Hilson has been writing music for other artists since 2001, including Britney Spears, Ciara, Usher, and Ludacris. Despite having made a name for herself as an arranger and background vocalist, lending her vocal talents to many of the songs she wrote on, Hilson remained behind the scenes for the most part until 2004, when she was featured on Xzibit's single, "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)" and made her performing debut singing the track live at the 2004 MTV Europe Awards.
In 2006, Hilson reappeared on the music scene in the video for Nelly Furtado's single "Promiscuous". Meanwhile, she signed as an artist with Timbaland's newly formed Interscope associated label Mosley Music Group and the pair started work on her debut album '"In A Perfect World...". The same year, she was featured on "After Love" from Diddy's album Press Play which was originally written for Danity Kane. She also wrote "Right Now" for Danity Kane as well as "Help", the second single from Lloyd Banks' Rotten Apple.
In 2007, Hilson made several appearances on Timbaland's solo effort, Shock Value where she featured heavily on the singles "The Way I Are" and "Scream" and the tracks "Miscommunication" and "Hello". Furthermore, she was featured on the track "Lost Girls" on Rich Boy's debut album and its second single "Good Things" and was credited as a writer and backing vocalist on Britney Spears' album Blackout. She also worked on Spears' follow-up "Circus", but the tracks didn't appear on the album.
A promotional video for her song "Where Did He Go" was released in 2008 and she went on to further promote herself as a solo artist on "Get It Girl", a track produced by Timbaland & Danja and recorded for a Verizon ringtone promotion and available also through iTunes.
She also played the lead role in Usher's music video for "Love in This Club", (as well as co-writing its "Pt. II" remix) appeared as one of the "independent women" in Ne-Yo's music video for "Miss Independent" and appeared briefly on Nelly's "Party People" music video wearing a T-Shirt with the slogan 'Hip Hop aint dead'. She soon after featured on Nas' debut single from his controversial album Untitled, "Hero".
After many pushbacks, Hilson's debut solo album In a Perfect World... has now been set for an early 2009 release. The album's first single was "Energy" and its music video was released July 14, 2008. "Energy" has peaked at a low #78 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A second single "Return The Favor" features Timbaland was released officially as a digital download on October 7, 2008 and the video, directed by Melina, premiered on October 23, 2008. In the meantime, she also featured on Chris Brown's single "Superhuman" and Kardinal Offishall's 2008 single "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)", which was originally featured Rihanna. This single failed to chart on the Hot 100.
The track "Turnin Me On" features rapper Lil' Wayne and was released as the third official single as a digital download on November 25. The video, which was directed by Erik White after he and Hilson met on the set of the "Superhuman" video, premiered on November 20, 2008. "Turnin Me On" has so far peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and recently hit #2 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming Hilson's most successful single as well as her first Top 50 single in the U.S.. It also peaked as the #1 Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop track. "Turnin Me On" also stood as the #1 video on BET's 106 & Park for about a week and currently is the #5 video request on that show, flucuating between the Top 5.
Recently, Keri Hilson's track "Alienated" was played exclusively on UK radio station Kiss 100 after winning the Fresh 40 mixtape deck battle with 51% against Maino's "All The Above".
It was announced on March 10th that the video for "Knock You Down"(featuring Ne-Yo & Kayne West) was in production and would be released as the fourth single.
Hilson's music has been favorably received, appearing on list of "Top Year Singles" with the songs, "Energy" and "Turnin Me On". The first was on Blender magazine list of the "The Top 144 Songs of 2008", at #61, and the latter was on Vibe magazine's "The 80 Best Songs of '08" at #67. Vibe also praised her voice and called her "ridiculously hot".
In 2010 saw the birth of No Boys Allowed and comes out on the 21st of December 2010. The First Single was Breaking Points and received positive and negative reviews, however failed to chart well. The second single Pretty Girl Rock saw more success and went on to chart respectably well. The song got that much attention that a official remix was made featuring Kanye West, which made the album too. The Suspected third Single is The Way You Love Me and a full length video (short film) appeared on Vevo. The video got mixed reviews, one side saying the video was a side to Keri that had never saw before (a more seductive side). However, some said that this side was too out there and was a bit too much.
