Keri Hilson on First Album in 15 Years ‘We Need to Talk’: Interview

“I have never felt more sure than I do right now,” Keri Hilson affirms to Rated R&B on Zoom.

It’s a big day for the Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter. Her new single, “Bae,” was released at midnight (March 27), and she is reflecting on the journey to finally completing her upcoming third album, We Need To Talk, her first project in 15 years.

It’s been a long road getting to this point. On March 16, Hilson launched a video series, WNTT, an abbreviation of the album’s title, where she invited her fans into her world to get insight behind her musical hiatus. In the first episodic skit, Hilson had a pep talk with a guarded version of herself who was reluctant to step back into the limelight and be vulnerable again.

“I just don’t want to put me, my life or my art into the hands of people who don’t give a f—k about about me,” Hilson told herself in the clip. “And the thing is, I don’t fear being human. I love being human in my own hands. I fear being human in their hands. And it’s like, I want to be in the game. I want to be at the top. But I still want to feel like I belong to myself.”

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In subsequent episodes, Hilson opens up about her love life (“I’m not dating because no one inspires me yet.”), reflects on feeling stagnant at a point in her career (“We did sing, we just couldn’t share it.”), dreads the pressures of being an artist in the social media age (“I don’t want to be a content creator.”) and ultimately finds the courage to make a musical return.

Before Hilson’s decade-spanning hiatus, the acclaimed songwriter, known for penning hits for a myriad of artists — from Britney Spears to Mary J. Blige — delivered two exceptional studio albums.

In March 2009, Hilson rocketed onto the scene with her debut album, In A Perfect World…, released under Timbaland’s Mosley Music and Interscope Records. It launched at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA months after its release for selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S.

In A Perfect World… spawned the Grammy-nominated hit “Knock You Down,” featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo, which reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. The album also included the club-ready “Turnin Me On,” featuring Lil Wayne, which peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100, and the emotionally charged lead single, “Energy.”

Building on the success of her debut, Hilson released her sophomore album, No Boys Allowed, in December 2010. Like In A Perfect World…, she launched with an aching ballad (“Breaking Point”) as the lead single before dropping the anthemic “Pretty Girl Rock.” The empowering single, written by Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony, became a top 10 hit on multiple Billboard charts, including Rhythmic Airplay and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Although No Boys Allowed narrowly missed the top 10 on the 200 — debuting at No. 11 — the album surpassed its predecessor in the opening week with 102,000 copies sold, compared to In A Perfect World’s 94,000.

After supporting Lil Wayne on his I Am Still Music Tour, Hilson had started working on album three in late 2011. “Just started recording,” she told an inquiring fan on Twitter (now X) in December of that year. “I would never rush tho…patience.”

In 2013, Hilson updated fans and revealed that she had taken “a leave of absence” from music but was back, focused on her next album. “We are pretty close to choosing the single,” she confirmed in July that year. But things didn’t pan out. Then, in 2016, Hilson announced that her album would be titled L.I.A.R., which stands for Love Is A Religion.

Fast forward to 2023. During Hilson’s interview on The R&B Money Podcast, she opened up about several factors that prevented her from releasing music she intended. “There was so much stress, depression, division amongst my team…one thing after the next…and then my dad died,” she explained. “It was years of a struggle…I fought through that, but I’m free.”

Hilson’s third album, We Need To Talk, will be released in three parts, with the first installment arriving April 18 via Audible Art Club/Create Music Group. The album will explore themes related to love, drama and redemption.

“Bae,” the first offering produced by Mel & Mus, explores romance’s sweet and tender side. “Damn, I feel so lucky / Love it when you call me bae,” she sings on the sun-kissed tune.

In the below interview with Rated R&B, Keri Hilson talks more about “Bae,” her return to music, shares exclusive details about her new album We Need To Talk, and reflects on No Boys Allowed ahead of its 15th anniversary.

How are you doing today?

Right now, I’m in this numb state of constant work. This is a long time coming. I’m smiling as I’m saying this because I’m allowing the excitement to come in. I’m like, “Hold on now, Keri. Let me stop and feel.” I’m really excited. It’s been a long time coming for me and my fans, and I’m going to keep trying to fight to feel; that’s all.

