Keri Hilson

Keri Hilson
Hilson at the Radio Coca Cola Lounge, 2009
Background information
Birth name	Keri Lynn Hilson
Born	December 5, 1982 (1982-12-05) (age 28) Decatur, Georgia, United States
Genres	R&B, pop, hip hop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Zone 4, Mosley Music, Interscope
Associated acts	The Clutch, Polow da Don, Timbaland, T.I, Kanye West, Ne-Yo
Website	KeriHilson.com

Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter signed to Zone 4, Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson made herself a name as a songwriter as part of a collective of writers and producers known as The Clutch in the early- to mid 2000s, penning tracks for other artists such as Britney Spears, Ciara, Ludacris, and Usher.

Hilson's much-delayed debut studio album, In a Perfect World…, was released in March 2009, and debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States, where it was certified gold selling more than 500,000 copies by the RIAA.^[1][2] The album produced five singles, including leading single "Energy" and "Knock You Down" featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo, a worldwide top ten success.^[3] A reissue of the album, including previously unreleased songs such as the German number-one hit "I Like," recorded for the film Zweiohrküken (2009), was released in certain parts of Central Europe during the first quarter of 2010.^[3]

A prominent guest vocalist in both the contemporary R&B and hip hop genre, Hilson has been featured on over a dozen singles by other artitsts, beginning with Xzibit's "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)," on which she received her first official credit in 2004.^[3] Other successful collaborations include the number-one single "The Way I Are" and "Scream" with Timbaland, also featuring D.O.E. and Nicole Scherzinger respectively.^[3]

Life and career

Early life

Hilson was born on December 5, 1982, in Decatur, Georgia.^[4][5] She attended Tucker High School in Tucker, Georgia. During her adolescence, Hilson studied piano and singing,^[5] and she joined the girl group By D'Signe when she was 17.^[6] She became a songwriter and backing vocalist while in high school, and she attended Oxford College of Emory University, where she majored in theater.^[5][7]

2001–2007: Songwriting and backing vocals

Hilson began songwriting in 2001 and would go on to write tracks for Britney Spears, Ciara, Usher and Ludacris.^[6] In 2004, she was featured on Xzibit's single, "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)," on which she received her first official credit as a guest vocalist.^[8] In 2006, Hilson signed as an artist with Timbaland's label, Mosley Music Group and appeared on a track on Diddy's Press Play. Hilson was also featured on "Help," the second single from Lloyd Banks' Rotten Apple; the single peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[9]

While Hilson was working with Polow da Don in a studio, he asked her, "What producer do you think could take you where you want to go as an artist?" She replied with Timbaland, who was in search of a black female solo R&B artist. After singing for Timbaland over the phone, they began recording at The Hit Factory the following weekend.^[10][11] In 2007, Hilson made several appearances on Timbaland's solo effort Shock Value, including on the singles "The Way I Are" and "Scream". "The Way I Are" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S.^[12] She performs the song along with Timbaland and OneRepublic on the soap opera One Life to Live in October 2007.^[13] Furthermore, she was featured on the track "Lost Girls" on Zone 4-labelmate Rich Boy's debut album and its second single "Good Things" and was credited as a writer and backing vocalist on Britney Spears's album Blackout.

Also in 2007, Hilson played the female lead role in Usher's music video for hit single "Love in This Club", and appeared in a supporting role in Ne-Yo's clip for "Miss Independent."^[14]

2008-2009: In a Perfect World

Keri Hilson and Lil Wayne performing at General Motors Place in Vancouver January of 2009.

