Keri Hilson says she would work with Kanye West again
Keri Hilson told The TMZ Podcast she is open to another Kanye West collaboration despite his public controversies.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
Keri Hilson Kanye West talk is back on the table: Hilson told The TMZ Podcast she would be open to making music with West again, according to TMZ.
The singer, known for “Pretty Girl Rock,” said on the podcast that her past studio experience with West was positive. TMZ reported that Hilson said she had a good time creating music with him.
Hilson and West previously worked together on “Knock You Down,” the 2009 single that also featured Ne-Yo. The song remains one of the most recognizable points of overlap between Hilson’s catalog and West’s pop-rap run.
Would Keri Hilson work with Kanye West again?
Yes, according to TMZ’s interview with Hilson. She said she would be willing to collaborate with West again, while discussing the idea of separating an artist’s work from the artist’s public behavior.
That answer comes with obvious baggage. TMZ noted West’s past antisemitic remarks, his sale of shirts bearing swastikas, and his statement that slavery was a choice as examples of controversies surrounding him.
Hilson’s position, as reported by TMZ, is that she can separate the music from the person behind it. In plain terms, separating art from the artist means judging or enjoying creative work apart from the creator’s conduct, views, or public scandals.
The podcast appearance also touched on Hilson’s return to releasing music after time away from the industry. TMZ reported that she said her hiatus did not stop her comeback, and that she released the third installment of her new album this year.
Hilson told the podcast that while she was away, she spent time listening closely to music, according to TMZ. She said that period as a listener helped shape how she came back to her own work.
The interview ties together two threads in Hilson’s current moment: a renewed recording push and a willingness to revisit a major past collaborator, even one surrounded by ongoing controversy.
TMZ posted video from Hilson’s podcast interview, including her comments about West and a separate segment on her return to the music industry.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.