Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is a singer, songwriter, and actor from the United States. She was born and reared in Decatur, Georgia, and spent most of her childhood working as a lyricist and backup vocalist for various R&B and hip-hop musicians with producer Anthony Dent. Hilson had a record deal with the girl group D’Signe, which later disbanded, by the age of 14. She attended Emory University’s Oxford College in Georgia while continuing to write songs for artists such as Britney Spears, The Pussycat Dolls, and Mary J. Blige as part of the production and songwriting duo The Clutch. Hilson signed with Mosley Music, the record label of American producer and rapper Timbaland, in 2006. Her breakthrough came in 2007 when she appeared on Timbaland’s hit “The Way I Are,” which topped the charts worldwide.
Hilson’s music is R&B, hip-hop, and pop, with typical themes of women, sexual intimacy, and love. Her musical influences stem from her father’s family. In a Perfect World…, Hilson’s debut studio album, was released in 2009 and debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 list, later being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Knock You Down” (with Kanye West and Ne-Yo), “Turnin Me On” (featuring Lil Wayne), and “I Like” were among the album’s major singles. It also earned Hilson two Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Knock You Down”. No Guys Allowed, her second studio album, was released in 2010 and was less popular than its predecessor; nevertheless, it did include the platinum song “Beautiful Girl Rock” (featuring Kanye West). Hilson has not officially released music as a lead artist since 2011 as of 2023.