After several pushbacks, Hilson's debut album In a Perfect World… was released in March 2009.^[15] Speaking in April 2009 to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul, Hilson explained the significance of the title: "I deliberately used the ellipsis to make it an incomplete statement, to show that no-one's world is perfect. Because, in a perfect world, we all have SOMETHING about our lives that we'd change if only we COULD - be it body image, or financial status, or love-life... You know, everyone has that SOMETHING!"^[16] The record debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with first week sales of approximately 94,000 copies,^[17] and earned generally favorable reviews from music critics who noted it a "seductive debut CD full of slick, radio-friendly cuts."^[18] Eventually certified gold by the RIAA,^[19] the album spawned five singles, including leading single "Energy" and "Knock You Down," a collaboration with Kanye West and Ne-Yo that entered the top ten of the majority of all charts it appeared on.^[3] A reissue of the album, including previoulsy unreleased songs such as the German number-one hit "I Like," recorded for the film Zweiohrküken (2009), was released in certain parts of Central Europe during the first quarter of 2010.^[3]

In the meanwhile, Hilson continued appearing on single releases by several other artists throughout 2008 and 2009, including Plies' single "Medicine," Fabolous' "Everything, Everyday, Everywhere," Nas' "Hero" and Sean Paul's "Hold My Hand." While most of these songs enjoyed moderate success on the charts, a duet with singer Chris Brown, entitled "Superhuman," emerged as the highest-charting Hilson feature during this period, reaching the top twenty in Ireland and New Zealand.^[20]

She later appeared as a guest on MNET'S Big Brother Africa 4: The Revolution in 2009 as well.

2009–present: No Boys Allowed

At the 52nd Grammy Awards, held January 31, 2010, Hilson received two Grammy Award nominations, one for Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her worldwide smash hit, "Knock You Down", though she didn't win either. She collaborated with fellow singer Akon on the charity single "Oh Africa", and was part of the extended A-list of musical artists during the recording session of "We Are the World 25 for Haiti". She collaborated with American hip-hop artist Plies on his promotional single "Medicine", then worked with American female rapper Trina for her single "Million Dollar Girl". She appeared on the single, "Got Your Back" by T.I. from his upcoming album, King Uncaged as well. She has also became the new face of Avon, replacing singer Jennifer Hudson.^[21][22]

Hilson's sophomore studio album, No Boys Allowed, is currently still being recorded. The majority of the album was produced by Polow da Don and Timbaland.^[23][24] In late 2009, Hilson began work on the album with Timbaland and Polow da Don, stating that African music, culture and landscape were inspiring its sound and development.^[25] The album has been preceded by the lead single "Breaking Point" was compared to songs recorded by Lauryn Hill. The Timbaland-produced^[26] single was released in the United States on September 7, 2010.^[27]

Discography

• In a Perfect World… (2009)
• No Boys Allowed (2010)

Awards and nominations

• American Music Awards
  • 2009, Favorite Female R&B/Soul Artist (Nominated)
  • 2009, Breakthrough Artist (Nominated)

• BET Awards
  • 2009, Best New Artist (Winner)
  • 2009, Viewer's Choice: "Turnin Me On" w/ Lil Wayne (Nominated)
  • 2009, Best Collaboration: "Turnin Me On" w/ Lil Wayne (Nominated)
  • 2009, Best Female R&B Artist (Nominated)

• Grammy Awards
  • 2010, Best New Artist (Nominated)
  • 2010, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Knock You Down" (Nominated)

• Image Awards
  • 2010, Outstanding New Artist (Winner)

• Urban Music Awards
  • 2009, Best Album (Nominated)
  • 2009, Best Female Act (Nominated)

• MOBO Awards
  • 2009, Best International Act: (Nominated)
  • 2009, Best R&B/Soul Act: (Winner)

• MTV Video Music Awards
  • 2007, Monster Single of the Year: "The Way I Are" w/ Timbaland (Nominated)

• Soul Train Awards
  • 2009, Best New Artist (Winner)
  • 2009, Song of the Year "Turnin Me On" (nominated)
  • 2009, Record of the Year "Knock You Down" (nominated)
  • 2009, Best Collaboration "Knock You Down" (Winner)

• Teen Choice Awards
  • 2007, Choice Rap Single: "The Way I Are" w/ Timbaland (Winner)

References

External links

• Keri Hilson on Twitter

• Official website
• Keri Hilson at Allmusic
• Keri Hilson at the Internet Movie Database