# Keri Hilson

**Keri Hilson** (full name Keri Lynn Hilson; born 1982 in [Decatur, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/decatur-georgia)) is an American R&B singer, vocal arranger, and songwriter.<sup>[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2008136858.html)</sup> She entered the music industry behind the scenes, co-writing hits for other artists including [Britney Spears](https://www.edgepedia.org/britney-spears)' "Gimme More" and the Pussycat Dolls' "Wait a Minute," before breaking through as a featured vocalist on Timbaland's "The Way I Are" and fronting her own albums, In a [Perfect World](https://www.edgepedia.org/perfect-world)... (2009) and No Boys Allowed (2010).<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> "The Way I Are" and "Knock You Down" each peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)</sup> After roughly 15 years without a new album, she returned in April 2025 with WE NEED TO TALK: LOVE, the first installment of a planned trilogy, released as an independent artist.<sup>[4](https://apnews.com/article/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-44069366efe5d2d4ccbc3bec41f27219)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://variety.com/2025/music/news/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-hiatus-control-1236374606/)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Keri Lynn Hilson; born 1982 in Decatur, Georgia<sup>[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2008136858.html)</sup> |
| Professions | R&B singer, vocal arranger, and songwriter<sup>[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2008136858.html)</sup> |
| Verified co-writes | "Gimme More" (Britney Spears), "Wait a Minute" (Pussycat Dolls), "Runaway Love" (Ludacris), "Ice Box" (Omarion)<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> |
| Hot 100 peaks | "The Way I Are" No. 3 (2007, with Timbaland); "Knock You Down" No. 3 (2009, feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo); "Turnin Me On" No. 15; "Pretty Girl Rock" No. 24<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)</sup> |
| Albums | In a Perfect World... (March 2009), No. 4 on the Billboard 200, topped the R&B/hip-hop chart, gold; No Boys Allowed (December 2010), No. 11<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> |
| Grammy record | 0 wins from 2 nominations, both at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards (2010)<sup>[6](https://www.grammy.com/artists/keri-hilson/13499/)</sup> |
| Return | WE NEED TO TALK: LOVE, released April 18, 2025, first of a planned trilogy<sup>[4](https://apnews.com/article/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-44069366efe5d2d4ccbc3bec41f27219)</sup> |

## Early life and musical beginnings

**Decatur roots.** Hilson was born Keri Lynn Hilson in 1982, and was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia.<sup>[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2008136858.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](http://kerihilson.com/)</sup> Her mother hired a piano teacher to encourage her musical talents, but Hilson mainly wanted to sing and converted those sessions into vocal lessons.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup>

**First group.** At age 14 she secured a record deal with the girl group D'Signe, which disbanded without any releases.<sup>[7](http://kerihilson.com/)</sup> Rolling Stone adds that she was recruited as a 14-year-old Atlanta native and that the group was dropped from its label without releasing an album.<sup>[8](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/breaking-keri-hilson-2-255489/)</sup>

**College years.** She attended Oxford College of Emory University while contributing material for artists including Britney Spears, Usher, Ciara, The Pussycat Dolls, and [Mary J. Blige](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-j-blige).<sup>[7](http://kerihilson.com/)</sup>

## Songwriting and featured-artist years

**Behind the scenes.** Hilson began her music career in 2002 as a songwriter and backing vocalist under record producer Anthony Dent.<sup>[7](http://kerihilson.com/)</sup> Around 2004, described in a 2009 Reuters profile as five years earlier, she signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group.<sup>[9](https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/rb-singer-keri-hilson-took-detour-to-stardom-idUSTRE579073/)</sup> She joined the songwriting-production group the Clutch; Reuters reports she became a founding member of the collective after being stranded in Miami during [Hurricane Katrina](https://www.edgepedia.org/hurricane-katrina) following a songwriting retreat.<sup>[7](http://kerihilson.com/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/rb-singer-keri-hilson-took-detour-to-stardom-idUSTRE579073/)</sup>

