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Swizz Beatz, 43, produced one of the most popular hip-hop songs ever, DMX’s double-platinum “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem”, when he was 19 years old. He has since worked with artists including Beyoncé, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z.
What was your childhood or earliest ambition?
To be an inventor. I always loved drawing concepts. I guess I ended up being one, but not how I envisioned.
Private school or state school? University or straight into work?
Growing up in the Bronx, the neighbourhood was very territorial. On the academic side, I was good, but travelling to school, you had to defend yourself. That was the cause of me moving to different schools, because I wasn’t going to let people bully me. I was always doing music while in school. I was a DJ and a barber at the same time. You’d get a haircut and a mixtape for 30 bucks. Everybody else was charging five to 10 — I was making 30 because I had a concept and a business plan at 11, 12 years old.
Who was or still is your mentor?
My uncles — I was in a family business, the Ruff Ryders label. My grandparents, Bubba and Mable, especially Bubba. He taught me about protocol, respect, honour. I always loved speaking to older people — wise people.
How physically fit are you?
Out of 100, I would say 65. I got work to do.
Ambition or talent: which matters more to success?
You have to lead with the talent.
How politically committed are you?
I’m committed to doing the right thing. I don’t depend on a government to move forward, I depend on myself. We all know what the problems are. What are the solutions? What can we do together, as a community, to change things?
What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?
The gift of eliminating homelessness around the world.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
Collecting art.
In what place are you happiest?
Anywhere my family and kids are.
What ambitions do you still have?
Loads. One is freeing creatives, like we did with Verzuz, the platform me and [producer] Timbaland created during the pandemic. When we sold it to Triller, we brought all of the artists that participated into Triller as owners — not me and Timb just getting all the money. How many creatives help make all of these apps and never get a piece of the pie when the company’s going public? I’m looking forward to doing more, and showing people a blueprint of how to change things.
What drives you on?
The idea that you can change the world. The idea that you can do something that really matters. That’s very powerful. I got to see millions of people agree with my music. I’m like, “Man, you could use that same creativity to do other things.” That’s how Verzuz was created, how No Commission [his art fair that gives 100 per cent of proceeds to the artists] was created.
What is the greatest achievement of your life so far?
Surviving. Period. The odds were against me. A lot of older people outlived the younger people that I grew up with.
What do you find most irritating in other people?
I’m a pretty generous person, but entitlement I cannot take. It’s wrong for somebody to think you owe them just for living and breathing. It doesn’t work like that.
If your 20-year-old self could see you now, what would he think?
I think he’d be goddamn happy.
Which object that you’ve lost do you wish you still had?
Many. Somebody misplaced my salsa dip the other day. Late at night, I like tortillas and very spicy salsa. It was 4am, I go in the refrigerator — it’s not there.
What is the greatest challenge of our time?
Having patience with one another. Taking time out to understand one another, instead of judging. There’s no big Is or little yous, there’s no one superior. We’re all in this together.
Do you believe in an afterlife?
There’s something after this, for sure.
If you had to rate your satisfaction with your life so far, out of 10, what would you score?
I’m still a work in progress. I would give it a seven.
Swizz Beatz’s ‘Long Live Jazz’ limited edition vinyl is available to pre-order now at 12on12.com
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Swizz Beatz: ‘I was a DJ and a barber. You’d get a haircut and a mixtape for 30 bucks’
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