Keri Hilson

Keri Lynn Hilson (born 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. 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.


Keri Hilson - Knock You Down ft. Kanye West, Ne-Yo



Keri Hilson - Pretty Girl Rock



Keri Hilson - The Way You Love Me ft. Rick Ross


Keri Hilson - Lose Control ft. Nelly






Life and career

[edit]1982–2000: Early life and career beginnings
Hilson was born in Decatur, Georgia.[3] She attended Tucker High School in Tucker, Georgia. At the age of 12, Hilson began piano and singing lessons.[3] During her mid to late teens, Hilson began her career as a songwriter and background vocalist, working under producer Anthony Dent.[3] 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.[4] 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.[3] 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.[3] Hilson's songwriting was 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", Britney Spears' "Gimme More", Nas's "Hero",and also Ciara's "Like a Boy".[3][5]
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.[3] In 2006 she signed as an artist to Timbaland's record label, Mosley Music.[6] 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.[3] 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".[7]
[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.[8] 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...[9] 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.[10] 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."[11] 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,[12] and earned generally favorable reviews from music critics who noted it a "seductive debut CD full of slick, radio-friendly cuts."[13] and was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.[14]
"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,[2] number twenty-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[2] and achieved minor success in the UK.[15] The song became a success in New Zealand, where it reached a peak of number two and gained a gold accreditation there.[16] 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.[17] "Return the Favor" which features Timbaland was released as the album's second single. It peaked within the top twenty in the UK,[18] Ireland,[19] and Belgium.[20] "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.[2] The song reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming Hilson's first top five hit on the chart.[2]
"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.[2] It additionally appeared the in top ten of five other countries and certified platinum in New Zealand[21] 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[22] and became Hilson's first number one hit in Germany[23] which certified platinum there.[24] 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


Hilson performing during the VH1 Divas Salute The Troops concert, in 2010
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.[25]
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."[26] 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.[27]
"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.[28] "Pretty Girl Rock" was released as the second single on October 12, 2010.[29] It has reached a current peak of number ten on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart[30] and peaked at number twenty four on the US Billboard Hot 100.[31] 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 Andrews Sisters, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson and TLC. Hilson appears as each singer in a well-known scene from the era depicted. As of early 2011 she is preparing for a spring tour and is opening for TLC's 20th Anniversary celebration concert and beginning work on a third album featuring TLC, Blaque and more girl groups. She is featured on Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins' album Still Cool.
"One Night Stand " featuring Chris Brown, is the album's third single. In February 2011, Hilson told Rap-Up magazine that she was considering choosing "One Night Stand" as the next single from No Boys Allowed, after an outpouring of fan support. She said, "My fans are really liking "One Night Stand" with Chris Brown ... I have a lot of favorites, but the fans are wanting "One Night Stand." It’s going to be my urban single. Not going to be, but if we go with it, we'll go with that."[32] The song has appeared on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number sixty-eight.[33] It has been announced that "Lose Control" featuring Nelly, will serve as the album's next single.[34]
[edit]Discography

Main article: Keri Hilson discography
In a Perfect World... (2009)
No Boys Allowed (2010)
[edit]Awards and nominations

Year Type Nominated work Award Result
2007 MTV Video Music Awards "The Way I Are" with Timbaland and D.O.E. Monster Single of the Year Nominated
2009 American Music Awards[35] Herself Favorite Female R&B/Soul Artist Nominated
Breakthrough Artist Nominated
BET Awards[36] Best New Artist Won
Best Female R&B Artist Nominated
"Turnin Me On" feat. Lil Wayne Viewer's Choice Nominated
Best Collaboration Nominated
Urban Music Awards In a Perfect World... Best Album Nominated
Herself Best Female Act Nominated
MOBO Awards[38] Best International Act Nominated
Best R&B/Soul Act Won
Soul Train Awards[39] Best New Artist Won
"Turnin Me On" Song of the Year Nominated
"Knock You Down" feat. Kanye West and Ne-Yo Best Collaboration Won
Record of the Year Nominated
2010 Grammy Awards Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Nominated
Herself Best New Artist Nominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist Won
2011 BET Awards Best Female R&B Artist Nominated
"Pretty Girl Rock" Video of the Year Nominated
References from Wikipedia.com