The Watch: Keri Hilson

What’s her sound?
This modelesque 26-year-old Atlanta native has been active in the music game since her teen years, and has developed into something of a sonic chameleon. Working with hot hip-hop producer Polow Da Don before his breakout success, Hilson’s advanced songwriting chops soon found her penning hits for such A-list artists as Mary J. Blige, Ludacris and most famously Britney Spears, for whom she crafted the 2007 smash “Gimme More.” Citing a wide range of influences that include Blondie, Madonna and Phil Collins, Hilson’s panoramic songs are the epitome of modern pop.

What the hell does that mean?
From edgy heartbroken ballads (“Energy”) to the glossy space-hop dance floor burner “Turning Me On” (featuring the ubiquitous Lil’ Wayne), the impending release of Hilson’s debut In A Perfect World...has the current crop of crossover females quaking in their strappy heels. Signed to Timabaland’s Mosley Music Group label, it was her appearance in his single “The Way I Are” that elevated her profile to next-big-thing status.

Is her game tight?
Few new artists hit the scene as fully realized as Hilson. When she’s not singing duets with pop stars like Chris Brown (“Superhuman”) or providing the hook for eternally controversial rapper Nas (the Polow Da Don-produced single “Hero”), Hilson continues to craft songs for mega-stars like Britney Spears, with credits on Spears’s new release Circus. All of this activity has pushed the release of Hilson’s album into early 2009. 

X-factor:
Hilson is part of a songwriting collective known as “The Clutch,” with a catalog of hits for marquee acts such as Omarion, Ciara and Jennifer Hudson. They already have songs slated for 2009 releases from Whitney Houston and Cassie.

See Keri Hilson perform with Lil’ Wayne, T-Pain, Keyshia Cole and Gym Class Heroes at the Gibson Amphitheatre on December 21 & 22.