Aaliyah, Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number | Controversial Songs

In the 12th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind the “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” by Aaliyah.

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Songs is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows, stirred the pot, or were banned. The more censorship censor$hit, the better! The records that grace Controversial Songs are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 12^th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind the “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” by Aaliyah.

“Age ain’t nothin’ but a number / Throwin’ down ain’t nothin’ but a thing / This lovin’ I have for you; it’ll never change.” Hmm… The most problematic song from the Aaliyah catalog hands down is “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number”. The fourth track from her 1994, debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number, isn’t the most explicit, but, the theme is questionable.  Better yet, the theme is inappropriate to the nth degree. The biggest reason why it’s controversial is the songwriter and producer, R. Kelly. For years, Kelly’s overtly sexual lyrics and misconduct were swept under the rug because of his popularity, status, and undeniable musical talent.  However, right before our eyes, Kelly was promoting misconduct.  Maybe the fact that “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” modestly impacted the pop charts allowed it to slide as well. It peaked at no. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995.

The scandal outside of this R&B joint that makes “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” disturbing. Kelly, who was 27 years old at the time, married Aaliyah, who was a minor (15).  Her age was purported to be 18, but that was not the case.  This is where the song, with its lyrics promoting age-gap relationships, earns its controversy.  A picture is painted of young Aaliyah taken with this man.  “Your eyes are callin’ me to your heart,” she sings in the first verse.  In the pre-chorus, she asserts, “I got a thing for you / And I can’t let go.” This lyric is also controversial, but not because of ‘age.’  The lyric was purportedly plagiarized from the Bobby Caldwell classic, “What You Won’t Do For Love”.  Caldwell’s classic is now attributed as an interpolation following a lawsuit.  Returning to the ‘real’ controversy, see the unsettling second verse:

“Take my hand and come with me

And let me show you true ecstasy

Boy, be brave, don’t be afraid

‘Cause tonight we’re gonna go all the way.”

Boy, be brave, don’t be afraid? Is it Aaliyah that is the aggressor, or, is this Kelly, the writer and husband, grooming her as a minor? R.I.P. to the gorgeous and talented R&B singer/songwriter and actress, but, there’s no way anyone will ever be able to think of “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” other than a red flag about the sexual predator that R. Kelly was.  Sometimes, controversy is hiding in plain sight.

Aaliyah // Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number // Blackground Enterprises / Zomba Recording LLC // 1994

Aaliyah, Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number: Controversial Songs No. 12 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Blackground Enterprises / Zomba Recording LLC; Tazz Vaughn via Pexels; Elena Arboleda Salas, nikolaytaman90, Tumisu from Pixabay; christian buehner on Unsplash]