Your new single “Bae” is out now. Leading up to its release, you launched your We Need To Talk video series. What was your intention with that?

It was important for me to kind of prime fans up for who I am now [and] how I am feeling now. This is my way of being vulnerable, honest and authentic. I think in lieu of doing a bunch of interviews, which I’m going to do some, but I’m not doing every single [one], I feel like I’ve said a lot. It was written to be thought-provoking and question-answering. I think, that it was important for me to precede music with my thoughts, feelings, fears, vulnerability, and authenticity.

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How therapeutic was it for you to be able to pour your thoughts and feelings into those six episodes before making your musical return?

It was a very therapeutic process for me. I worked with someone I’ve worked with before. I tapped a Black female director, [Tamara Bass], who also produced it [and] we co-wrote it. It was important to me to do that with someone I’m familiar with and someone familiar with me. So, it was very much therapy. It kind of made me want to do more. That’s why I love writing, because it helps you get to the center of things.

Tell us about your new, lovey-dovey new single “Bae.”

The first installment of my album is about love. So there wasn’t a whole lot of thought in it (laughs). There is a lot of thought in other records, but this one we felt was a great way to reintroduce me. It’s not a super conceptual moment. It’s not super melodic or too heavily arranged. It is just straightforward. It’s like, “Oh, I get to hear Keri’s voice again.” This is what that means for me and the project. It’s kind of like step one. The inspiration is simplicity.

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“Bae” interpolates Hurricane Chris’ “Aye Bay Bay.” Was that already baked into the production or…?

No, that was my idea. It was something that I was listening back, and I was like, “It’s missing something in the middle.” And I just started singing, “Aye, bay bay.” And we decided to interpolate that song.

Love aside, the other installements of We Need To Talk will explore themes of drama and redemption. What do you find easier to write about?

Drama. I had so many songs from the drama to choose from for some reason. I realized early as a songwriter that heartbreak is so much easier to write about because it’s real thoughts. This was no different. I had way too many songs to choose from for the second portion. We had to kind of edit and take things that fit the story, sonically pleasing to me and honest. But yeah, drama for sure. I would put heartbreak with drama.

How did We Need To Talk evolve from the time you started it to now?

I would say I didn’t get clear on how I wanted to present it until 2021. It was around the same time that I renamed it. It hasn’t changed much since I decided how I wanted to present it, but obviously, I am going to always record. For example, “Bae” is one of the newer records, so certain things beat out other things for me in the hierarchy of songs that are being considered. As long as you have the time, transitions are always being made. But there are a couple of songs from the very beginning of when I started working on this project. When you are a creative person, you have to be stopped with a deadline, and that’s me for sure.

When you are creating, how do you determine when it’s time to stop and move to the next step?

It’s an intuitive process, just like any other art. When does an artist know when to remove their brush from the canvas? When do they feel complete? It’s a feeling. It’s a sense; it’s an essence. It’s divine. It’s a gut feeling. It’s also feeling content. When I look back, there were times when I thought it was time, and it could have been, I probably would’ve fared well, but I’ve never, along this whole process, this whole decade, have never felt more sure than I do right now. I’m so glad it didn’t come out in the false starts.

What’s the meaning behind the album’s title, We Need To Talk?

We Need To Talk is kind of a double entendre. When you hear the second and third parts of the album, one side of the entendre will be clear. The first installment that you get on April 18 will also be clear. The other side of the double entendre will also be clear when you’re hearing the project down. But for me, it’s both sides. One side is me talking to my fans like, “Finally, we need to talk. I got plenty to tell you. Here we are. Here I am. And yes, I know you’ve been waiting and wanting to hear from me.” The other side is what will be revealed when you hear the second and third parts of the installment.

Is there a particular song on the album that you’re excited for fans to hear?

There’s two songs that I would say really stand out for me. It’s called “Somethin (Bout U),” and the second would be “Whatever You Need.” I mean, I like all my music and everything that made [the album]. “Searchin’” is another favorite.

Are there any features on the album?

