Who is Keri Lynn Hilson?

Who is Keri Lynn Hilson? The world know her as an American recording artist signed to Zone 4, Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records. She is part of a collective of writers and producers known as The Clutch. Through the early and late 2000s, Hilson wrote songs for multiple rappers and singers, including Britney Spears and Ludacris. In 2007, she guest performed on Timbaland's hits "The Way I Are" and "Scream" and began a solo singing career. Hilson has made cameos in music videos for Usher, Ne-Yo and Nelly, amongst others. Her debut album, In a Perfect World..., was released in early 2009, spawning hit singles "Energy", "Turnin' Me On" and "Knock You Down".


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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 Awardnominations 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 hopgenres, Hilson has been featured on over a dozen singles by other artists, including the number-one hit single "The Way I Are" with Timbaland.3333

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" byTrina and T.I's "Got Your Back". In April 2010 it was revealed she was the new face of Avon, replacing singer Jennifer Hudson

Keri Lynn Hilson was born in 1982 in Decatur, Georgia.^[1] During her adolescence, Hilson studied piano and singing,^[1] and she joined the girl group D'Signe when she was 14.^[2] She became a songwriter and backing vocalist while in high school, and she attended Emory University, where she majored in theater.^[1][3]

Hilson began songwriting in 2001 and would go on to write tracks for Britney Spears, Ciara, Usher and Ludacris.^[2] In 2004, she was featured on Xzibit's single, "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)".^[4] 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.^[5]
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.^[6][7] 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.^[8] She performs the song along with Timbaland and OneRepublic on the soap opera One Life to Live in October 2007.^[9] 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.

Hilson also played the lead role in Usher's music video for "Love in This Club", (as well as co-writing its "Pt. II" remix) appeared as one of the "independent women" in Ne-Yo's music video for "Miss Independent"
Ne-Yo on MUZU.^[10] Later in the year, Hilson performed on Nas' debut single "Hero"

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from his controversial untitled album; it reached number 97 on the Hot 100 and number 82 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts.

After many pushbacks, Hilson's debut solo album In a Perfect World... was released on March 24, 2009.^[11] In A Perfect World... debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.^[12]

The midtempo ballad "Energy" eventually became her first world single and was released as a digital download on May 27, 2008. The video premiered on July 14, 2008. It charted at number 78 on the Billboard Top 100, number 21 and 72 on R&B 100 and Pop 100 respectively. The single performed best in New Zealand where it charted at number 2 but failed to significantly chart elsewhere. The song is being released on CD on September 14, 2009 as the third UK single. ^[13]
"Return the Favor"
Keri Hilson on MUZUwas released officially as the second US single on October 7, 2008. The video premiered soon afterward on October 23, 2008 but failed to chart. In the UK, Europe and Australia the single was released from April 10, 2009. "Return the Favour" became a Top 20 hit in the UK, German and Irish Singles charts and a Top 10 hit in the UK R&B Singles Chart.

"Turnin' Me On" (featuring Lil Wayne) was released as the third North American single (second in New Zealand) on November 25, 2008.^[14] The single peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 2 and 28 on R&B 100 and Pop 100 respectively. It was also the first single to chart in Canada, although it only reached number 80.
"Knock You Down" (featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo) is the 4th US single from the album as confirmed by Hilson on her Official Album Countdown Video-blog.. The video premiered on March 23, 2009 on Ne-Yo's official YouTube channel. The single has been Hilson's most successful solo offering to date as it reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop 100. On 18th May 2009, "Knock You Down" became Hilson's first number one single in the New Zealand Singles chart as lead vocalist and held onto the top spot for six consecutive weeks.^[15] Elsewhere, "Knock You Down" peaked at number 5 and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and UK R&B Singles Chart respectively based on digital sales alone.
She also appeared on rapper Asher Roth's debut album, Asleep In the Bread Aisle on the song "She Don't Wanna Man".
Recently Hilson recorded several performances for Walmart's-Soundcheck promotion where she performed "Alienated", smash hits "Knock You Down" and "Turnin' Me On" as well as new US single "Slow Dance" and new international single "Energy". The performances can be purchased as Walmart exclusive EP.^[16] Additionally, during an interview with Walmart Hilson revealed she will be touring for a third time in 2009 as the opening act for the international leg of Ne-Yo's Year of the Gentleman Tour.

Discography

Main article: Keri Hilson discography

• In a Perfect World... (2009)

Awards

• 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)

• 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: (Nominated)

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

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

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