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Three Atlanta hitmakers arrive at the Rialto Center for the Arts.

LOUIE FAVORITE/AJC Staff (ENLARGE)
Johnta Austin (from left), Keri Hilson and Sean Garrett, shown at the Rialto Center for the Arts downtown, are hoping to make their mark onstage after years of toiling as behind-the-scenes writers of hit songs. All three have solo albums due out this summer.
LOUIE FAVORITE/AJC Staff (ENLARGE)
Sean Garrett
LOUIE FAVORITE/AJC Staff (ENLARGE)
Johnta Austin
LOUIE FAVORITE/AJC Staff (ENLARGE)
Keri Hilson
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CONCERT PREVIEW BMI's 11th Annual Unsigned Urban Showcase Doors open at 8 tonight at Luckie Lounge, 375 Luckie St. Lil Wayne, Sean Garrett and Teyana Taylor perform. Ciara and Yung Joc host. Jarren Benton, Brandon Hines, Holly Weerd and Trimm compete. Lil Jon guest DJs. Admission: $20 until 10 p.m. Information: www.bmi.com. Thursday: Music critic Sonia Murray blogs about the four acts competing in the BMI Music showcase at Atlanta Music Scene. RELATED LINK: • Photos: Songwriters who made the transition to performing

One arrives with a fashion team on her heels. Another is followed by an attentive manager carrying both of their ever-buzzing Blackberrys. The third, with dark shades on, pulls up in a tinted SUV. The night before, the Grammy winner had been at the Cheetah celebrating yet another huge single.

Funny thing is, when the three enter the Rialto for a photo shoot they're undetected by the many Georgia State students outside. No one is lingering outside. Not a single autograph is requested.

This may be the last time that happens.

Just as Ne-Yo, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Kanye West did before them, Atlanta songwriters Johnta Austin, Sean Garrett and Keri Hilson are moving from behind the scenes to the forefront as recording artists.

Garrett is giving his first live performance tonight at BMI's Unsigned Urban Showcase, at Luckie Lounge. His debut CD, "Turbo 919," is due in stores on June 17. Hilson, whose still-untitled debut is due in August, will be one of the judges at this evening's showcase. And Austin has a new title for a disc promised since 2006, "Love, Sex and Religion"; it's now targeted for a late summer release.

Get to know the trio now — while it's still fairly easy to do.

JOHNTA AUSTIN

• On his style of writing: It's "just true life, true stories." The 27-year-old had a hand in Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You," Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" and Carey's current single "Bye Bye."

• On Sean and Keri's writing: "They both are energetic talents. Their melodies are memorable, and they make a lot of fun records."

• On what he's learned while waiting to be a recording artist: "Really, just to have confidence. Things happen as they're supposed to happen." Austin got his first record deal, with RCA, when he was a teenager.

• On how he'll feel if his debut flops: "I wouldn't even think about it like that. ... I see this as an opportunity to say something directly to people. I mean, I've won Grammys. I've already accomplished a lot. So if I only reach 10 people with my record — great! And it's not like I haven't reached more."

• Mary J. Blige on Johnta Austin: "Johnta is just a good guy, first. Good people. That he has the gift of song is like a bonus. ... So Johnta the artist should be outta here!"

SEAN GARRETT

• On his style of writing: "Exciting and unpredictable!" proclaims the 28-year-old, whose hits include Beyoncé's "Upgrade U" and Usher's "Yeah!"

• On Johnta and Keri's writing: "Keri's is very girly — meaning, beautiful. And Johnta is an absolute R&B master."

• On what he's learned while waiting to be a recording artist: "Patience, obviously. But the biggest lesson I've learned is someone can always be better than you, but they can never outwork you." The Grammy nominee was offered his first deal as a teenager, as well, from Warner Brothers.

• On how he'll feel if his debut flops: "My album won't do that — and that's coming from a God place. I put my heart and soul into it. ... It's a success for me already."

• Ludacris on Sean Garrett: "Real cool guy. Real easy to work with. Very talented. Not only did I do a song with

him [Garrett's first single, "Grippin' "] but he did something for me, on my new album. ... It's his time. And I'm just glad I could play a part."

KERI HILSON

• On her style of writing: "Right now, because of 'The Way I Are' [the Timbaland song on which she was featured], I'd say it's futuristic, mixed with a little '80s and R&B." The 25-year-old's credits include Ludacris' "Runaway Love" and Omarion's "Ice Box." "There's usually like a retro thing about my melodies."

• On Johnta and Sean's writing: "Sean is very aggressive; just in your face. ... Johnta is a little more metaphoric at times. Although he's never so deep you don't understand what's going on."

• On what she's learned while waiting to be a recording artist: "It's more about the quality of work that you put in, not the quantity of time that you spend doing it. Because I used to burn it at both ends. My first year of college [at Emory] I was operating on no hours of sleep. A zombie. In the studio every night, then come in at 6 in the morning and try to study for an 8 a.m. exam. ... Then right there on Freedom Parkway, I flipped my car over. Falling asleep at the wheel. That was my wake-up call."

• On how she'll feel if her debut flops: "After all of this time, wanting it so long, the day it hits the stores it's a success to me." The Atlanta native joined her first group — and got her first record deal, with Elektra — when she was 14.

• Usher on Keri Hilson: "She is far too big a talent to be limited to behind the scenes," the five-time Grammy winner said of the leading lady in his "Love in the Club" video. "And far too attractive." Hilson also helped write his single "Red Light."