**Verified co-writes.** Before her solo career she co-wrote a run of [Top 40](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-40) hits: the Pussycat Dolls' "Wait a Minute," Ludacris' "Runaway Love," Omarion's "Ice Box," and Britney Spears' "Gimme More."<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> Usher's "Love In This Club, Part II" is also credited to her.<sup>[8](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/breaking-keri-hilson-2-255489/)</sup> Create Music Group's signing announcement describes her pre-solo work as a sought-after songwriter and backing vocalist and notes that "Gimme More" achieved international success.<sup>[10](https://createmusicgroup.com/news/rb-veteran-keri-hilson-signs-with-create-music-group)</sup>

**Guest-vocalist breakthrough.** Hilson debuted as a featured vocalist on tracks including Timbaland's "The Way I Are" and Xzibit's "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)."<sup>[5](https://variety.com/2025/music/news/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-hiatus-control-1236374606/)</sup> "The Way I Are," on Timbaland's album Timbaland Presents Shock Value, became a number 3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> Atlanta-based producer [Polow da Don](https://www.edgepedia.org/polow-da-don) arranged an introduction between Hilson and [Timbaland](https://www.edgepedia.org/timbaland), who signed her in 2006 to his Interscope-distributed Mosley Music imprint.<sup>[9](https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/rb-singer-keri-hilson-took-detour-to-stardom-idUSTRE579073/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup>

## Recording career and discography

**In a Perfect World... (2009).** Hilson's debut album was issued in March 2009, shortly after "Turnin Me On," featuring [Lil Wayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/lil-wayne), had reached the Hot 100's top 20.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> The album entered the [Billboard](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-magazine) 200 at number 4, topped Billboard's R&B/hip-hop chart, and eventually reached gold status.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> "Turnin Me On" peaked at number 15 on the Hot 100 across 12 weeks (January 3 to March 28, 2009), and "Knock You Down," featuring [Kanye West](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanye-west) and Ne-Yo, peaked at number 3 across 12 weeks (April 11 to June 20, 2009).<sup>[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)</sup>

**No Boys Allowed (2010).** Her second album arrived in December 2010 and debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> Its single "Breaking Point" reached number 44 on the R&B/hip-hop chart.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> "Pretty Girl Rock," a collaboration with Chuck Harmony and Ne-Yo, became her third Top 40 single as a headliner and peaked at number 24 on the Hot 100 across 12 weeks (December 11, 2010 to March 26, 2011).<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)</sup> Billboard's archive also lists a T.I. track featuring Hilson that peaked at number 38 with a chart date of June 19, 2010.<sup>[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)</sup>

## By the numbers

- **Hot 100 peaks as a headliner:** "Knock You Down" No. 3 (12 weeks), "Turnin Me On" No. 15 (12 weeks), "Pretty Girl Rock" No. 24 (12 weeks).<sup>[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)</sup>
- **Featured peaks:** "The Way I Are" with Timbaland, a No. 3 hit per AllMusic; Billboard's chart archive for Hilson lists a 2007 entry peaking at No. 3 with a peak date of June 16, 2007 and 12 weeks on the chart, matching that account.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)</sup> A T.I. track featuring Hilson peaked at No. 38 (June 19, 2010).<sup>[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)</sup>
- **Albums:** In a Perfect World... reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200, topped the R&B/hip-hop chart, and was later certified gold; No Boys Allowed debuted at No. 11.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup>
- **Grammy record:** zero wins from two nominations.<sup>[6](https://www.grammy.com/artists/keri-hilson/13499/)</sup>

