Swizz Beatz is opening up about his marriage to Alicia Keys as the couple’s 15th anniversary approaches.
The producer, 46, told Us Weekly exclusively that the secret to their long-lasting union is friendship, communication, and choosing “not to yell at each other,” revealing that the couple have never had an argument.
“Marriage is definitely a big word, but look at it like your best friend,” Swizz said while discussing the partnership between his mezcal brand, The Producer, and Hard Rock International. “The communication is there. We’ve never had an argument. Since we’ve been together, our kids [have] never seen it; never seen us raise our voice [or] never seen us yell. Never seen us curse at each other. Why? Because of communication.”
Swizz and Keys, 44, tied the knot in July 2010 after first meeting as teenagers. Swizz explained that he and Keys, who share sons Egypt, 14, and Genesis, 10, do “disagree on things,” but chose to express their different views in a healthy way.
“When you yell at each other, no one is really listening anyway. Nothing gets solved in each other’s yelling,” Swizz said, adding that he doesn’t “own” Keys and she doesn’t “own” him.
“People think they can own people. You can’t. It’s not property that you own. There’s a whole human, right?” Swizz explained. “So, we’re very clear on that. She’s her own boss. I’m my own boss. That’s how we make magic when we come together. I think that helps because people start getting very territorial and making their partner property, and I think that’s the biggest mistake.”
In addition to the couple’s sons, Swizz and Keys are also parents to Swizz’ older sons, Prince Nasir, 24, Kasseem Jr., 18, and daughter, Nicole, 16, from previous relationships. Swizz gushed about Egypt’s passion for basketball and music, telling Us that the 14-year-old is learning everything he can from his mother.
“Egypt is full time basketball. He’s looking at the NBA,” Swizz said. “He’s on basketball tours, and they’re trying to recruit him for the colleges. He’s always playing the piano, and I can say that my wife is giving him her gift. She put in so much time, even last night. She plays with him everyday and he loves it.”
Swizz also gushed about Kasseem’s recent acceptance into New York University, celebrating that the 18-year-old, whom he shares with singer Mashonda, “made a big turn around.”
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“He was having some challenges at one point, and now he’s an all A+ student,” the producer said. “He worked in China this summer for an amazing financial firm. When he came back from that trip, he was just invigorated. For him to go to NYU and pursue his music and business dreams is a dream for me.”
Swizz reflected on the family’s legacy within the industry just a few weeks after the announcement of his partnership with Hard Rock and the opening of the couple’s Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys exhibition.
The producer shared that he hopes his family will be “a blueprint for people that may think that they can’t do it.”
“Coming from the South Bronx, if I can do it, anybody can do it,” Swizz said. “I come from the lowest of the low. I hope I can leave a legacy where people that doubt themselves can just go hard and use what I’ve done — what my family is doing — as a stepping stone and a blueprint to get into the next level.”
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