Ester Dean is opening up about her role in writing Keri Hilson‘s controversial ‘Turnin’ Me On’ remix.
As reported, Hilson revealed that she was forced to release the 2011 track, which featured a line clearly aimed at Beyonce. A line the songbird was adamant she didn’t even write.
Dean would step forward to reveal herself as the mystery songwriter. Now, she’s explaining more about her role after a spat with Hilson online.
Full story below…
In a lengthy post shared on Instagram, she wrote:
“Open Letter from Ester Dean
“For Keri. For Creatives. For The Record.”
I’ve stayed quiet for a long time, but I believe in telling the truth – especially when the internet starts telling its own version of the story.
Back in July 2008, I started working with Polow Da Don in Atlanta. Later, I moved to Los Angeles to write for Polow’s artists over at Interscope. I wasn’t famous. I wasn’t chasing clout. I was in the studio – day and night – writing 3 to 4 songs a day. No friends. No family. Just work. Whenever the studio was open, I wrote. When Polow called, I showed up. That’s who I was.
Turning Me On Remix
One night, Polow asked me to write a remix verse for Keri Hilson – something street, something for the culture. He left the room, and I sat there trying different ideas until I landed on these lines:
“I shot the sheriff… but wait ’til I shoot these b*tches, down down. Shoot these b*tches, down
down.”…and…
“Your vision cloudy if you think that you’re the best.
You can dance, she can sing, but she need to move it to the… (don’t do it, Em) She need to go have some babies, she needs to sit down, she fading.”Tacky? Yes. Forced? No. That was me. I wasn’t in the room with Keri writing this together. I didn’t know her personally. She was already a star. I was just a writer trying to earn my place. I did my job and left. Keri came in another time and wrote her own verse –
Know
Been had dollars boy
Go-on get your money up
her pen, her voice:
you I ain’t the only homie on me lined up
I ain’t turnin it off I’m stay turnin it on
Go-on and tell these folks how long I been writing your songs
I been puttin you on, just check the credits ho And if you want me, you can find me in Decatur,
ho Cause you’re turnin me off”
I went on to write on both of Keri’s albums. She even showed love and did a cameo in my Drop It Low video. I even came on stage with her once. But life took us in different directions, like it often does.
For the record – I didn’t work with Beyoncé until years later when I signed to Roc Nation as a writer. There was no “plot.” No “beef squad.” No secret industry mission. Just writers writing. Artists being artists. People trying to win.
Keri was already massive. She didn’t need saving. She was out here making history.
Why Speak Now?
Because while our stories may look similar now, back then they weren’t. Keri was speaking on big platforms I didn’t have access to – and it was her story to tell, not mine. I stayed writing. No hate. No shade. Just truth.
What Keri went through was sad. She’s a great artist, a beautiful spirit, and she deserves grace.
She took her lessons. I’ll take mine. Respect always.
– Ester Dean”
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Interesting. So Ester really did write the Beyoncé shade Keri is trying to distance herself from but Keri still went ahead and went in further on Ciara (she didn’t have to) and shaded non-writers when she herself was singing a diss she didn’t write. This is not the redemption she was looking for, just let this story rest once and for all.
So It is ok to diss Ciara but Beyonce… what’s her logic?
She didn’t write anything about Ciara or Beyonce. Why you dmb fks can’t read? The only thing she wrote was about MEN not any women.
“Go on and tell these folks how long I been writing your songs” is definitely shade towards female artists particularly Ciara who worked with Keri’s writing clique and who Ester dragged as well on her verse. Seems like you’re the one that can’t read
The verse is about men! Ffs
+ Beyonce did Nasty Girl and Bow Down . So she better stfu
Lmao everything in context points to female artists but “Keri said so” right? 🤣 gullible. Either way, it’s almost 20 years, no one cares, but she had to bring it up and it’s biting her in the ass again
Excuses…. She only feels sorry just because Keri dragged her ass and the internet are roasting her good. #Justice for Keri what a loser. No wonder she belongs to behind the scenes…
Keri didn’t have to sing the song if she didn’t want to… she changed some if the lyrics, but why not those lines if she really didn’t want to sing it?
Best wishes
She was actually told if she didn’t then her album would not come out. In any event FK BEYONCE! She aint sh1t lol. Nobody owes that fat haux an apology. She owes her song writers their credits! Fat thief. That’s why ALL of her kids looks like that Camel she laid with. Karma!
I don’t think Beyonce is bothered… beyonce is a star regardless of this line in a remix that most people forgot about. Beyonce is beyonce. And is still here after all these years… no one comes close to her.
Beyonce is not even asking for an apology. So whoever wants to apologise, that is there issue.
Beyonce is overrated her best work was on DC
Now THIS is what we should be talking about. Polow is and idiot for doing this to his artist and how come Timbaland let him do this?
Shut up you clowns, go to University of Phoenix online, get an accounting or IT degree and start working real jobs. Be quiet and stop trying to make a career in music happen at 40+ years old. Be realistic.
Shes well established and has a fanbase. And 40 is nothing. Beyonce is nearly 50. (In REAL life) looks it anyway. And even that’s not old. None of that matters in the current climate of music anyway.