After more than a decade away from the music scene, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Keri Hilson is making a triumphant return.
The R&B star has officially released her new single, “Bae,” marking the first offering from her highly anticipated third studio album, We Need To Talk.
The album, which will be released in three parts, arrives after a 15-year hiatus during which Hilson navigated personal struggles, industry pressures, and self-discovery.
A Long-Awaited Comeback
Hilson, known for her chart-topping hits like “Knock You Down” and “Pretty Girl Rock,” last released an album in 2010 with No Boys Allowed. In an exclusive interview with Rated R&B, she opened up about the emotions surrounding her return to music.
“I have never felt more sure than I do right now,” Hilson stated.
Her hiatus was marked by personal and professional challenges, including the loss of her father and tensions within her team. “There was so much stress, depression, division amongst my team… one thing after the next… and then my dad died,” she shared on The R&B Money Podcast last year.
Despite numerous false starts over the years, Hilson says now is the right time. “I fought through that, but I’m free.”
We Need To Talk: A Story in Three Parts
The first installment of We Need To Talk is set for release on April 18 via Audible Art Club/Create Music Group. The album will explore themes of love, drama, and redemption. The lead single, “Bae,” produced by Mel & Mus, sets the tone for the project’s romantic elements. The track even features an interpolation of Hurricane Chris’ 2007 hit, “Aye Bay Bay,” an idea Hilson contributed during the recording process.
“Love is the focus of the first part of the album,” Hilson explained. “It’s simple, straightforward, and a great way to reintroduce me.”
However, the deeper layers of We Need To Talk will emerge in later installments, diving into heartbreak, self-reflection, and resilience. The project will also include collaborations with Method Man, Young Thug, and Pastor Troy.
Reconnecting with Fans
To prepare her fans for her return, Hilson launched a six-episode video series, WNTT, an abbreviation of her album’s title. The series gives an intimate look at her time away from the spotlight and the fears she had about returning.
In one scene, she candidly tells a guarded version of herself:
“I don’t fear being human. I love being human in my own hands. I fear being human in their hands.”
The series covers everything from her love life—“I’m not dating because no one inspires me yet”—to the pressures of social media—“I don’t want to be a content creator”—and even feeling creatively stifled in the past—“We did sing, we just couldn’t share it.”
A New Chapter
Looking ahead, Hilson is ready to embrace her artistry with a renewed sense of confidence.
“I just want people to have music that is good, that they like, that they ride to, that they clean their house to,” she said. “I want people to have me again.”
Beyond music, Hilson is also stepping into acting, starring in the upcoming Lifetime film FAME: A Temptations Story.
As We Need To Talk unfolds in the coming months, Hilson’s return to the industry is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated R&B comebacks of the decade.
