Normani didn't clear the "One in a Million" sample for her new song "Wild Side," according to Aaliyah's uncle.

Normani didn't clear the "One in a Million" sample for her new song "Wild Side," according to Aaliyah's uncle.

Barry Hankerson, Aaliyah's uncle and owner of her masters, believes it would have been "more respectable" to obtain permission before using the song. 

Normani recently released her track "Wild Side," which used a major sample of Aaliyah's smash song "One in a Million." Normani was not given permission to sample the song, according to the late singer's uncle, who stated this week.

It would have been "more respectable" if Normani had asked approval for "One in a Million," according to Barry Hankerson, Aaliyah's uncle and owner of the master recordings. Nonetheless, he stated that Aaliyah would be "pleased" to see her legacy preserved.

He stated, "I will not stand in the way of something that brings to light Aaliyah's amazing staying power." “In that light, best wishes to Normani for the song and her whole career. God's blessings. Aaliyah, I believe, would be pleased.”

Aaliyah "always encouraged young women pursuing their musical and entertainment professions to accomplish their ambitions," according to Hankerson, who created Blackground Records to debut his niece's songs.

He stated, "I believe Aaliyah would be very supportive of a young Black woman who wanted to mimic her music and style."

An attorney for Blackground confirmed to TMZ that permission to use the sample was never granted, but Normani's team claimed that "Wild Side" did not contain a direct sample of the song.

Meanwhile, when Normani responded to a tweet criticizing Timbaland, the producer of "One in a Million," she appeared to refute her team's assertions. She replied, "I must've died when I saw this," when Timbaland tweeted in favor of her track.

To the chagrin of Aaliyah's admirers, digital access to her songs has long been restricted. Although her debut album, "Age Ain't Nothing A Number," is available on major streaming platforms, the singer's estate has withheld the majority of her remaining discography, including her 1996 follow-up, "One in a Million," and her self-titled album from 2001. Aaliyah was 22 years old when she perished in an aircraft crash in 2001.

On what would have been Aaliyah's 42nd birthday, Jan. 16, the singer's estate updated the public on the situation via social media.

“We hear you and see you,” says the narrator. While we share your emotions and wish for Aaliyah's music to be published, we must realize that these issues are beyond our control and, regrettably, require time,” the estate of Aaliyah said. “It has been as painful for us as it has been for all of you to be unable to share Aaliyah's music and creativity with the world. Aaliyah's music has always been and will continue to be our first priority.”