We Need to Talk (Keri Hilson album)

We Need to Talk
Studio album by
Keri Hilson
Released
  • April 18, 2025 (Love)
  • September 12, 2025 (Drama)
  • March 20, 2026 (Redemption)
Length47:42 (total)
Label
Producer
Keri Hilson chronology
No Boys Allowed
(2010) 		We Need to Talk
(2025)
Singles from We Need to Talk: Love
  1. "Bae"
    Released: March 27, 2025
  2. "Say That"
    Released: April 21, 2025
Singles from We Need to Talk: Drama
  1. "Again"
    Released: November 5, 2025
Singles from We Need to Talk: Redemption
  1. "XO - My Gift Interlude"
    Released: March 20, 2026

We Need to Talk is the third studio album by American singer Keri Hilson. The nine-track Love edition of the album was released on April 18, 2025, by Audible Art Club and Create Music Group. It is Hilson's first music release in 15 years since 2010's No Boys Allowed and her first independent release. The album was preceded by the single "Bae". The Drama edition of the album, which included six additional tracks, was released on September 12, 2025 and included the overall third single "Again".[1]

Background

As early as 2011, Hilson had shared that she had been working on a third album, but no release occurred.[2] In 2016, a press release announced that the album would be called L.I.A.R and would be preceded by a single called "Again". Hilson said the press release was only partly correct, and that the album was not yet ready for release, but that there was a song on it called "Again".[3] In a 2016 Billboard article celebrating the success of their production "Oui" for Jeremih, producers Needlz & Donut teased an "80s-infused" potential single for a forthcoming Hilson album, which was subsequently shelved.[4]

In March 2025, Hilson posted a series of videos on Instagram, opining on her return to the music industry, "I just don't want to put my life or my art in the hands of people who don't give a fuck about me [...] The thing is, I don’t fear being human — I love being human in my own hands. I fear being human in their hands [...] I’d love nothing more than to release this incredible music I've been 'sitting on. There have been so many blockages I have constantly fought myself to not directly speak about".[5] Upon the announcement of We Need to Talk's imminent release and tracklisting, Hilson shared, "I have music to last for a very long time. The hardest thing was figuring out what kind of projects I want to put out after this. I'm inspired by different stuff every couple of years. But I got plenty of music to work with in the near future. I expect to flood the market. That's what I want to do."[6]

The album was released by Hilson's own label Audible Art Club, in partnership with Create Music Group.[7] Two additional parts of the album are expected to follow: We Need to Talk: Drama and We Need to Talk: Redemption.[8]

Promotion

Singles

On March 27, 2025, Hilson released the album's first single, "Bae".[9] She announced the album title and tracklist on the same day.[10][11] The single samples Hurricane Chris's 2007 single "A Bay Bay".[12] The album's second single, "Say That", was released on April 21, 2025, accompanied by an official visualizer.[13] On August 13, Hilson released the music video for the album track "Searchin" featuring Method Man.[14]

After the release of the second part of the album, We Need to Talk: Drama, Hilson released the single "Again", on November 5, 2025. An official music video, directed by Tamara Bass, was released the same day.[15]

Interviews

On April 9, 2025, Hilson appeared on The Breakfast Club to discuss her new album and her return to the music industry.[16][17]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal.[18]

Love
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Grateful" (Intro)Keri Hilson
  • Aljamaal Jones
  • Alphonso Crawford
1:05
2."Naked (Love)"
Nathaniel "Danja" Hills4:15
3."Searchin" (featuring Method Man)
Danja4:15
4."Somethin (Bout U)"
  • Jones
  • Hilson
  • Fred
6:13
5."Bae"
  • Chris Dooley Jr.
  • Clay West
  • Earl Williams
  • Edsel Alexander III
  • Hilson
  • Kortney Leveringston
  • Lakesha Watson
Mel & Mus2:56
6."Scream"
  • Hilson
  • Fred
  • Jones
  • Mansur
4:45
7."Whatever"
3:37
8."Weigh Me Down"
Brandon Sewell3:18
9."Say That"
  • Jaquetta Singleton
  • Hilson
Dre Harris2:58
Total length:33:22
Drama
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Drama" (Interlude)Keri Hilson 0:57
2."Bitches (Concerned)"HilsonDarhyl Camper Jr.1:27
3."Sorry (Fess Up)"
  • Hilson
  • Samuel Jean
Camper1:23
4."1 Hunnit" (featuring Young Thug and Pastor Troy)
4:43
5."The Hard Way"
Polow da Don2:06
6."Again"
  • Hilson
  • Theron Thomas
  • Timothy Thomas
  • Jones
  • Corey Dennard
  • James Hardnett
  • Kwame Buchanan
  • Marshall Thomas
  • Sean Chavis
3:44
Total length:47:42

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Sample credits

Release history

Release history
Initial release date Format Edition Label Ref.
April 18, 2025
We Need to Talk: Love
[19]
September 12, 2025
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 We Need to Talk: Drama [20]

References

  1. ^ https://open.spotify.com/album/4I4je4xJo10gcEK7LlIXG6
  2. ^ "Keri Hilson Channels Emotions on Third Album". Rap-Up. October 25, 2011. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  3. ^ "Keri Hilson Announces New album L.I.A.R." Rap-Up. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  4. ^ Platon, Adelle (March 18, 2016). "Producers Needlz & Donut Discuss Piecing Together Jeremih's 'Oui,' Keri Hilson's Comeback Single & How They Met on Craigslist".
  5. ^ Alston, Trey (March 23, 2025). "Keri Hilson Opens Up About Returning to Music In New Videos". Complex. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  6. ^ Velasquez, Angelina (March 29, 2025). "Keri Hilson dives into an intoxicating love on "Bae" ahead of new album 'We Need to Talk'". RetroTV. Archived from the original on April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  7. ^ Samuels, Keithan. "Keri Hilson Returns With New Album 'We Need To Talk: Love'". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Gail (April 21, 2025). "Keri Hilson Says 'We Need to Talk: Love' on First New Album in 15 Years: 'I Have Built Myself Back Up'". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "Keri Hilson – Bae". Spotify. March 27, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  10. ^ Samuels, Keithan (March 28, 2025). "Keri Hilson Shares New Song 'Bae,' Unveils 'We Need To Talk' Album Tracklist". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  11. ^ Abraham, Mya (March 28, 2025). "Amerie, Keri Hilson, Ari Lennox, And More New R&B That Feels Like The Early 2000s". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  12. ^ "Keri Hilson Returns With New Single "Bae"". You Know I Got Soul. March 30, 2025. Archived from the original on March 31, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  13. ^ "Keri Hilson – Say That (Official Visualizer)". YouTube. April 21, 2025. Archived from the original on April 23, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  14. ^ https://www.vibe.com/music/videos/keri-hilson-method-man-searchin-video-exclusive-1235095259/
  15. ^ "Keri Hilson - "Again" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. November 5, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  16. ^ "Keri Hilson On Returning To The Spotlight, Public Relationships, Beyoncé Backlash + More". YouTube. April 9, 2025. Archived from the original on April 9, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  17. ^ Saponara, Michael (April 9, 2025). "Keri Hilson Expresses Regret Over Dissing Beyoncé in 2009: 'I Did Not Want to Do That'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 9, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  18. ^ https://tidal.com/album/452209329/credits
  19. ^ "Keri Hilson – We Need To Talk". Apple Music. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  20. ^ https://open.spotify.com/album/4I4je4xJo10gcEK7LlIXG6
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