MAC Cosmetics and Vice Created a Surreal, Hypnotic Homage to Aaliyah's Legacy

Aaliyah was an iconic R&B artist of her day and featured on one of i-D’s most iconic covers. Seventeen years later, MAC Cosmetics and i-D, a Vice-owned global platform for emerging talent that celebrates fashion, culture, individuality, and youth partnered up to create a tribute film that celebrates the life and legacy of the late singer with help from her friends, fans, and family. The A-Z series on i-D is an alphabetical guide to critical cultural movements, icons, and trends as told through 26 vignettes. The 5-plus-minute film, directed by Cara Stricker, explores the legacy of Aaliyah in a non-linear A-Z format that includes the late artist's influences on fashion, music, dance and pop culture. The homage effectively uses archival footage, studio scenes, and exteriors in Aaliyah’s home of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. [kickout id="1"] Throughout the film, we see some familiar faces. Aaliyah’s close friends and peers, Timbaland and Missy Elliott, discuss her style and legacy. While young, up and coming artists including Princess Nokia, Empress Of, Keke Palmer, and Alton Mason demonstrate how Aaliyah’s influence has carried on to a younger generation and is likely to endure. The genesis of this collection came from an online movement ignited by fans of Aaliyah's and the cosmetics brand. Donna Lamar, group creative director of Vice (and an Adweek Creative 100 honoree for 2018), said: "This project birthed creativity in ways that mirror Aaliyah’s influence on culture. 20 years ago she broke convention and created a style that young people could look up to and find their own beauty in. Many still do. So, we tried to honor her legacy by making her A- Z reflective of an artist who thought of herself as an interpreter, 'the one who takes your words and bring them to life.' She deconstructed the expected and made something new. Keke Palmer said it best, '…she (Aaliyah) epitomizes someone so fierce, so dope, so much of an individual that she inspired other people to feel like, you know what? I can be my own person too.'” The collection is available online in North America on June 20, in stores on June 21 and available in select International markets in July. CREDITS: Client: MAC Cosmetics Project Name: i-D Presents A-Z of Aaliyah Created with MAC Chief Creative & Commercial Officer: Tom Punch Group Creative Director: Donna Lamar Senior Creatives: Claire Gustavson, Emery Coopersmith Head of Vice+ Productions: Dan Bowen Executive Producer: Aiden Darne Producers: Meagan Judkins, Ilona Klaver, Ashley Edgar, Aleigh Mcatee Supervising Post Producer: Atalie Kessler Director: Cara Stricker Director of Client Services: Gerhard Stochl Senior Director Sales: John Rough Program Manager: Christina Evans Director of Photography: Ryan Helfant c/o Gersh Stylist: Miyako Bellizi Choreographer: Holly Blakey Hair: Sean Bennett Set Design: Zach Apo-Tsang MAC Senior Artists: Ashley Rudder, Caroline Hernandez, Melissa Gibson Editor: Steven Ross Casting Director Andrea Haber Director of Music: Charlotte Von Kotze Music Supervisor: Charlotte Von Kotze Production Company: Vice+ Productions Post-Production: Vice+ Productions Editing House: Vice+ Productions Music House: Music Composed by Team Timbo, Mono Music Group