Swizz Beatz Hosting Three-Day Art & Concert Series at Art Basel Miami Beach

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz is bringing a mix of art and music to Art Basel Miami Beach this year.

The 37-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer is collaborating with Bacardi for a three-day art and concert series at North America’s foremost international modern and contemporary art fair next month to showcase up-and-coming artists — both visual and musical — on a platform that will also feature performances from Alicia Keys, Pusha T, A-Trak, DMX and Wiz Khalifa, among others.

The collaboration, called Casa Bacardi at Wynwood, will be curated by Beatz’s The Dean Collection and encompass two separate yet connected events.

The first, running from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Dec. 3-5, is a No Commission Art Fair, where artists will be allowed to showcase their work for free and take home 100 percent of their proceeds, a departure from the industry standard where galleries both take a percentage of profits and charge for booth space.

The second, running from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. each night, is the Bacardi Untameable House Party, a concert series with both established and emerging musicians and DJs.

“It’s by the artist, for the artist, with the people,” Swizz tells Billboard. “And I think a lot of people forgot the message of why they’re even going down to Basel. You’re going down to Basel because there are amazing, creative artists who took a lot of time out of their lives to put together some masterpieces and hope for entry in a great collection or for somebody to be inspired. And not taking anything away from Basel or from the galleries, but I just chose to do something different. And I think the world needs more powerful collaborations that are willing to push the envelope and not really follow the necessary rules that are laid out.”

Swizz’s connection to the art world goes beyond his own Dean Collection; he also joined the board of the Brooklyn Museum in October and has been curating at Basel for years.

“This is something that just has to happen,” he says. “Because if we’re not pushing the envelope, then who do we expect to do it? I think the most important part of the message is the give back factor. And the other part of the give back factor is having a brand like Bacardi supporting that. There’s no punch line, there’s no catch. This is a genuine thing.”

The No Commission Art Fair will be free and open to the public, while each night’s House Party will be free via RSVP.

“We totally connected on the need to help fuel the hustle and provide artists with a stage to showcase their passions,” says Zara Mirza, head of creative excellence at Bacardi. “Bacardi has a deep heritage in music and the arts, from Prohibition parties in Havana, Cuba in the 1920s to some of our more modern partnerships like the Untameable Artist Series.”

Artists showing at The No Commission Art Fair:
KAWS
BK The Artist
SWOON
Jenks Imaging
Cyrcle
David Choong Lee
D*Face
Wolfbat
Derrick Adams
HOXXOH
Doze Green
Dustin Yellin
Eddie Colla
Gabriel Dawe
Gordon Parks Foundation
Gregory Siff
Hebru Brantley
Hyon Gyon
Jaybo Monk
Jerome Lagarrigue
Jill Greenberg
Kehinde Wiley
Lyle Owerko
Maya Hayuk
Michael Kagan
Michael Vasquez
Mickalene Thomas
Sandra Chevrier
Sanford Biggers
Sean HRT
Shepard Fairey
So Youn Lee
Sue Tsai
Timothy Buwalda
Todd James
Tomokazu Matsuyama
Miss Van
CRYPTIK
Zio Zigler

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys Introduce Son Genesis Ali

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz is introducing the world to his new son…

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer and his wife-singer Alicia Keys have shared the first photos of their new baby boy, Genesis Ali Dean.

Swizz Beats (real name Kasseem Dean) and the R&B singer posted images of their new child to Instagram Friday wishing blessings and love.

Genesis Ali Dean was born on December 27, 2014.

Keys and Dean have been married since 2010. Genesis Ali is their second child together, following their 4-year-old son Egypt Daoud.

Dean has three other children from previous relationships.

Beatz & Alicia Keys Welcome Their Second Child, Genesis Ali Dean

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz is preparing for double duty…

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer and his singer wife Alicia Keys have welcomed a new baby boy into the family fold.

Beatz and Keys announced the birth of their second child together on Sunday (Dec. 28) through an Instagram photo of the infant’s tiny footprints. The parents have named their new six-pound, five-ounce boy Genesis Ali Dean. He was born at 1:52 a.m. on Saturday.

“The joy of joy is joy!! It’s a boy!! we are so grateful!! #blessings!!” Keys wrote on Instagram. Beatz wrote a similar message on his Instagram account.

Keys and Beatz married in August 2010 and welcomed their first son, Egypt, about two months later. Keys announced in July of this year that she and Beatz were expecting their second child.

“Happy Anniversary to the love of my life @therealswizzz!! And to make it even sweeter we’ve been blessed with another angel on the way!!” Keys wrote on Instagram. “You make me happier than I have ever known! Here’s to many many more years of the best parts of life!”

Swizz Beatz to Co-Host Alicia Keys’ HIV/AIDS Charity Event Black Ball

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz is helping raising awareness about HIV and AIDS…

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer is set to co-host his wife Alicia Keys’ annual charity event, which aims to shine a spotlight on HIV and AIDS.

Keys announced Tuesday that her husband will co-host the 11th annual Black Ball alongside Diddy on October 30 at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom.

Keys, Nas, David Byrne and Angel Haze will perform.

Keep a Child Alive, Keys’ charity launched in 2003, offers assistance to people affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa and India.

Last year’s Black Ball raised $4 million and featured Carole King and Pharrell Williams.

Pitbull is the Top-Ranking Latino Artist on Forbes’ World’s Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Acts List

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is a Cash King…

The 33-year-old Cuban American rap superstar, who recently released the official music vide for his latest single “Fireball,” has earned a spot on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Acts, which is compiled from “pretax earnings for living artists whose work is primarily classified as hip-hop or rap.” Earnings include “income from touring, record sales, publishing, merchandise sales, endorsements and other ventures.”

