It’s wonderful how verifying a decades-old story a few perceived slight towards Beyoncé can flip right into a week-long fact-check and accountability session, however that’s precisely what occurred between Keri Hilson and Ester Dean.
To recap briefly: In promotion of her new album, set to drop on April 18, Keri Hilson made a cease at “The Breakfast Membership” to take a seat down with Charlamagne Tha God, Loren Lorosa, and DJ Envy. In the course of the dialog, the leaked 2009 remix to Hilson’s music “Turnin Me On” got here up—perceived on the time as a diss report geared toward Beyoncé—and she or he was requested how she felt about it wanting again. Hilson acknowledged she felt remorse and shared how she didn’t even write the music however was pressured to make it, and it was leaked by the music’s producer, Polow Da Don.
Dean went uncredited as a author on the monitor, one thing remarkable now as Dean is a very fashionable and well-known songwriter—and actress; she was nice within the “Pitch Good” movie collection—and would finally work with Beyoncé together with a slew of different artists like Rihanna, Katy Perry, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Usher, Selena Gomez, and the checklist goes on.
The whole hubbub led to days price of dialogue and discourse about who was and was not at fault, how one thing like this might occur, and the way an artist might be pressured to sing a music they had been uncomfortable with. Polow Da Don has but to supply his aspect of the story.
For her half, Ester Dean acknowledged she wrote the report however implied that she and Hilson wrote it collectively, resulting in Hilson clocking that tea and telling Dean to get her info straight. Hilson made it clear that she and Dean didn’t write the music collectively, as Hilson contributed a couple of strains supposed to make the music’s lyrics match the music’s subject material.
In an try to clear the air and get the story as proper as she may, Dean shared an open letter on Instagram explaining the whole state of affairs, hopefully concluding a saga that no one noticed approaching Monday.
In her put up, titled, “An Open Letter from Ester Dean: ‘For Ker. For Creatives. For The File,” Dean begins out, “I’ve stayed quiet for a very long time, however I consider in telling the reality—particularly when the web begins telling its personal model of the story.”
All through the put up, Dean shares a bit about her backstory, shifting from Atlanta to Los Angeles, and the way the “Turnin Me On” remix got here to be:
“One night time, Polow requested me to write down a remix verse for Keri Hilson – one thing avenue, one thing for the tradition. He left the room, and I sat there making an attempt totally different concepts till I landed on these strains…. ‘She have to go have some infants, she wants to take a seat down, she fading.’ Cheesy? Sure. Pressured? No.
That was me. I wasn’t within the room with Keri penning this collectively. I didn’t know her personally. She was already a star. I used to be only a author making an attempt to earn my place. I did my job and left.
Keri got here in one other time and wrote her personal verse – her pen, her voice…I went on to write down on each of Keri’s albums. She even confirmed love and did a cameo in my ‘Drop It Low’ video. I even got here on stage along with her as soon as. However life took us in several instructions, prefer it usually does.”
After clearing the air on whether or not she and Keri collaborated on the lyrics, Dean then shared that she was principally hungry, making an attempt to make her bones within the trade, and would finally work with Beyoncé. She additionally stated there was by no means any beef or trade mess. She was doing her job.
To shut out her open letter, Dean obtained a bit reflective, sharing there are not any points with Hilson and it appears that evidently they each have realized classes.
“Why Communicate Now? As a result of whereas our tales might look comparable now, again then they weren’t. Keri was talking on massive platforms I didn’t have entry to – and it was her story to inform, not mine. I stayed writing. No hate. No shade. Simply reality. What Keri went by was unhappy. She’s an important artist, a phenomenal spirit, and she or he deserves grace. She took her classes. I’ll take mine. Respect at all times.”
Hopefully, all people can transfer on after this, and maybe Polow Da Don will share his personal perspective.
However for now, Keri Hilson’s new album, “We Have to Speak” is ready to launch on April 18, 2025.
