Keri Hilson

Singer-songwriter

• Born: December 5, 1982
• Place of Birth: Decatur, Georgia

Contribution: Keri Hilson is a singer and songwriter best known for her hip-hop–influenced rhythm and blues (R & B) albums In a Perfect World . . . (2009) and No Boys Allowed (2010). She has also embarked upon a successful acting career in projects such as Hip Hop Family Christmas.

Background

Keri Lynne Hilson was born on December 5, 1982, in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, Georgia. Her mother manages a day care center, and her father is a property developer who also sang in a quartet when Hilson was a child, which influenced her early interest in music.

As a child, Hilson enjoyed watching televised talent shows such as Star Search and Showtime at the Apollo. She began taking piano lessons when she was twelve years old, but her true passion was singing, so she would convert the piano lessons into vocal exercises. Hilson became a member of the all-girl singing group D’Sign when she was a teenager, and although the group was signed by Elektra Records in 2000, it disbanded before releasing an album. Hilson was also a member of the short-lived girl group Pretty Toni.

Hilson attended Atlanta’s Emory University and majored in theater. As a freshman she began writing songs and working as a background vocalist under Atlanta record producer Anthony Dent for such major artists as Usher, Ciara, and Ludacris. She was also a member of a production and songwriting team known as the Clutch, which wrote hit songs for artists such as Mary J. Blige and Britney Spears. In 2006 rapper and producer Jamal Fincher Jones, known as Polow da Don, landed Hilson a meeting with renowned producer Tim “Timbaland” Mosley, who then signed her to his Mosley Music Group record label.

Career

Hilson was a prolific songwriter and backup vocalist for Mosley Music. Her big break came on Timbaland’s 2007 album Shock Value. Hilson’s vocals were featured on three songs, two of which she helped compose, including the chart-topper “The Way I Are.” Also in 2007 Hilson sang backup vocals for rap artist will.i.am on his album Songs about Girls and composed songs and provided vocals for Ludacris, Britney Spears, and Jennifer Lopez. In 2008 she was featured in the music videos for Usher’s “Love in This Club” and Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent.”

From 2006 to 2009 Hilson worked on her debut solo album with the help of Timbaland and Polow da Don. The album was originally scheduled for a 2007 release, but due to the record label’s budget problems and Hilson’s perfectionism, the album continued to be delayed.

Hilson’s single “Energy,” released in 2008, was well received by critics and helped to promote the album. In a Perfect World . . . debuted in 2009 at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart and sold more than 500,000 copies by year’s end. Although the album was given mixed reviews by critics, Hilson won the 2009 BET Award for best new artist and was nominated for two Grammy Awards (best new artist and best rap/sung collaboration) in 2010.

Hilson toured as a supporting act on rapper Lil Wayne’s I Am Music tour in early 2009 and then began recording her follow-up album, No Boys Allowed. For the album’s production, Hilson reunited with Timbaland and Polow da Don, and she also brought on producers Dr. Dre and Danja. As with her first album, Hilson refused to rush the process. The album was released in December 2010.

No Boys Allowed also received mixed reviews. Although it sold more copies than In a Perfect World . . ., it was not as successful on the Billboard charts, peaking at number seven in the United States. The single “Pretty Girls Rock” was nominated for video of the year at the 2011 BET Awards, where Hilson was also nominated for best female R & B artist. Late in 2011 Hilson headlined her own European tour. In 2016, Hilson joined Mya, Brandy, Ashanti, Monica, and Amerie on the Femme It Forward Tour.

Hilson branched out into acting in the 2010s. She made her acting debut in the 2012 romantic comedy Think Like a Man. Although it received mixed critical reviews, the film grossed more than $96 million worldwide. In her next film, Hilson played a prisoner in the 2013 Vin Diesel science-fiction thriller Riddick. She later appeared in the holiday comedy Almost Christmas (2016) and the television movie Love by the 10th Date (2017). Other roles included the 2021 film For the Love of Money and the 2023 television movie Ruined. She starred with Ne-Yo in two television movies, 2021's Hip Hop Family Christmas and Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding the following year.

Impact

Hilson has proven herself to be a versatile artist who found equal success as a songwriter and vocalist before expanding her influence into acting. She has used her fame and connections to support humanitarian efforts, including assistance for the victims of the 2010 Haitian earthquake, suicide prevention among gay youths, and AIDS awareness and prevention.

In addition to her music-related awards and nominations, Hilson has also received a 2011 Get Schooled Award for her work in encouraging young people to stay in school and earn a degree.

Bibliography

Hilson, Keri. Interview by Joseph Patterson. MTV UK. MTV Networks, 17 June 2011. Web. 3 Sept. 2013.

Hilson, Keri. Interview by Leanne Joseph. Live-Magazine. Live Magazine, 18 July 2011. Web. 3 Sept. 2013.

Hilson, Keri. "Interview: Keri Hilson Talks New Film and Why She Hasn't Released an Album." Interview with Ty Cole. BET, 29 Nov. 2022, www.bet.com/article/jp4gi5/keri-hilson-hip-hop-family-christmas. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.

Hilson, Keri. “Keri Hilson: In Control.” Interview by Damien Scott. Complex Music. Complex Media, 17 Apr. 2012. Web. 4 Sept. 2013.

"Keri Hilson." IMDb, 2023, www.imdb.com/name/nm2778747/. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.

“Keri Hilson Receives 106 & Park Get Schooled Award.” Get Schooled. Get School, n.d. Web. 3 Sept. 2013.

Muhammad, Latifah. “Pregnant? Retiring? Keri Hilson Hits the Rumor Mill Head On.” BET. Black Entertainment Television, 11 June 2013. Web. 4 Sept. 2013.

Van Dusen, Christine. “Pretty Girl Rocks: Chart Topping Keri Hilson Has Built a Career on Breaking the Rules.” Atlanta Magazine. Atlanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 5 Sept. 2013.