Keri Lynn Hilson (born on December 5, 1982) is an American R&B
recording artist and songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia,
Hilson made herself a name as a songwriter, penning tracks for several
artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production/songwriting
team known as The Clutch. In 2006, she signed a recording contract
with Timbaland's label, Mosley Music.
Hilson released her debut studio album, In a Perfect World... in
March 2009, which peaked within the top five of the Billboard 200
albums chart and featured the hit singles "Knock You Down" and "Turnin
Me On". The album reached number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop
Albums chart and was eventually certified gold.[1] Hilson earned
two Grammy Award nominations for the album including Best Rap/Sung
Collaboration for "Knock You Down", which features Kanye
West and Ne-Yo. A reissue of the album, included previously unreleased
songs such as "I Like". The song became Hilson's first
number one hit in Germany and certified platinum there. As a prominent
guest vocalist in both the contemporary R&B and hip hop genres,
Hilson has been featured on over a dozen singles by other artists,
including the number-one hit single "The Way I Are" with
Timbaland.
Hilson was born in Decatur, Georgia.[2] She attended Tucker High
School in Tucker, Georgia. At the age of 12, Hilson began piano and
singing lessons.[2] During her mid to late teens, Hilson began her
career as a songwriter and background vocalist, working under producer
Anthony Dent.[2] After trying and failing with two girl groups, Pretty
Toni and D'Sign, Hilson enrolled at Oxford College of Emory University
in Atlanta while still pursing a music career.[3] Hilson cites Janet
Jackson as a major influence in her career.
[edit] 2001–2007: Songwriting with The Clutch and solo ventures
Hilson began writing music for other artists in 2001 as part of
the five-person production/songwriting team known as The Clutch.[2]
She also made a name for herself as a song arranger and sung background
vocals on many of the songs she had written for artists such as Usher,
Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, and Ciara.[2] Hilson's songwriting was responsible
for numerous hit singles, including Mary J. Blige's "Take Me
as I Am", Omarion's "Ice Box", "Crazy in Love,
the Pussycat Dolls' "Wait a Minute", Britney Spears' "Gimme
More" and also Ciara's "Like a Boy".[2][4]
She remained mostly behind the scenes until 2004, when she was featured
on the single "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)" by the rapper Xzibit.
Hilson made her performing debut at the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards
in which she performed the song live with Xzibit.[2] In 2006 she
signed as an artist to Timbaland's record label, Mosley Music.[5]
In 2007 Hilson made several appearances on Timbaland's solo effort
Shock Value, including the singles "Scream" and "The
Way I Are" which reached number three on the US Billboard Hot
100.[2] Furthermore, she was featured on the track "Lost Girls" on
Zone 4-labelmate Rich Boy's debut album and its second single "Good
Things". Hilson was credited as a writer and backing vocalist
on Britney Spears's album Blackout. She made several appearances
in music videos for singles such as "Love in This Club" by
Usher and also in the music video for Ne-Yo's single, "Miss
Independent".[6]
[edit] 2008–2009: In a Perfect World
Main article: 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.[7] According to the singer, the title
of the album is her way of "saying nothing in the world is perfect
and no person in it is, either. None of us are exempt from certain
hardships and heartbreaks and we all have something about our lives
that we'd change if only we could - be it body image, financial status,
love life...[8] It was really important for me to write songs that
women can relate to from real situations. I didn’t want to
do an album that painted myself as perfect because no matter how
things look, no one is.[9] I called it that with the ellipses - dot
dot dot - because it's an incomplete statement. I wanted to talk
about how nobody's exempted from the realities of life and all those
things."[10] It was executively produced by Timbaland and Polow
da Don. In a Perfect World... debuted at number four on the US Billboard
200 and at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
with first week sales of approximately 94,000 copies,[11] and earned
generally favorable reviews from music critics who noted it a "seductive
debut CD full of slick, radio-friendly cuts."[12] and was eventually
certified gold by the RIAA.[13]
"Energy" was released as the album's lead single on May
20, 2008. It reached a peak of number seventy-eight on the US Billboard
Hot 100,[1] number twenty-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[1]
and achieved minor success in the UK.[14] The song became a success
