[ SPIN CONTROL ] - Chicago Sun-Times | HighBeam Research

Aaliyah, "Aaliyah" (Virgin) *** R&B;

Aaliyah D. Haughton may always be best known in Chicago as the controversial 15-year-old bride of R&B; impresario R. Kelly, but there has always been more to the story. The talented Detroit singer split with her mentor shortly after they married, after the phenomenal success of her Kelly-produced debut, "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number." Though she scored an impressive success with her sophomore effort, "One in a Million," much of the credit that time was awarded to a different man--producer Timbaland. Now, after a five-year wait, this self-titled third album finds Aaliyah finally emerging as her own woman. And my, how she's grown! Like Janet …