Keri Hilson

Contemporary R&B singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer Keri Hilson is known for her ebullient voice as much as her creative pen game. Before she could utilize her talents for her own solo endeavors, she co-wrote a slew of Top 40 hits, beginning with the Pussycat Dolls' "Wait a Minute" and continuing with Ludacris' "Runaway Love," Omarion's "Ice Box," and Britney Spears' "Gimme More." At the tail end of the 2000s, she made her solo debut with In a Perfect World... (2009), a gold-certified album highlighted by the number three pop single "Knock You Down." She earned two Grammy nominations -- including Best New Artist -- before she followed up with No Boys Allowed (2010) and another Top 40 single, "Pretty Girl Rock." As Hilson became established as an actress in films like Think Like a Man and Riddick, she continued to work on music and persevered through numerous industry snags before she returned with a three-part album led by We Need to Talk: Love (2025), a fresh update of her sound.

Hilson was born in Decatur, Georgia, a few miles outside Atlanta. Addicted to TV talent shows like Star Search and Showtime at the Apollo, she was already plotting out her career in music at age 12. Even though her mother hired a piano teacher to encourage those talents, she mainly wanted to sing. Hilson converted those sessions into vocal lessons, accompanying the teacher on piano. In her teens, she jump-started her career as a songwriter and background vocalist, working with producer Anthony Dent (Kelly Price, Faith Evans, Destiny's Child). Born out of that association were two short-lived groups (Pretty Toni and D'Sign) and, more importantly, a host of connections within the industry for whom Hilson wrote or did backup vocals, including Usher, Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, Ciara, and up-and-coming Southern rap producer Polow da Don.

After Hilson graduated from high school, she managed to continue juggling all these tasks when she enrolled at Emory University in Atlanta. She eventually moved on from Dent and began working more with Polow da Don. Attending school while actively advancing her music career put a great demand on her, especially from being a member of the extremely versatile Clutch team. But as luck would have it, Polow introduced her to superproducer Timbaland, who wasted no time in signing the multi-talented vocalist to his growing Mosley Music imprint in 2006. Over the next couple years, Hilson's songwriting was practically ubiquitous, responsible for numerous hit singles, including Mary J. Blige's "Take Me as I Am," Omarion's "Ice Box," the Pussycat Dolls' "Wait a Minute," Ludacris' "Runaway Love," and Britney Spears' "Gimme More." She was also featured prominently on Timbaland Presents Shock Value, including "The Way I Are," a number three hit on the Billboard Hot 100

With Timbaland and Polow in her corner, Hilson relied on the vast pool of recording artists and producers who needed (and wanted) to return the favor for her Mosley Music/Interscope debut. Following a couple pre-release singles and numerous delays, In a Perfect World... was issued in March 2009, shortly after one of its tracks, "Turnin' Me On," had reached the Top 20 of the Hot 100. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number four, topped the R&B/hip-hop chart, and eventually reached gold status. Hilson earned Grammy nominations in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (for "Knock You Down," a number three pop hit). She remained visible with another string of guest appearances -- on Sean Paul's "Hold My Hand," Trina's "Million Dollar Girl," and T.I.'s "Got Your Back," to name a few of many -- as she plotted her follow-up. The assertive "Breaking Point" began the promotional campaign for Hilson's second album, and though the song reached number 44 on the R&B/hip-hop chart, it was soon eclipsed by "Pretty Girl Rock," an anthemic collaboration with Chuck Harmony and Ne-Yo that became Hilson's third Top 40 single as a headliner. No Boys Allowed, the parent album, arrived in December 2010 and debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200. "One Night Stand" and "Lose Control," respectively featuring Chris Brown and Nelly, likewise charted.

As Hilson worked on a third album, occasionally performed in package tours, and continued her extensive charity work, she landed numerous acting roles, appearing throughout the 2010s in films such as Think Like a Man, Riddick, and Almost Christmas. In the 2020s, she continued to act in television movies and in For the Love of Money. Hilson returned to music in 2025, first by duetting with Eric Benét on "Can't Wait," then by releasing "Bae," her first single in 14 years. That April, she independently issued We Need to Talk: Love, the first installment of a three-part album. In addition to the feel-good "Bae," the set contained the Method Man collaboration "Searchin" (produced by Danja) and the airy slow jam "Say That." ~ Cyril Cordor & Andy Kellman