Talking Shop: Keri Hilson

The album In a Perfect World features a song co-written by Justin Timberlake

US singer-songwriter Keri Hilson has appeared as a guest vocalist on hits including UK number one The Way I Are by Timbaland, which she also co-wrote.

Other big hits she has co-written include Gimme More, by Britney Spears, and Love In This Club Part II, by Usher, and she has appeared in videos including Ne-Yo's Miss Independent.

Her album, In a Perfect World - her first as an artist in her own right - features guest appearances from Akon, Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Ne-Yo and Kanye West and went to number four in the US.

Hilson, 26, talks about British food, working with Britney Spears and her new single Knock You Down, which is out in the UK on Monday.

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You've written a lot of songs for big artists. How do you decide which songs to keep for yourself and which songs to give away?

I have to distinguish when I'm being Keri the artist and when I'm being Keri the writer. There are two kinds of sessions going on.

Keri Hilson and Timbaland scored a global hit with The Way I Are

I wouldn't go in the studio and give someone something I'm working on for myself. In much the same way, I can't sing something I'm working on for someone else.

The title of Timbaland's 2007 hit The Way I Are is grammatically incorrect. Is this some kind of American street slang? How did you come up with it?

We just wanted a catchier title than The Way You Are.

I was joking and saying, 'the way I is' and then 'the way I are'. Both of them are incorrect and so I was kinda torn between which one to use and I let Timbaland decide and he said, 'no, I like the way I are'.

You've praised British crisps, or chips as you call them, on your Twitter page. What are your favourites?

I didn't really like the Monster Munch - I think it tasted kinda like the chips with ketchup.

But I did like all of Walkers. I don't think I had one of Walkers that I didn't like. They were so good. I like the prawn cocktail and the salt and vinegar.

Which other British food do you like?

I tried shepherd's pie. I love shepherd's pie. See, I like very hearty food and that was very hearty. It was like a good meal. There wasn't much on the plate but it was so filling.

You know what I wanted though but I didn't get? Cottage pie. Isn't cottage pie or Cumberland pie the one with cheese? I've had that before.

You've worked with lots of big stars. Who was your favourite?

I always wanted to be a fly on the wall during his sessions and I got to do one better and work with him so it was an amazing experience Keri Hilson on working with Justin Timberlake

It's a toss-up really between Justin Timberlake [who co-wrote her album track Slow Dance] and Britney.

Britney was seven months pregnant and she was very focused even though there was a lot going on outside while she was pregnant with her second child when she was going through all the media hype.

I mean, Justin's incredible. I always wanted to be a fly on the wall during his sessions and I got to do one better and work with him so it was an amazing experience.

Your forthcoming single Knock You Down features Kanye West and Ne-Yo, who co-wrote it with you. How did that come about?

Ne-Yo and I have wanted to do a song together for quite some time but we just never found the perfect song. When I had this, quickly I thought, 'oh maybe this could be a duet, maybe this could be the one that I do with Ne-Yo'. So we made that happen.

Hilson denies "dissing" Beyonce Knowles on a remix

We were about to turn the album in right at the last minute and then I was working with Kanye on something else. That's how I began working with him and it was purely an accident how he got on that song - it was just me and Ne-Yo.

Kanye asked me: 'How do you feel about your album?'

And I said: 'Oh it's going great'.

I wouldn't normally say this - I don't know what got into me - but I said: 'Well the only thing missing is you.'

I was tongue in cheek but he said: 'Well I'd love to - can I be on it?'

And I said: 'Not now because we're turning it in, in the morning.'

But he said: 'Well, if there's something I can do tonight before they turn it in.'

We booked the session before he changed his mind and he went in and murdered it.

You've been accused of "dissing" Beyonce in a remix of your single Turnin' Me On [it features the lyric, 'your vision cloudy if you think you the best, you can dance, she can sing, but need to move it to the left']. Is this true?

Matt Goss, pictured left with Bros, co-wrote an album track

I'm not hating Beyonce or anyone else for that matter. I was addressing some people who tried to turn me off.

I used lyrics from a popular Beyonce song [Irreplaceable]. I sampled "to the left, to the left" but it was nothing to her or about her.

Now that I listen to it, I understand where it was coming from. The song's really about how long and hard I fought to get where I'm at.

The song Change Me on your album, featuring Akon, is co-written by Matt Goss, of late 1980s British boy band Bros. Were you a Brosette?

No. I wasn't aware of this. I've actually never met him. No, I had no idea who he was.

Keri Hilson was talking to BBC News entertainment reporter Liam Allen.