Album Guide notes, Timbaland’s innovative beats pushed Aaliyah rather than cradling her voice as R. Kelly’s did. With a blooming new personality infused into her music accompanied by entirely committed vocals, it is not difficult to see why the release of this hit “remains one of ‘90s’ R&B’s most astounding moments,” or how it inspired artists such as Beyoncé. Regardless of the successes of 21st-century R&B, however, “Are You That Somebody” forms a legacy of its own and continues to impress as modern musical creativity complimenting an unforgettable artist’s talents.