This is the spot where you’ll see upcoming producers and Industry veterans in the game. A lot of people don’t know what goes into production. This will be the section where we feature the hottest producers in hip hop. Each month we’ll bring to you a new producer along with their background.

THIS MONTH’S FEATURE IS: SWISS BEATZ
Bronx. 26-year-old producer and Bronx native, Kaseem Dean, AKA Swizz Beats –
has an all-star roster of talent, and an impressive line-up of hit records since he made his debut at the age of 16, producing smash hit after hit for mega-stars such as DMX and Eve.It’s hard to believe, but after only 10-years in the industry, this super producer has sold over 88 million records to date.

Bronx. 26-year-old producer and Bronx native, Kaseem Dean, AKA Swizz Beats –
has an all-star roster of talent, and an impressive line-up of hit records since he made his debut at the age of 16, producing smash hit after hit for mega-stars such as DMX and Eve.It’s hard to believe, but after only 10-years in the industry, this super producer has sold over 88 million records to date.

As a child on the streets who grew up in the Bronx in a very close nit African American family with four brothers, he quickly adopted the nickname “K-Swiss” from always being seen wearing a signature pair of K-Swiss sneakers. The music prodigy developed his talents at a young age by spinning at local clubs, parties and creating his own mix-tapes. Not being able to shake the nickname as a teenager, he later dropped the letter “K” and added the name “Beatz” after a friend’s suggestion from the fact that the background music he created on his mix-tapes had become very popular.

At the young age of 16, Swizz was given the chance to work with his uncles, Joaquin “Waah” and Darrin “Dee” Dean, who founded the independent record label Ruff Ryders. Seizing the opportunity to make a name for himself with their unknown, but talented roster of artists, Swizz produced the label’s first major chart breaking hit, DMX’s “Stop, Drop”. From there on, Swizz’s career snowballed, and he started producing hit after hit for other influential talents like the First Lady of Ruff Ryders Eve and Jay-Z on his historic “Hard Knock Life” album. Having sold multi-platinum numbers before graduating high school, Swizz passed up the traditional role of attending college to shift focus on his explosive career as a producer.
After a decade later Swizz has proved he’s definately here to stay. From Mary J. Blige to Nas, Swizz Beatz is the ingenuity and mastermind behind the magnanimous impact of an endless roster of household name talent, which include such artists as Beyonce, R. Kelly, Busta Rhymes, Limp Bizkit, Metallica, Korn, Whitney Houston, Fat Joe, Nas, Ice Cube, Foxy Brown, Christina Milian, Lil’ Kim and Redman to name a few. He has also produced scores for various Oliver Stone films including Biker Boys and XXX (Triple X).
Swizz says of his collaborations: “I never just give an artist a beat. All the artists I work with know what I bring to the table are ideas, and I always try to meet everybody halfway with their ideas.”

He’s been Nicknamed by close friends as “The Monster by the fact that he only sleeps less than 3 hours a day. The natural desire to succeed has led him to become a business entrepreneur. He was named President/CEO of his own record label, Full Surface Records, a joint venture with industry icon Clive Davis’
J Records. Yung Wun and Cassidy are signed to this label. In 2002, Swizz opened the hottest nightspot in Arizona, the Coyote Bay Night Club. He also recently opened Exotic, the largest luxury car dealership in Las Vegas, inside the world famous Caesar’s Palace. As owner and partner for both businesses, Swizz plans on expanding his new operations to other markets internationally. As well, Swizz is featured in Sprite’s new hot celebrity campaign as a spokesman in their current commercials.

When asked what is his driving force, Swizz answers, “I want to be remembered as the producer who changed the dynamic of music while inspiring artists to be creative and innovative.” Through his motto, “I won’t stop until history is made,” Swizz Beatz continues to transform the landscape of entertainment.