Pitbull comes in at No. 13 on the financial magazine’s Cash Kings list, with a reported haul of $12 million during the reporting period from June 2013 to June 2014.

Along with performing at some 50 concert dates last year, Pitbull also made bank through lucrative endorsement deals for products including Kodak, Dr. Pepper, Voli vodka and Budweiser. He’s also recently announced plans to launch his own Sirius XM channel.

But Pitbull isn’t the only Latino on the list…

Swizz Beatz made $8 million during the same reporting period, landing him at the No. 16 spot on the list.

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer is considered a rare exception among hip-hop’s top earners because he didn’t tour this year. But he does earn plenty on production and side ventures with the likes of Reebok, Lotus and Monster headphones. Don’t expect him to slow down, either: he’s been taking classes at Harvard Business School to hone his already-sharp financial skills.

Click here to see the complete list on Forbes.com.

Swizz Beatz & Alicia Keys Expecting Their Second Child

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz’s family is expanding

The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer and his wife Alicia Keys are expecting their second child.

The couple announced the news through her Instagram account on their fourth anniversary, with Keys writing, “Happy Anniversary to the love of my life @therealswizzz !!. And to make it even sweeter we’ve been blessed with another angel on the way!! You make me happier than I have ever known! Here’s to many many more years of the best parts of life!”

In a separate message, Beatz wrote, “Love is life & life is love and we’re so excited for another GIFT from up above Happy Anniversary my Goddess 4 years of greatness & cheers to 100 plus more inshallah.” [“Inshallah” is Arabic for “God willing.”]

The couple married in 2010, and have a son, Egypt Daoud Dean, age 3.

Their messages were accompanied by two gorgeous photos of the happy couple.

Swizz Beatz to Attend Harvard Business School

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz is headed to the Ivy League…

The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer, born Kasseem Dean, has been accepted to Harvard Business School’s nine-week Owner/President Management Extension Program, the same one attended by Antonio “L.A.” Reid at the request of Clive Davis.

Beatz, the husband of Alicia Keys,made the announcement by posting his acceptance email on his Instagram account earlier this week.

“This might be one of the happiest days of my life,” he posted on his social media account. “From BX to Harvard.”

Beatz has produced hit singles for the likes of Nas, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Bono. He’s also a fashion and shoe designer, art collector and tireless brand promoter who spent the 2010-11 academic year as the first “producer-in-residence” at New York University‘s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.

The HBS program awards those who pass the curriculum a certification for the course, which is aimed at CEOs and heads of companies. The price tag is $33,000 per credit, with Beatz taking three credits for a cool 100 grand, beginning next month. He’ll live in Harvard housing.

“Admission is a selective process based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. We look for professionals who have demonstrated business talent and leadership potential,” according to the school’s official site.

The program focuses on navigating the global economy, maximizing financial resources, aligning strategies and sales and other business skills.

Keys and son Egypt will join him in the dorm on weekends, according to Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman, who interviewed Swizz on the carpet at the The Amazing Spider-Man 2 premiere. His wife performed her soundtrack song with Kendrick Lamar at the post-premiere party.

Swizz, who never went to college, started his music career directly after graduating high school.

Swizz Beatz Releases New Single “Hands Up”

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s time to put your Hands Up for Swizz Beatz…

The 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer has premiered his latest single “Hands Up,” with help from New York City’s Hot 97‘s Funkmaster Flex.

Swizz’s new track is a massive collaboration, featuring four of hip-hop’s brightest stars, Nicki MInaj, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz dropping verses while Swizz Beatz handles the hook.

Weezy kicks off the verses, acknowledging Beatz’s hip-hop greatness with, “Swizz this beat is a beast” and name-dropping Beatz’s wife Alicia Keys. Meanwhile, Minaj reasserts her reign with, “Ayo pass the crown to the real queen,” then “I’m a mogul, yes I am global/ I don’t do Barnes but yes I am noble/ Every interview yes I am their focal, point. I’m in da mansion, flossing, clickin’ cable.”

Maybach Music Group mogul Ross delivers the hip-hop lifestyle rundown, from his Cherokee to his Bugatti and down to his Rolls Royce, the jewels and the “hundred grand.” Chainz rounds it up, commanding the ladies with, “Let me see you pat your weave if you ratchet.”

Nunez to be Honored by Ne-Yo’s Compound Foundation

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Johnny Nunez is being recognized for fostering a bright future for children in the foster care system…

The half-Venezuelan celebrity photography and founder of Nubuzzphoto will be honored by singer-songwriter Ne-Yo and his Compound Foundation at the 2nd Annual Fostering A Legacy Benefit taking place Saturday, August 17.

Co-hosted by actor/comedian Kevin Hart with a special performance by Grammy-nominated singer Estelle, the gala will celebrate the strength and creativity of youth in foster care.

The night’s award ceremony will honor exemplary individuals and corporations for their leadership in foster care, adoption and community work.

Nunez, who grew up in the foster care system and was adopted at the age of five by a Puerto Rican family, is one of the most renowned celebrity photographers to work with some of the most influential figures including President Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey , Mick Jagger , Swizz Beatz and Clive Davis to name a few.

“Johnny Nunez… has been an advocate of our cause for years,” states Ne-Yo, founder of the Compound Foundation.

Following the awards and its ongoing effort to support its youth in foster and group homes, Compound will ask guests to participate in its Balloon Legacy Auction raising funds for the foundation’s important programs.

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