Three Women to Add to Your iPod Now!
Who is she: Keri Hilson is an R&B singer and songwriter signed to Zone 4/Mosley Music Group/Interscope Records. She is part of a collective of writers and producers known as The Clutch.
Current Hot Single: “Energy”
Where else you’ve heard her: Timbaland's Shock Value. She was the featured artist on "The Way I Are.” She is also featured on the lead single, "Hero" from Nas' album, Untitled.
Where else you’ve seen her: She played the lead role in Usher's music video "Love in This Club" and was in Nelly’s “Party People” video.
What you may not know: Keri has written music for the likes of Britney Spears, Toni Braxton, Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Usher, Teairra Mari, Danity Kane, the Pussycat Dolls, Avant, Jennifer Lopez, and more.
What’s Next: Hilson is set to work on Britney Spears’ follow-up to Blackout (on which she is listed as a songwriter and background vocalist). Her debut solo album, In A Perfect World..., is being issued as a joint release from Mosley Music Group (Tim's label) and Zone 4 (Polow's label) as an imprint of Interscope Records (Jimmy Iovine's label). In A Perfect World... will be released October 14, 2008. The album's first single "Energy” is getting substantial airplay and the second single, "Turn Off," features rapper Lil’ Wayne.
Who is she: Singer/songwriter Jazmine Sullivan
Current Hot Single: “Need You Bad”
Where else you’ve heard her: You can find Ms. Sullivan’s name on the background credits for the Missy Elliott produced tracks off of Fantasia’s Free Yourself album, as well as in the songwriting credits on two tracks from Christina Milian’s last album, So Amazin’, including the album’s first single, “Say I,” which features Young Jeezy. The young artist also recorded tracks for 50 Cent’s last album, Curtis.
Where else you’ve seen her: At the age of 11 she made her national television debut on "Showtime at the Apollo."
What you may not know: By the age of 13, Jazmine was asked to sing with musical legend Stevie Wonder. Initially signed to Jive Records by the president of the label, Clive Calder, Jazmine worked on an album with heavyweight producers Missy Elliott, Timbaland and production duo Cool & Dre. Things didn’t work out and after three years, she left the label.
What’s Next: Currently signed to Clive Davis’ J Records, Jazmine's debut album Fearless is set for a September 23, 2008 release.
Who is she: Singer/actress/model Jennifer Hudson
Current Hot Single: “Spotlight”
Where else you’ve heard her: Jennifer Hudson is featured in a duet, “The Future Ain't What it Used to Be” on Meat Loaf's Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose album. She is also on Ne-Yo's second album Because of You, singing on the track “Leaving Tonight.” In addion, Ms. Hudson has recorded a new song with rapper Papoose, titled “Special,” and sings “All Dressed In Love” on the Sex and the City: The Movie soundtrack.
Where else you’ve seen her: On the third season of American Idol; Alongside Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Anika Rose as Effie White in 2006’s Dreamgirls. Ms. Hudson won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for this role. She also starred as Carrie’s assistant is Sex and the City: The Movie.
What you may not know: With the March 2007 issue, Jennifer Hudson became the third African American celebrity, and the first African American singer, to grace the cover of Vogue magazine. The single “Spotlight” was written by Ne-Yo. Also, Ms.Hudson performed the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention in 2008.
What’s Next: In 2008, Ms. Hudson is scheduled to appear as Kathy Archenault in Winged Creatures, a film based on the novel by Roy Freirich, with Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, and Dakota Fanning. In early 2008, she began filming her fourth film, The Secret Life of Bees, in which she play Rosaleen, the mother figure of Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning). Also starring in the film are Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, and Alicia Keys.
On the music side of things, Ms. Hudson’s self-titled debut album will be released on September 30, 2008, on Arista Records.
