Ginuwine Says Aaliyah Would Be 'Neck & Neck' With Beyonce

Posted Mar 21st 2011 2:30PM by Kathy Iandoli
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Tiffany Rose, WireImage

R&B songstress Aaliyah Haughton would have turned 32 years old back in January. After her tragic death in 2001, many female artists drew comparison to the R&B singer with fierce dance moves. However, if you ask Ginuwine, Beyoncé is the artist that reminds him most of Aaliyah.

"Aaliyah was in a class by herself," Ginuwine tells The BoomBox. "If you're talking triple threat of a writer, singer and actress, that would probably be Beyoncé. If Aaliyah were still here, she and Beyoncé would be neck and neck."

Beyoncé's career with Destiny's Child was already thriving when Aaliyah was alive. The trio released their self-titled debut in 1998, and Aaliyah passed just three years after that. Both also went on to pursue acting alongside music. Aaliyah added actress to her resume with roles in 2000's 'Romeo Must Die' and a lead role in 2002's 'Queen of the Damned,' which was released after the singer passed away.

The DC front woman had parts in films like MTV's 'Carmen: A Hip Hopera in 2001,' along with ancillary roles in 2002's 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' and 'The Fighting Temptations' a year later, before really driving the point home with her riveting roles in 2006's 'Dreamgirls' and 2008's 'Cadillac Records,' which really solidified the artist's position as a serious actress. While Aaliyah's life was cut short and she was unable to continue her career, Ginuwine is confident that Miss Haughton would have been equally successful.

While the Aaliyah comparisons with newer artists still float on today, Ginuwine says it's nothing to shun. "Ain't nothing wrong with that," he says. "I think everyone should aspire to be someone great, and that was one of the greats. Aaliyah was one of the great ones."