## Hiatus and return

**Roughly 15 years between albums.** In an April 2025 interview with the Associated Press, Hilson, then 42, described feeling "free" and "unburdened" and attributed the roughly 15-year hiatus after No Boys Allowed to a combination of factors, including a leaked Beyoncé diss track in 2009.<sup>[4](https://apnews.com/article/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-44069366efe5d2d4ccbc3bec41f27219)</sup> She now releases music as an independent artist after getting out of contracts she says kept her dormant.<sup>[5](https://variety.com/2025/music/news/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-hiatus-control-1236374606/)</sup> AllMusic dates the return to 2025: she first duetted with [Eric Benét](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-benet) on "Can't Wait," then released "Bae," which it calls her first single in 14 years.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup>

## What has changed since 2023

**New label and album.** Hilson has officially joined Create Music Group, per the company's own announcement.<sup>[10](https://createmusicgroup.com/news/rb-veteran-keri-hilson-signs-with-create-music-group)</sup> Her third album, WE NEED TO TALK: LOVE, was released on Friday, April 18, 2025, following 2010's No Boys Allowed.<sup>[4](https://apnews.com/article/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-44069366efe5d2d4ccbc3bec41f27219)</sup> Led by the single "Bae," the nine-track album deals with romance and introspection and is the first of a trilogy set for release that year.<sup>[4](https://apnews.com/article/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-44069366efe5d2d4ccbc3bec41f27219)</sup>

**Acting.** During the 2020s she has continued acting in television movies and in the film For the Love of Money; her earlier screen roles include [Think Like a Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/think-like-a-man), Riddick, and [Almost Christmas](https://www.edgepedia.org/almost-christmas-film).<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup> At the time, the AP reported that she had an upcoming Lifetime film, Fame: A Temptations Story.<sup>[4](https://apnews.com/article/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-44069366efe5d2d4ccbc3bec41f27219)</sup>

## Artistry, image, and reception

The Library of Congress authority record identifies Hilson not only as an R&B singer and songwriter but as a vocal arranger, a designation that matches her path from writing and arranging for other artists to fronting her own records.<sup>[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2008136858.html)</sup> Variety's account of her arc runs from guest vocalist on "The Way I Are" and "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)" to headliner with two top 20 hits from her debut album.<sup>[5](https://variety.com/2025/music/news/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-hiatus-control-1236374606/)</sup>

"Pretty Girl Rock," written with Chuck Harmony and Ne-Yo, stands as her third Top 40 entry as a headliner.<sup>[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)</sup>

**Awards.** The Recording Academy's official artist page records zero wins and two nominations, both at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards (2010): Best New Artist, and a nomination for "Knock You Down" with Kanye West and Ne-Yo.<sup>[6](https://www.grammy.com/artists/keri-hilson/13499/)</sup>

## References

1. [Hilson, Keri — Library of Congress Name Authority Record](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2008136858.html)
2. [Keri Hilson — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keri-hilson-mn0000664272)
3. [Keri Hilson | Biography, Music & News, Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/artist/keri-hilson/)
4. [Keri Hilson's 'We Need to Talk' marks her return to music after a 15-year absence, AP News (April 2025)](https://apnews.com/article/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-44069366efe5d2d4ccbc3bec41f27219)
5. [Keri Hilson Reflects on the Hiatus That Led to 'We Need to Talk', Variety (2025)](https://variety.com/2025/music/news/keri-hilson-we-need-to-talk-hiatus-control-1236374606/)
6. [Keri Hilson Grammy Awards and Nominations, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/keri-hilson/13499/)
7. [Keri Hilson, official website biography](http://kerihilson.com/)
8. [Breaking: Keri Hilson, Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/breaking-keri-hilson-2-255489/)
9. [R&B singer Keri Hilson took detour to stardom, Reuters (2009)](https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/rb-singer-keri-hilson-took-detour-to-stardom-idUSTRE579073/)
10. [R&B Veteran Keri Hilson Signs With Create Music Group, Create Music Group](https://createmusicgroup.com/news/rb-veteran-keri-hilson-signs-with-create-music-group)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 1990s and 2000s › R&B singers of the 2000s › Surnames A to L*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license