Yes. Method Man and Young Thug. Pastor Troy is also a sub feature — kind of.

With We Need To Talk being your first album in 15 years, what do you want your fans and listeners to take away from it?

I just want people to have music that is good, that they like, they ride to, that they clean their house to, and that they drive around to listen to on the airplane or on a beach somewhere. I want people to have me again. That’s literally all I wanted, to be back in the ears of those who do love my offerings. I don’t anticipate or try to expect things to come of it.

I know we’re getting the album in three parts, but do you foresee yourself dropping more music after that? Are you still writing and recording?

Yeah. I have music to last for a very long time. The hardest thing was figuring out what kind of projects I want to put out after this. I evolve the same way projects evolve. I’m living, I’m growing, and I’m experiencing new things. I’m hearing new sounds. I’m inspired by different stuff every couple of years. But I got plenty of music to work with in the near future. I expect to flood the market. That’s what I want to do.

Your second album, No Boys Allowed, turns 15 in December. Who was Keri Hilson then, and who is she today?

Keri Hilson then was still pretty young. She hadn’t fully come into her self-awareness and valuing herself properly. The Keri now has both of those things intact. We all sometimes struggle with feeling inadequate, insecure or unworthy. That’s just part of the human experience. I would say that’s really one of the major areas that have changed. 

I am so different than the Keri then. I leap much quicker. I articulate, express and communicate. I’m fearless. Keri then was pretty fearful of a lot of things. Now, I don’t think there’s much I fear, not even death itself. There’s so much I’ve learned even about death and all these other things that I’m like, “Oh, I don’t think there’s much I fear.” I’ve become a more strong individual, more whole, more courageous, more self-aware, and more clear on my value and worthiness. I’ve definitely grown in a lot of good ways.

Is there a fond memory from the No Boys Allowed era?

Working with Ne-Yo would be one. I remember Kanye. Ooh, that’s tough to think back that far.

How about “One Night Stand” with Chris Brown?

Oh, that’s a fun memory. I really love that [song]. It reminds me of Jodeci. To me, it was like T-Boz doing a Jodeci record. That’s what “One Night Stand” represented for me and the approach I took, vocally and arrangement-wise. Shooting the video [and] dancing with Chris Brown in that video — that was a routine I learned on set right before that scene was done. We didn’t have a dance break. My manager created the dance break the night before the shoot.

I had never heard the music until we were shooting probably that morning. Aakomon Jones, my choreographer at the time, gave us the routine I think separately. When we were on set, we finally ran it a of couple times just before cameras set and we worked out the choreography. I was like, “Oh God, I’m dancing with Chris Brown. This is nerve-wracking. He’s so good.” I’ve never considered myself a dancer, but I pulled on through, and I’m always proud of that dancing. That was one of my favorite memories.

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You are starring in the upcoming Lifetime movie FAME: A Temptations Story. How did you connect with your character Cherish when preparing for the role?

Well, it’s funny, I had never played a celebrity. I have never played an artist like a musician, but obviously, I connect with her there. However, we are pretty different. She’s a lot more pretentious. Her intentions are also very different. She’s married, and I’m definitely not. So we have that different approach there. But she was still likable, you know what I mean? I still liked her playing her. I liked her as a celebrity. She does have a heart when it comes to things. She’s a go-getter, and that’s really where we connect. The things that I want, I go after.

​​Well, you do have a song called “Gimme What I Want.”

OKAY! And it’s like we have different motivations behind going after what we want, but we would never, she (Cherish) nor Keri would be successful if we didn’t have that trait of laser focusing in on what it is we need to accomplish in this life, what it is that is driving us, and what our dreams are and the things that we want. We are the same there. Also, it’s a weird serendipitous moment that I’m returning to the spotlight, and I’m playing someone who’s in the spotlight as well. I’m really excited to see this parallel.

Any final thoughts?

Now that I’m allowing myself to feel anything, it’s just gratitude, excitement, a little bit of anxiousness, but gratitude is the grounding factor of what’s going on right now for me.

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Stream Keri Hilson’s new song “Bae” and presave We Need To Talk here.