Swizz Beatz is a popular American record producer, disc jockey, rapper, composer, entrepreneur, actor, and fashion designer. Raised in the Bronx, New York, he then moved to Atlanta, Georgia to further his passion for music. Working with his aunt and uncles, who own the Ruff Ryders Entertainment record label, Swizz Beatz began producing music at age 16. Soon after, he gained popularity for his work and the release of his compilation album. Swizz Beatz Presents GHETTO Stories , in 2002 accelerated its pace. He’s also a HarvardGraduate and has worked with the likes of Drag-On, Eva, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Ludacris, Maino, Kanye West, DMX, Beyonce, Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Whitney Houston, Jay-Z and Chris Brown. On July 31, 2010, he married famed singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist Alicia Keys. The duo are a power couple and a major art collector of famous artists such as Ansel Adams, KAWS, Keith Haring, Cleon Peterson, Ernest Zacharevic and Erik Jones. Swizz Beatz is one of the most in-demand record producers in the industry and has also released a number of albums of his own. He also has a large social media following with more than 400,000 followers on Facebook, more than 2.8 million followers on Instagram and more than 2.5 million followers on Twitter.

Born name

Kasseem Dean

nickname

Swizz Beatz

Sun sign

Virgo

Place of birth

The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States

Residence

He resides in New York City, New York, USA.

nationality

training

Swizz Beatz attended Harry S. Truman High School , a public high school in the Bronx, New York City. However, when he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, because of his violent behavior at Harry S. Truman High School, he enrolled at Stone Mountain High School .

Later, in April 2014, he studied in the Harvard Business School Management Executive program for owners/presidents. He graduated from the school in November 2017 from the OPM program.

occupation

Record producer, disc jockey, rapper, composer, entrepreneur, actor, fashion designer

family

• Father – unknown
• mother – unknown
• Siblings – André King (Younger Brother) (Model, Designer, TV Personality)
• Other – Joaquin (Waah) Dean (uncle) (Co-CEO of Ruff Ryders Entertainment record label), Darrin (Dee) Dean (Uncle) (Co-CEO of Ruff Ryders Entertainment record label), Chivon Dean (Aunt) (Co-founder of the Ruff Ryders entertainment record label)

Manager

Swizz Beatz is managed by Mike Killmon, Associate Manager, Universal Records.

Genre

HipHop

instruments

Life

labels

Epic Vinyl, Monster Music, Atlantic Recording Corporation, DreamWorks Vinyl, Everest, Full Surface, Universal Motown Vinyl, Ruff Ryders, Warner Bros. (Formerly)

To build

Athletic

Height

185,5 cm

weight

80 kg or 176.5 lbs

girlfriend/spouse

Swizz Beatz dated –

1. Mashonda Tifrere (1998-2007) – Swizz Beatz began dating Mashonda Tifrere, a singer from Boston, Massachusetts, in February 1998. Mashonda Tifrere is also an author who wrote the book. Blend: The Secret to Parenting Together and Creating a Balanced Family(2018). The couple suffered a miscarriage in 2000. During this unfortunate pregnancy, Dean’s son, Nicole Levy, was born. It was Mashonda who named the child Nasir. Eventually, Mashonda and Swizz Beatz got engaged in 2002 and then married in 2004. Their son, Kasseem Dean, Jr., was born in December 2006. However, the marriage soon fell apart and in 2008 the couple announced their separation after separating the previous year. They filed for a divorce citing irreconcilable differences and it was finalized in May 2010. Now they co-parented their son, and Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys also helped Tifrere with her book (mentioned above), which is based on co-parenting.
2. Nicole Levy (1999-2000) – Swizz Beatz started dating Nicole Levy in August 1999. Their son, Prince Nasir, was born on October 25, 2000 when Mashonda Tifrere was also pregnant, resulting in a miscarriage. The duo split in February 2000.
3. Jahna Sebastian (2007) – In August 2007, Swizz Beatz had an affair with British singer and producer Jahna Sebastian. Jahna gave birth to their daughter Nicole Dean in May 2008. However, Swizz Beatz only found out about the birth of his daughter a year later.
4. Alicia Keys(2008-Present) – Swizz Beatz and singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actress and philanthropist Alicia Keys have known each other since they were teenagers. They started dating in July 2008. They later became engaged and in May 2010 the couple announced that they were expecting their first child. Their unborn child was blessed as they attended a Zulu ceremony in the South African suburb of Illovo, Johannesburg. Then the happy couple wed on July 31, 2010 in a private ceremony near the Mediterranean Sea. Their first child, a son named Egypt Daoud Dean, was born on October 14, 2010. Then, on December 27, 2014, their second son, Genesis Ali Dean, was born. The duo is strong and the family spends a lot of time together and both Alicia and Swizz Beatz keep their fans in suspense, by sharing their images on their respective social media handles. Alicia once revealed in an interview that she found Swizz Beatz a bit annoying before they started dating.

race/ethnicity

Multiracial (Hispanic, White and Black)

Swizz Beatz is of Afro-Jamaican, Puerto Rican, and Irish descent, with Eritrean roots on his father’s side.

hair colour

Black (natural)

eye color

dark brown

sexual orientation

Just

distinguishing features

• shaved head
• Short bushy beard
• Often wears glasses and a hat
• A tattoo of Alicia Key’s face on his arm

brand promotion

Swizz Beatz has appeared in a TV commercial, Duality , for the Samsung Galaxy in 2013.

He has also promoted several brands such as Aston Martin , Lotus Cars , Monster , and Reebok .

