Keri Lynn Hilson (born 1982) is an American recording artist signed to Zone 4, Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records. She is part of a collective of writers and producers known as The Clutch. Through the early and late 2000s, Hilson wrote songs for multiple rappers and singers, including Britney Spears and Ludacris. In 2007, she guest performed on Timbaland's hits "The Way I Are" and "Scream" and began a solo singing career. Hilson has made cameos in music videos for Usher, Ne-Yo and Nelly, amongst others. Her debut album, In a Perfect World..., was released in early 2009, spawning hit singles "Energy", "Turnin' Me On" and "Knock You Down".

Keri Lynn Hilson was born in 1982 in Decatur, Georgia. During her adolescence, Hilson studied piano and singing, and she joined the girl group D'Signe when she was 14. She became a songwriter and backing vocalist while in high school, and she attended Emory University, where she majored in theater.

Hilson began songwriting in 2001 and would go on to write tracks for Britney Spears, Ciara, Usher and Ludacris. In 2004, she was featured on Xzibit's single, "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)". In 2006, Hilson signed as an artist with Timbaland's label, Mosley Music Group and appeared on a track on Diddy's Press Play. Hilson was also featured on "Help", the second single from Lloyd Banks' Rotten Apple; the single peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.