On Tuesday (March 24), [artist id="1746119"]Keri Hilson[/artist] finally gets to release her debut album, [article id="1591036"]In a Perfect World....[/article] The sexy singer said the date has great karma because fellow Atlanta native [artist id="1270"]Usher[/artist] dropped his Confessions LP five years ago this week. He sold a few copies -- i.e. a few million! -- of that one. Hilson says the wait for putting out her record, which was supposed to come out last year, is well worth it. The delays gave her ample opportunity to make sure everything came out to her liking.

"It's kind of been a little Detox-y," Hilson laughed, comparing the wait for her debut to Dr Dre's years-in-the-making LP. Keri and the Doc share a similar trait.

"I'm just a perfectionist," she said. "I have had many [release dates], but it's all for a good cause. The label wants to make sure the album has its proper release, and I'm thankful for that. Very grateful, even though fans look at it like it's a bad thing."

Perfect World... is packed with power players, from Lil Wayne, Keyshia Cole and Ne-Yo to its two main producers, Polow Da Don and [artist id="503162"]Timbaland[/artist].

"Polow absolutely leans towards urban-sounding records like 'Turnin' Me On,' " she said. "Timbaland leans towards the 'Energy'-sounding records, the more world music. I'm always in the middle, and I mean that businesswise and creatively. Because when Polow brings me a more urban-sounding record, I bring it back to the middle and go a little pop with it. When Timbaland brings me a world track, I pull out something emotional and raw. I'm always the balance between those two. It works for us. They're polar opposites and I'm in the middle."

Although both beat masters were working toward a common cause, Hilson said they didn't want to get outshined by the other.

"It's a silent battle between the two of them," she smiled. "It's just a natural, they both wanna give their best, and I'm very glad that two of the great producers have come together on my project. Of course, I'm their baby and they want to give me their best. I'm in the middle like, 'Thank you, Lord.' "

Hilson slowed down her writing for other artists to concentrate on the new album, but now that it's in stores, she's unleashing her pen again. The singer will be working on tracks for Omarion's new Timbaland-helmed project, as well as Tim's Shock Value 2. Her new video, "Knock You Down," features Kanye West as Hilson's ex who messes up and [artist id="2002414"]Ne-Yo[/artist] as the new beau. A couple of weeks ago, a clip for the song "Make Love" hit the Internet. [artist id="1230523"]Kanye[/artist] played the romantic lead in that one as well.