Last week, Keri Hilson admitted to feeling “regret” over the track when she made an appearance on The Breakfast Club.
The Pretty Girl Rock singer went on to explain that the shady lyrics weren’t even hers.
Although she didn’t disclose the original writer during the sit-down, however, the mystery didn’t last long.
An Internet user ascertained: “The writer was definitely Ester Dean,” and she doubled down with a confident, “@mstiabby and did!! It was a hit!!!”
This revelation seems to have pulled Ester Dean out, as she has penned an open letter to all involved.
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The open letter seems to be Ester Dean’s way of setting the record straight on the drama surrounding Keri Hilson’s “Turnin’ Me On (Remix)”—a” track that includes lyrics aimed at Beyoncé.
Read Dean’s letter in its entirety below:
“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***hes down, down.
Shoot these b***hes down, down, and your vision is cloudy if you think that you’re the best.
You can dance, she can sing, but she needs to move it to the… (don’t do it, Em). She needs to go have some babies; she needs to sit down; she’s 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 — her pen, her voice: ‘Been had dollars, boy. Go on, get your money up.
Know you 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’ve been writing your songs.
I’ve been puttin’ you on; just check the credits, h*e. And if you want me, you can find me in Decatur, h*e. Cause you’re turnin’ me off.’”
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”