Religion

Islam

Known for

• Producer or co-producer on a number of singles by various well-known artists including Ruff Ryder’s Anthem by DMX, “Tear da Roof Off” by Busta Rhymes, “Money, Cash, Hoes” by Jay-Z with DMX, “Gotta Man by Eva, Jigga My Nigga by Jay-Z, ‘Girl’s Best Friend’ by Jay-Z with Mashonda, ‘The Best of Me’ by Mýa with Jadakiss, ‘Things You Do’ by Jay-Z with Mariah Carey, ‘Wild Out’ by The LOX , ‘Hands Up’ by LL Cool J, ‘Hotel’ by Cassidy starring R. Kelly,‘Check it’by Beyoncé with Slim Thug, “Spit Your Game” by The Notorious BIG with Twista and Krayzie Bone, ‘Give It Up’ by Eve with Sean Paul, “Million Dollar Bill” by Whitney Houston, ‘In Search of Paradise’ by Alejandro Sanz with Alicia Keys, “Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)” by Jay-Z, Bono, The Edge and Rihanna, “Roman Revenge” by Nicki Minaj with Eminem, “Wait ’til You See My Smile” by Alicia Keys and ‘ Hurt Someone’ by Akon with French Montana
• Winning the BET Hip Hop Award for Producer of the Year in 2010 and a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2011 for the single, Next Up with Jay-Z

First album

Swizz Beatz released his debut studio album, One Man Band Man , on August 21, 2007 through Full Surface and Universal Motown Records. The album consisted of 12 songs including Product Man , It’s Me, Bitches , You Know Your Boy Did That , Top Down , Money in the Bank , and Part of the Plan and also featured artists like Drag-On, Lil Wayne, R. Kelly and Jadakiss. It was ranked #7 in the US. Billboard 200 list and sold 45,000 copies in its first week.

first movie

Swizz Beatz made his motion picture debut as a producer in the musical drama film. I Tried In 2007, the hip-hop group starred rappers Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Bone Thugs n Harmonie , alongside actors Hassan Johnson and Chris Mulkey.

First TV show

Swizz Beatz made his first appearance as himself in an episode of the musical sketch comedy series. Chappelle’s Show , in 2004.

Personal trainer

He maintains a slim and fit physique by exercising regularly.

Swizz Beatz favorite things

• City In Egypt – Nubia In Aswan
• One of his favorite artists – Oum Kalthoum
• Egyptian Dish – Macaroni Béchamel (Baked Noodles with Meat, Cheese and Béchamel Sauce)
• One of his favorite books – The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Generated a Culture That Redefined the Rules of the New Economy by Steve Stoute

Swizz Beatz facts

1. Coincidentally, he was born on Friday the 13th.
2. His father was an immigrant who abandoned the family when Swizz Beatz was a young boy.
3. After his parents separated, Swizz’s mother raised him in North East Bronx, New York City, New York.
4. He got involved with hip hop while living in Northeast Bronx. He soon began his musical journey as a DJ with the help of his stepfather and uncles. Swizz Beatz relocated from the Bronx to Atlanta, Georgia and began working with his aunt and uncles who founded the Ruff Ryders Entertainment record label.
5. Using the Korg Trinity and Triton keyboards in his works instead of the sample brought uniqueness to his style of music, which soon attracted the attention it deserved.
6. Beginning his career as a producer at a ripe old age, his career soon picked up momentum and he sold his first beat to actor and rapper DMX, which later became his first single, Ruff Ryders’ Anthem .
7. It was in 2001 that he founded his record label, Full Screen Records along with record producer, A&R executive and music industry executive, Clive Davis. The label later became part of J Records and Cassidy was the first artist to be signed by the label.
8. After 2002, Swizz Beatz’s career quickly began to blossom and his singles, ‘Guilty’ and ‘Bigger Business’ , also secured spots on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
9. He has the work of various artists such as Drag-On, Eve, Bone Thugs n Harmonie , Ludacris, Maino, Whitney Houston, Jay-Z and Chris Brown.
10. Swizz Beatz once persuaded the Sheikh of Dubai to use airspace for the song’s video. You stay in my head just for a dollar
11. He entered the Bronx Walk of Fame in May 2014 and was given a street named after him called Swizz Beatz Street .
12. Swizz Beatz appeared with musical artist One Man Kru in Season 6 of the popular South Korean hip hop TV show. Show me the money in June 2017.
13. He has served as a partner for the popular clothing company, Kidrobot .
14. Swizz Beatz collaborated on a sneaker line at Reebok . He was also vice president of marketing, design and branded music development in the sports style division for the brand.
15. Swizz Beatz has a keen interest in art and his collection includes artworks by some well-known artists such as KAWS, Keith Haring, Cleon Peterson, Ernest Zacharevic and Erik Jones.
16. The first major artwork he bought was a black and white image of the Alps by legendary photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams. Beatz was 19 at the time of purchase and when he first saw the image he was amazed at the intricate details.
17. He is also associated with the Gordon Parks Foundation , a foundation dedicated to preserving the work of photographer and musician Gordon Parks.
18. The Dean Collection Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys’ philanthropic organization and family collection of international contemporary art is proud to hold the largest private collection of Gordon Parks’ paintings.
19. In his spare time he enjoys painting, and what he collects from his paintings he donates to the Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation .
20. Swizz Beatz became the Global Ambassador of New York Health and Hospital Society (HHC) in 2012.
21. His older son with Alicia Keys, Egypt Daoud Dean, was credited as a producer on Kendrick Lamar’s compilation album. Unnamed Unmastered .
22. For the 2010-2011 academic year, he was named the first Producer in Residence at New York University.
23. He was ranked #21 in About.com’s list of the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Producers.
24. The source magazine mentioned him on its list of “The 20 Greatest Producers” in its 20-year history.
25. Kanye West once called Swizz Beatz the best rap producer of all time.
26. Visit his official website @ swizzworld.com.
27. Follow Swizz Beatz on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, iTunes and Spotify.