"Gone" is a song by American singer Aaliyah with singer and previous collaborator Tank. It was released on May 2,2025,through Blackground Records 2.0,exclusively on the label's BLKStream music app,but saw a worldwide release on streaming and digital download sites on August 1,2025. "Gone" is expected to be taken from Aaliyah's upcoming posthumous album,Unstoppable. It was written by Static Major,who was responsible for writing many songs for Aaliyah,and Tank. Production was overseen by Sean Garrett and Azul Wynter.
In the late 1990s,Tank worked as a backing singer for Aaliyah.[1][2] In 1999,when Aaliyah was recording songs for her then upcoming third studio album,she asked Tank to provide adlibs on the song "Come Over",which went on to be released as a posthumous single in 2003.[3] Tank also went on to write two songs for Aaliyah:"I Can Be" and "What If". On August 25,2021,Barry Hankerson revealed in an interview with Big Tigger for WVEE that a posthumous album titled Unstoppable would be released in "a matter of weeks". The album was said to feature Drake,Snoop Dogg,Ne-Yo,Chris Brown,Future and use previously unreleased vocals recorded before Aaliyah's August 2001 death.[4] In January 2024,Blackground Records hinted in an Instagram post that the release was "coming";[5] however as of 2025,no album has been released.
On May 2,2025,Blackground Records 2.0 released the single "Gone",by Aaliyah,with former collaborator Tank. The single was released exclusively to the record label's streaming app,BLKStream,[6] but saw a wider release to streaming and digital download sites on August 1,2025.[7][8]
Producer Sean Garrett opined,"Growing up admiring Aaliyah,who is such an icon,has completely been an inspiration for all of us [...] I could not have been more blessed to have made a record with her and Tank. Amazing voices and talent."[9]
Music video
A 2D music video was released on August 1,2025,along with the announcement of a "3D holographic experience" provided by the Meta Quest app Soapbox[10][11]
Reaction
Like the previous Aaliyah single,"Poison",the release of "Gone" faced strong criticism from fans,who expressed distaste at the poor quality of Aaliyah's vocals,with some questioning the authenticity.[12]
Tank made a statement following the release. He wrote,"[The song] featuring myself was supposed to be something good to preserve and continue the legacy of the amazing Aaliyah…This is not it. I’m out [...] The Aaliyah song you are hearing featuring myself,I did out of love for her. I had concerns and I expressed them. From the track to the vocals to the mix and to the visual [...] I still went forward knowing I would at least be able to approve the final products. I haven’t approved one thing you’ve heard or seen [...] Me thinking people had changed was my mistake and I own it [...] Aaliyah deserves better".[13][14]
Chart performance
Due to the lack of promotion by Blackground Records,"Gone" has only appeared on American airplay charts and failed to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. The single debuted at number 20 on the Adult R&B Airplay Chart,peaking at number 4,three months later due to only being released exclusively through the labels music streaming app,“BLKStream.”It debuted at number 43 on the R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart,peaking at number 19.[15][16]
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