April 26, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
Keri
Out on the court at last, this singer is going to shine.
On a chilly winter evening, in the kitchen of her parents' Lithonia, Ga., home, Keri Hilson is on her third try at a fresh batch of Country Time Lemonade - and it's still not up to her standards. "It's not tangy enough," says the 24-year-old singer and songwriter of hits like Mary J. Blige's recent "Take Me As I Am," and Omarion's new "Ice Box." "Maybe another scoop of sugar?"
But before this sweet-faced perfectionist was playing in the kitchen between recording sessions, the former Emory University Theater major had it rough, surviving the failure of two girl groups (Pretty Toni, masterminded by producer Anthony Dent, and D'Sign), and also nearly losing her life. Weary from classes, long nights in recording studios, and rigorous rehearsals, Hilson nodded off at the wheel one night almost four years ago. Her car flipped over on Atlanta's busy Freedom Parkway. "The accident changed my pace," she says. "And taught me that quality is more important than quantity."
Impressed by her work ethic and her tenacious attitude about recovery, Dent appointed her his in-house writer, which led to collaborations with artists like Usher, Ciara, and T.I., as well as producer Polow Da Don. Polow introduced Keri to Timbaland, and the superproducer signed her to his Mosley Music Group. Her debut, tentatively titled In A Perfect World (MMG/Interscope) will be released later this year. World has range: The beguiling "Get Me Off (The Bench)" refers to both her championship high-school basketball days and decade-long struggle as a singer, while "Happy Juice" is a backwoodsy juke-joint jam celebrating her favorite cocktail, Hennessey and apple juice.
"I make my music from real situations," says Keri, who writes and works with a songwriting team called The Clutch. "[This album] is all about how women really feel." But it's her quest for perfection that keeps her grounded. "I'm very far from where I wanna be," she says, finally drinking her lemonade. "I hope I never feel like I've made it."
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Comments
1.
kassie says:
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Ohhhh I thought Cheri Dennis and Keri were the same person, but anywayz it seem like she had a rough life befour she came famous,i mean she got in an accident and she changed her lifeand pace.
January 18, 2008 at 7:15 pm
2.
THEHERO says:
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Da Backwudz are now..
LABRATZ!!
Former Rowdy Records act Da Backwudz, have left Dallas Austin’s camp to form the four man super group LABRATZ , and are set to release their first project on upstart label Royal Family Music. The former Rowdy signees site business and creative differences for their departure and were eager to find some like minds to spread their creative wings. They found that with long time Decatur homeboys and collaborators Heavy Slim and G-Wiz. The final piece to the puzzle appeared upon meeting super producer Sol Messiah (Chamillionaire, David Banner) who is also the co-founder of Royal Family Music. LABRATZ and Sol Messiah got right to work on the soon to be classic ATLANTIS RISING . The project has two guest appearances featuring Dead Prez and Nappy Roots. The rest of the album is an exclusive collaboration between LABRATZ and Sol Messiah. LABRATZ have the southern artistic stylings of an Outkast, along with a musical and lyrical assault likened to Wu Tang Clan. Still, LABRATZ has a style all of its own and they are destined to start a movement. Limited edition cds have hit the streets and select tracks have started an internet buzz. If you want to find out more about LABRATZ, check out www.myspace.com/thelabratzmusic and send all messages to thelabratz@gmail.com .
LABRATZ members are:
Big Marc (aka Leon Rothstein)
Sho Nuff (aka Marty McFly)
Heavy Slim
G-Wiz
*Sol Messiah (honorary member)
December 16, 2007 at 5:47 pm
3.
sree_7562 says:
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can we be friends
December 15, 2007 at 1:28 am
4.
Mir Weiss says:
Your voice is a special gift!
I love it.
August 22, 2007 at 1:02 am
5.
www.anloyd.com says:
http://www.anloyd.com
August 19, 2007 at 5:32 am
6.
Anloyd Community says:
Check it out
August 19, 2007 at 5:31 am
7.
russell says:
love your voice keep it up
August 16, 2007 at 4:08 pm
8.
Terry says:
Keep up the good work and send some my way! One Love...
July 27, 2007 at 2:20 pm
9.
Kema says:
Yea, Had my eye on her for the past couple of years and i knew it was only a matter of time before she made it...Shes the truth!
July 26, 2007 at 1:52 pm
10.
mel says:
The girl got a nice grove I like her yea. In the veido " The way I are" "you go girl" when is the CD coming out
July 18, 2007 at 3:06 pm
11.
melvin says:
The girl got a nice to her, I like yea, in the viedo " The way I are".
July 18, 2007 at 3:03 pm
12.
G-UNIT_player says:
Keri Hilson is the best song writer, and her voice is clear like a water. I LOVE YOU
July 16, 2007 at 11:43 am
13.
shiya sideora says:
I never knew that she had been in an car accident just when i thought i had her figured out guess not. But she's beautiful, talented, and creative i like her style and where she's coming from. She seems like a down to earth person i wish her the best of luck, and i hope to hear something from her soon. God bless.
July 12, 2007 at 6:58 am
14.
jp says:
keri hilson you look beautiful
July 12, 2007 at 1:19 am
15.
esperanza says:
dis is me again and jus wanna give shout out to mi bro jose and all mi friendz exspcialli adam matthew and mi almost boifriend to be jason luv u all
*MUAH*
July 9, 2007 at 7:30 pm
16.
esperanza says:
dis is the best website ever exspecialli seeing mi fave on here keri hilson!!
July 9, 2007 at 7:28 pm
17.
Irfan says:
Great singer, great voice, and she is going to rise to the top like no other! Here comes the next Aaliya!
July 9, 2007 at 12:30 am
18.
arun says:
i will be a gud boy
June 30, 2007 at 6:32 am
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June 15, 2007 at 8:08 pm
20.
lynae says:
I enjoy keri hilson her music inspires me to do wat I do to day and thats singing and writing music
May 25, 2007 at 7:22 am
21.
Kinnard says:
It's about time. The smash "Happy Juice" was rocking in my I pod since I first copped it off the internet. The single has a down south flavor to it, but its a club banger, and when it hits the airways, I hope media can appreciate it. Oh and Keri has a nice voice as well, and with the help of "superproducer" Timbaland she will land her spot on the red carpet.
May 18, 2007 at 9:59 pm