Over the years the list of female artists who went from virginal to bad girl has expanded. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus and Rihanna, to name a few, are all examples of female artists who by their sophomore album unleashed their inner sexual deviant. Taylor Swift might be next, but in the meantime, there’s Keri Hilson.

Hilson started in the entertainment industry as a songwriter for artists such as Britney Spears, Usher, Ciara, Ludacris, and now is a popular R&B singer in the limelight herself. She eased into her singing career crooning sweet songs about love and broken hearts. Dressed sexy and feminine, she still left plenty to the imagination. And then, like another Lindsay Lohan get-out-of-jail-free rehab stint, Hilson put out a video earlier this week that has her fans going hmmmmm???

Sex sells. It does. The porn industry is thriving. Women with cleavage in short skirts are a hot commodity in the entertainment world. But why would someone, especially a female who is already established, want to promote herself in this way? Why are female artists selling themselves short and trying so hard to be sexy? And why are there so many men out there who don’t get that overtly sexy is not sexy?

The song, The Way You Love Me, features rapper Rick Ross and the music video includes a cast of JoJo, Faith Evans, Dawn Richards, Columbus Short and Polow Da Don. At one point in the song Hilson says, “I got that kind of loving that will keep you off the streets,” while strutting around provocatively in her leather underwear. Nevermind the poorly written plot synopsis about a suggestive man heist, Hilson seemed to be trying way to hard thrusting and gyrating every which way.

After the video premiered, Hilson went on to do an interview on Chelsea Lately, where she mentioned, “I don’t date rappers, I have a brain.” How confusing is that? Yes craft is about pushing the envelope and doing something new and different. However, this has been done before and it seems she could have taken a more creative route.

Some artists, Katy Perry for example, started out kissing girls, liking it and continue to be who they are. Perry’s image has not altered. She is who she is. Maybe Hilson is still trying to find her voice and where she fits into the competitive industry. What are people’s thoughts on Hilson’s new video and the good to bad girl image? Is she doing way too much or do we like it?

Words by Yael Reed Wachepress