DISCOGRAPHY:
ALBUMS:
2009: In A Perfect World...
2010:No Boys Allowed
SINGLES:
2004: Hey Now (Mean Muggin) [Xzibit feat. Keri]
2006: Help [Lloyd Banks feat. Keri]
2007: The Way I Are [Timbaland feat. Keri & D.O.E.]
2007: Good Things [Rich Boy feat. Polow Da on & Keri]
2008: Scream [Timbaland feat. Keri & Nicole Scherzinger]
2008: Hero [Nas feat. Keri]
2008: Energy
2008: Superhuman [Chris Brown feat. Keri]
2008: Return The Favor [feat. Timbaland]
2008: Numba 1 (Tide Is High) [Kardinal Offishall feat. Keri]
2008: Turnin Me On [feat. Lil Wayne]
2009: Knock You Down [feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo]
2009: Slow Dance
2010: I Like
2010:Got Your Back [T.I feat. Keri]
2010:Breaking Point
2010:Pretty Girl Rock
2010:The Way You Love Me
Knock You Down
Keri Hilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whether you Louboutin it up or Reebokin'
You see the hate, that they're serving on a platter
So what we goin' have, dessert or disaster
I never thought I'd, be in love like this
When I look at you my mind goes on a trip
Then you came in, and knocked me on my face
Feels like in I'm in a race
But I already won first place
I never thought I'd fall for you as hard as I did
(As hard as I did, yeah)
You got me thinking bout our life our house and kids (yeah)
Every morning I look at you and smile
'Cause boy you came around and you knocked me down, knocked me down
Sometimes love comes around
And it knocks you down
Just get back up
When it knocks you down
Sometimes love comes around
And it knocks you down
Just get back up
When it knocks you down
I never thought I'd
Hear myself say (ooh)
Y'all go ahead
I think I'm gonna kick it wit my girl today (kick it wit my girl today)
I used to be commander and chief
Of my pimp ship flying high (flying high)
'Til I met this pretty little missile that shot me out the sky (oh shot me out the sky)
Hey, now I'm crashing, don't know how it happened
But I know it feels so damn good
Said if I could back, and make it happen faster
Don't you know I would baby if I could
Miss independent (oh, to the fullest), the load never too much
She helping me pull it
She shot the bullet that ended that life
I swear to you the pimp in me just died tonight,
Girl sometimes love
Sometimes love comes around
And it knocks you down
Just get back up
When it knocks you down
Sometimes love comes around
And it knocks you down
Just get back up
When it knocks you down
Tell me now can you make it past your caspers
So we can finally fly off into NASA
You was always the cheerleader of my dreams that
Seem to only date the head of football teams
And I was the class clown that, always kept you laughing
We, were never meant to be baby we just happen
So please, don't mess up the trick, hey young world I'm the new slick rick
They say I move too quick, but we can't let the moment pass us
Let the hourglass pass right into ashes
Let the wind blow the ash right before my glasses
So I wrote this love letter right before my classes
How could a goddess ask, someone that's only average
For advice
OMG, you listen to that bitch?
Whoa it's me
Baby this is tragic
'Cause we had it, we was magic
I was flying, now I'm crashing
This is bad, real bad, Michael Jackson
Now I'm mad, real mad, Joe Jackson
You should leave your boyfriend now, I'm a ask him
Say you gotta put the good with the bad, happy and the sad
So will u bring a better future than I had in the past
Oh 'cause, I don't wanna make the same mistakes I did
I don't wanna fall back on my face again
Whoa, whoa
I'll admit it, I was scared to answer love's call
Whoa, whoa
And if it hits better make it worth the fall
(When it comes around)
Sometimes love comes around
And it knocks you down
Just get back up
When it knocks you down
Sometimes love comes around
And it knocks you down
Just get back up
When it knocks you down
Won't see it coming when it happens (hey)
But when it happens you're gonna feel it, let me tell you now
You see when love knocks you down
Won't see it coming when it happens
But when it happens you're gonna feel it, let me tell you now
You see when love knocks you down
Yeah
In "Knock You Down," Keri Hilson sings about being in love unexpectedly and feeling knocked down by the intensity of her emotions. She compares love to a force that can knock you down, but encourages listeners to get back up and keep going. Throughout the song, Hilson uses metaphors to describe the power of love and the challenges that come with it. When she sings, "Whether you Louboutin it up or Reebokin', you see the hate, that they're serving on a platter," she is drawing attention to the criticism and negativity that can surround relationships, and asking whether the outcome will be sweet like dessert, or disastrous.
