From Pen and Paper to the Mic

Songwriter turned singer, Keri Hilson, is by no means a stranger to the music scene. In fact, she is the lyrical mastermind behind some of the biggest hits for artists such as Britney Spears, Chris Brown, and Usher, to name a few.

While many consider her to be Ne-Yo’s female counterpart, Keri sets herself apart from the typical singer/songwriter in many ways, one being that she is a female who unashamedly stands out in an area dominated by men. (Let’s face it; female songwriters are often not taken as seriously as their male counterparts.) Another reason being that since entering the music scene in 2001, Keri has lent her impeccably smooth powerhouse vocals to numerous tracks. She was first featured on rapper Xzibit’s single, “Hey Now (Mean Muggin’)” and most recently on Nas’ (speaking of lyrical genius) single, “Hero”, from his newly released album, Untitled.

As a songwriter, she writes with a special blend of passion and intelligence which unsurprisingly yields songs that not only tickle your ears, but also wrap themselves around your heart while entrenching themselves in your veins—they simply take control of your body.

With her debut solo album, In A Perfect World, which will be released in the fall of 2008, Keri is sure to solidify her position as a music maven. Finally in her own spotlight, she will be able to showcase not only her lyrical prowess, but also her redoubtable vocal ability. The album's first single is entitled "Energy", is already a favorite of mine and suggests that her album will be packed with deep R&B tracks, and of course a few booty-shaking club hits.

Keri Hilson on why she chose to title her debut album In a Perfect World…
It’s my way of saying nothing in the world is perfect and no person in it is, either. None of us is exempt from certain hardships and heartbreaks. 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.
"Energy"