in New Zealand, where it reached a peak of number two and gained
a gold accreditation there.[15] In October 2008 Hilson collaborated
with fellow singer Chris Brown on a song titled "Superhuman",
which reached the top twenty in Ireland and New Zealand.[16] "Return
the Favor" which features Timbaland was released as the album's
second single. It peaked within the top twenty in the UK,[17] Ireland,[18]
and Belgium.[19] "Turnin Me On" which featured Lil Wayne
became Hilson's first top twenty hit as a solo artist on the Billboard
Hot 100, where it reached number fifteen on the chart.[1] The song
reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming
Hilson's first top five hit on the chart.[1]
"Knock You Down", a collaboration with Kanye West and
Ne-Yo, was released as the album's fourth single. The song has proven
to be Hilson's most successful worldwide single to date. It peaked
at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 for three non-consecutive
weeks and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[1] It additionally
appeared the in top ten of five other countries and certified platinum
in New Zealand[20] and gold in Australia. The song received a nomination
for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 52nd Grammy Awards. A reissue
of the album, included previously unreleased songs such as "I
Like". The song was used for the German film Zweiohrküken[21]
and became Hilson's first number one hit in Germany[22] which certified
platinum there.[23] Meanwhile Hilson continued appearing on single
releases by several artists throughout 2009 including Plies' single "Medicine",
Fabolous' "Everything, Everyday, Everywhere," Nas' "Hero" and
Sean Paul's "Hold My Hand".
[edit] 2010–present: No Boys Allowed
Main article: No Boys Allowed
In January 2010 Hilson guest featured on Akon's charity single "Oh
Africa". She was also part of the extended A-list of musical
artists during the recording session of "We Are the World 25
for Haiti". Hilson also made guest features on other singles
including "Million Dollar Girl" by Trina and T.I's "Got
Your Back". In April 2010 it was revealed she was the new face
of Avon, replacing singer Jennifer Hudson.[24]
Her second studio album No Boys Allowed was released on December
21, 2010. Hilson explained that, "No Boys Allowed is a deeply
personal project designed to bring women to their feet. The provocative
title, is not what you may think. It's not about excluding men. It's
more about women understanding that there comes a time in your life
when you want a man. A real man. A grown up. Not a boy. And that's
not a bad thing. I write from a female perspective, but I'm also
telling men what women are really thinking and feeling about them."[25]
The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 with 102,000
copies sold. Though it sold 8,000 copies more than her debut album,
In a Perfect World..., it failed to match that album's debut chart
position of number four.[26]
"Breaking Point", produced by Timbaland was released as
the album's lead single in the United States on September 7, 2010.
It reached a peak of number forty-four on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop
Songs chart.[27] "Pretty Girl Rock" was released as the
second single on October 12, 2010.[28] It has reached a current peak
of number ten on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart[29] and peaked
at number thirty-one on the US Billboard Hot 100.[30] The music video
for the song has received critical acclaim and praise for its homage
to musical icons of the past such as Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge,
The Andrew Sisters, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson and TLC.
Hilson appears as each singer in a well-known scene from the era
depicted.
[edit] Discography
Main article: Keri Hilson discography
* In a Perfect World... (2009)
* No Boys Allowed (2010)
[edit] Awards and nominations
Year Type Award Result
2007 MTV Video Music Awards Monster Single of the Year ("The
Way I Are" with Timbaland)[31] Nominated
2009 American Music Awards Favorite Female R&B/Soul Artist Nominated[32]
Breakthrough Artist[33] Nominated
BET Awards[34] Best New Artist Won
Viewer's Choice ("Turnin Me On") with Lil Wayne Nominated
Best Collaboration ("Turnin Me On") with Lil Wayne Nominated
Best Female R&B Artist Nominated
Urban Music Awards Best Album (In A Perfect World) Nominated[35]
Best Female Act Nominated[35]
MOBO Awards Best International Act Nominated[36]
Best R&B/Soul Act Won[37]
Soul Train Awards Best New Artist Won[38]
Song of the Year ("Turnin Me On") with Lil Wayne Nominated[38]
Record of the Year ("Knock You Down") Nominated[38]
Best Collaboration ("Knock You Down") Won[39]
2010 Grammy Awards Best New Artist Nominated[40]
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Knock You Down") Nominated[41]
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist Won