Biography
Before she could utilize her talents for her own solo endeavors, R&B singer, vocal arranger, and songwriter Keri Lynn Hilson wrote a slew of songs, many of them chart-toppers, for several popular artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production/songwriting team known as the Clutch. The dynamic songwriter was born in Decatur, GA, only a few miles outside of Atlanta. Addicted to TV talent shows like Star Search and Showtime at the Apollo, she was already plotting out her career in music at age 12. Even though her mother hired a piano teacher to encourage those talents, she mainly wanted to sing; therefore, Hilson converted those sessions into vocal lessons, accompanying the teacher on piano. In her mid- to late teens, her career jumped off as a songwriter and background vocalist, working under producer Anthony Dent (Destiny’s Child, Diddy). Borne out of that relationship were two failed girl groups (named Pretty Toni and D’Sign) and, more importantly, a host of connections within the industry for whom she wrote or did backup vocals, including Usher, Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, Ciara, and up-and-coming Southern rap producer Polow da Don. After Hilson graduated from high school, she managed to continue juggling all these tasks when she enrolled into Emory University in Atlanta. She eventually moved on from Dent and began working more with Polow da Don. Attending school while actively advancing her music career put a great demand on her, especially from being a member of the extremely versatile Clutch team. But as luck would have it, Polow introduced her to superproducer Timbaland, who wasted no time in signing the multi-talented songbird to his growing Mosley Music imprint in 2006. Over the next couple years, Hilson’s songwriting was practically ubiquitous, responsible for numerous hit singles, including Mary J. Blige’s “Take Me as I Am,” Omarion’s “Ice Box,” the Pussycat Dolls’ “Wait a Minute,” and Ciara’s “Like a Boy.” With Timbaland and the Clutch in her corner, Hilson relied on the vast pool of recording artists and producers who needed (and wanted) to return the favor for her Mosley Music/Interscope debut. - Cyril Cordor, All Music Guide

The Clutch
Who Is The Clutch? The Clutch is the songwriting team that Keri Hilson is a part of. The members included are:
Candice Nelson,
Ezekiel Lewis
j.Que
Balewa Muhammad

Writing Credits
3LW - “Feelin’ You”
3LW - “Things You Never Hear a Girl Say”
ATL - “The One”
Avant - “4 Minutes”
B5 - “Heartbreak”
Britney Spears - “Gimme More”
Britney Spears - “Break the Ice”
Britney Spears - “Outta This World”
Britney Spears - “Perfect Lover”
Chingy - “Let Me Luv U”
Chris Brown - “Young Love”
Ciara - “Ooh Baby”
Crystal Kay - “I’m Not Alone”
Danity Kane - “Pretty Boy”
Danity Kane - “Want It”
Danity Kane - “Right Now”
Diddy - “After Love”
Esko Martinez - “Heartbreak”
Esko Martinez - “I’mma Do Me”
Field Mob - “At the Park”
Jennifer Lopez - “Wrong When Your Gone”
Keke Palmer - “The Game Song”
Keshia Chante - “Too Much”
LeToya Luckett - “What Love Can Do”
Lloyd Banks - “Help”
Ludacris - “Pimpin All Over the World”
Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige - “Runaway Love”
Mary J. Blige - “Take Me as I Am”
Mopheadz - Rub Me Up Rite
Omarion - “Ice Box”
Paula Campbell - “Hitlist”
Pussycat Dolls - “Bite the Dust”
Pussycat Dolls - “Wait a Minute”
Rich Boy - “Good Things”
Rich Boy - “Lost Girls”
Ruben Studdard - “Play Our Song”
Shawn Desman - “Red Hair”
Tank - “I Love You”
Tiffany Evans - “Girl Gone Wild”
Timbaland - “The Way I Are”
Timbaland - “Miscommunication”
Timbaland - “Scream”
Timbaland - “Hello”
Toni Braxton - “Sposed to Be”
Usher - “Red Light”
Young Twist - “Love for the Game”

Discography
“Alienated” Produced by: Cory Bold

“Get Me Off (The Bench)”

“Henny and Apple Juice”
Produced by: Timbaland, co-produced by Danja
Featuring: Ludacris & Snoop Dogg “Let Me Go”
Featuring: Justin Timberlake

“Mic Check”

“Quicksand”
Featuring: Justin Timberlake

“Return the Favor”
Produced by:Timbaland
Featuring: Timbaland

“Slow Dance”
Produced by:Polow da Don

“Too Proud”

“Energy”
Produced by: The Runaways