Keri Hilson

Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982 in Decatur, Georgia) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress whose career has spanned over two decades. She first entered the music industry in 2002 as a teenage songwriter and backing vocalist under the mentorship of producer Anthony Dent, contributing to tracks for Usher, Ludacris, Ciara and Britney Spears, and later joining the songwriting collective The Clutch in 2004. Hilson's first chart appearance came with a guest verse on Xzibit’s “Hey Now (Mean Muggin)” and she soon gained mainstream recognition when she featured on Timbaland’s 2007 hit “The Way I Are,” which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in eight countries. After signing with Polow da Don and Timbaland’s Mosley Music Group, she released her debut single “Energy” in 2008, followed by “Return the Favor” and “Turnin Me On,” leading up to her gold‑certified debut album In a Perfect World… (2009) that peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200. The album produced the Grammy‑nominated single “Knock You Down,” featuring Kanye West and Ne‑Yo, and cemented her status as a versatile R&B and pop artist. Her second album No Boys Allowed (2010) explored themes of empowerment and independence, delivering the platinum‑certified “Pretty Girl Rock” and marking a stylistic shift toward more aggressive, girl‑power anthems. In addition to music, Hilson ventured into acting with a debut in Tim Story’s romantic comedy Think Like a Man (2012) and later appeared in Riddick (2013) and For the Love of Money (2021). A committed philanthropist, she has supported HIV/AIDS awareness, disaster relief, and education initiatives, and has been an ambassador for MTV Staying Alive and Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign. After a long hiatus, she returned in 2025 with the self‑released single “Bae” and the album We Need to Talk, showcasing her continued relevance and artistic evolution.