Later in the song, Hilson references the struggles of letting go of past loves and embracing new relationships. She sings, "They say I move too quick, but we can’t let the moment pass us, let the hourglass pass right into ashes." This suggests that Hilson is aware of the fleeting nature of love and wants to make the most of every moment. Overall, "Knock You Down" is a powerful ballad that encourages listeners to take risks in love and embrace the journey, even when it is difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep rocking, and keep knocking
Stay strong and resilient no matter what challenges come your way
Whether you Louboutin it up or Reebokin'
No matter what brand you wear, you will still face hate and negativity
You see the hate, that they're serving on a platter
The world is full of hate and judgment that is being fed to us
So what we goin' have, dessert or disaster
We have the choice of how we react to the negativity – we can either let it ruin us or use it as motivation to succeed
I never thought I'd, be in love like this
The singer never expected to experience such strong, intense emotions for another person
When I look at you my mind goes on a trip
Being with this person takes the singer on a mental, emotional journey
Then you came in, and knocked me on my face
The intensity of the love knocked the singer off their feet, figuratively speaking
Feels like in I'm in a race
The singer feels like they are racing towards their goals and dreams
But I already won first place
The love they have received from their partner is the biggest victory they could achieve
Sometimes love comes around
The unpredictability of love can be both exciting and scary
And it knocks you down
Love can be overwhelming and make you feel vulnerable
Just get back up
Even when love knocks you down, you can always pick yourself back up
I never thought I'd fall for you as hard as I did
The singer didn't expect to have such intense feelings for their partner
You got me thinking bout our life our house and kids
The love they share makes them dream about a future together
Every morning I look at you and smile
The singer wakes up every day happy and in love with their partner
'Cause boy you came around and you knocked me down, knocked me down
The love the singer received was so powerful that it knocked them off their feet
I used to be commander and chief
The singer was once in control of their life and emotions
Of my pimp ship flying high
The singer had control over their relationships and was always in charge
'Til I met this pretty little missile that shot me out the sky
The love they received turned their world upside down and made them vulnerable
Hey, now I'm crashing, don't know how it happened
The intensity of the love they received caused them to feel out of control
But I know it feels so damn good
Despite the chaos, the singer knows that the love they received is worth it
Sometimes love comes around
Love can come unexpectedly and change your life completely
Miss independent (oh, to the fullest), the load never too much
The singer is independent and strong, but the love they received was a welcome addition to their life
She helping me pull it
Their partner is helping them handle their daily struggles and challenges
She shot the bullet that ended that life
The love they received changed their old way of living and loving
I swear to you the pimp in me just died tonight
The singer's old way of being in control of their relationships is now gone
Tell me now can you make it past your caspers
Can you overcome your fears and insecurities to be with me?
So we can finally fly off into NASA
Can we finally be together without any distractions or setbacks?
'Cause we had it, we was magic
Their love was special and unique
This is bad, real bad, Michael Jackson
The situation is not good, it's like one of Michael Jackson's bad moments
Now I'm mad, real mad, Joe Jackson
The anger they feel is like someone who was mistreated by Joe Jackson
You should leave your boyfriend now, I'm a ask him
The singer is convinced that their love with their partner is real and urges them to break up with their current partner
Won't see it coming when it happens (hey)
Love can come out of nowhere and surprise you
But when it happens you're gonna feel it, let me tell you now
When love happens, you will feel it with every fiber of your being
Yeah
An affirmation that what the singer is saying is true
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FLOYD HILLS, KANYE WEST, MARCELLA ARAICA, KEVIN COSSUM, KERI HILSON, SHAFFER SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind