Ne-Yo

A message to Keri Hilson: collaborations with big name rap and R&B stars don't work. Ask Estelle, whose career still hasn't recovered from the massive success of American Boy. Ask Nicole Scherzinger, who received a lukewarm reception to her solo work, despite some high-profile collaborations.

You've seen Keri Hilson before, readers. She's guested on a couple of Timbaland singles, is a great songwriter in her own right. And her latest single features two megastar guest appearances by Kanye West and Ne-Yo.

So there's no doubt she's well connected, but is it a good song? Well, not particularly. I've always rooted for Keri, hoping that a talented songwriter could break through as an artist. Unfortunately, the material in Knock You Down is mediocre and fails to show any of the artists in a particularly good light. It's that smooth, bland R&B treatment with an average hook in the chorus, but not much else to recommend it. Even Kanye lets us down with a rap that feels almost phoned in.