Biography
Swizz Beatz enjoyed success as a DJ, rapper, record executive, fashion designer and creative director, but it was as a producer behind hits by Beyonce, T.I. and Cassidy where his career truly flourished. Born Kasseem Dean in The Bronx, NY in 1978, the multi-talented star began DJing in his teens, and after moving to Georgia became one of the rising stars of his uncles' Ruff Ryders label, producing the bulk of their Ryde or Die, Vol.1 compilation and Eve's debut album, as well as US Hot 100 hits for DMX and Jay Z. In 2001, Beatz joined forces with Clive Davis to launch his own label, Full Surface Records, and a year later became an artist in his own right with Swizz Beats Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories, a collaborative affair featuring the likes of Jadakiss, LL Cool J and, rather unexpectedly, thrash metal giants Metallica. However, Beatz would then spend most of the next half-decade behind-the-scenes, helming Top 10 singles for his protege Cassidy ("Hotel") and T.I. ("Bring 'Em Out") and Beyonce's 2005 third solo number one, "Check On It," as well as working with over a dozen other artists from various major labels. He eventually resumed his own recording career with 2007's One Man Band Man, a largely guest-free album which allowed him to showcase his talents as an MC and spawned the hits, "It's Me Bitches" and "Money in the Bank." Beatz also continued to establish himself as one of the finest urban producers of his generation, winning a Grammy Award for his work on Jay Z's "On to the Next One," collaborating with future wife Alicia Keys on Whitney Houston's return-to-form, "Million Dollar Bill," and adding Drake, Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown to the list of star names to have benefited from his golden touch. Inspired by Kanye West's GOOD Fridays series, Beatz began releasing a brand new track every week, all of which were eventually compiled for the Monster Monday Volume One mixtape in 2011, while three years later he added actor to his resume when he played the Ninja Leader in comedy sequel " Dumb and Dumber To " (2014).
