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20 Years Ago Today 'Romeo Must Die' Was Released

Updated: Mar 24, 2020


Photo: Warner Bros.

'Romeo Must Die' was released on March 22, 2000. The film grossed $91 million against a production budget of $25 million. This would also be Aaliyah's only film released during her lifetime. This film was Jet Li's first starring role in a US movie and the acting debut of Aaliyah.


'Romeo Must Die' is a mixture of martial arts and hip-hop that takes Shakespeare's classic tale of two warring families and star-crossed lovers, and flips it on its head.


Jet Li plays Han Sing, the man bearing Romeo's star-crossed burden in this action film. His Juliet is Trish O'Day, played Aaliyah. Their love is a casualty of the feud between Chinese and African-American gangs vying for control of the waterfront in Oakland, California.


Photo: Warner Bros.

'Try Again' was the first song ever to reach number one on the Billboard Top 100 based solely on the strength of its radio airplay


Aaliyah and Timbaland gave music , especially of the R&B variety, a much-needed jump start for the new millennium with 'Try Again'. The single was released in early 2000 as the lead cut from 'Romeo Must Die' soundtrack.


'Try Again' doesn't sound like a song released in 2000, and could easily belong to todays R&B. It's unsurprising that 'Try Again' was nominated for a Grammy in 2001, and won two MTV Music Video Awards in 2000.


Photo: Blackground Records




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