Happy Birthday Swizz Beatz!
The Verzuz creator is 45!
Born and raised in the Bronx, Swizz embarked on his musical career at the age of 18. He gained recognition with Ruff Ryders through his work with DMX as his producer.
Swizz would find a protégé in Cassidy, whose success helped launch his own label, Full Surface Records, in 1999. He went on to sign Eve, Mashonda and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and released two albums under the label; Swizz Beatz Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories, released in 2002, and debut studio album, One Man Band Man in 2007.
Swizz has a string of hits he produced that includes "Ruff Ryders' Anthem", "Party Up (Up in Here)" (DMX), "Gotta Man" (Eve), "Jigga My Nigga", "Girl's Best Friend" (Jay-Z), "Upgrade U", "Check on It", "Ring the Alarm" (Beyoncé), "Good Times" (Styles P), "Bring 'Em Out", "Swing Ya Rag" (T.I.), "Hotel", "I'm a Hustla" (Cassidy), "Touch It" (Busta Rhymes), and "Ultralight Beam" (Kanye West).
The Source put him on its list of the "20 greatest producers" in the magazine's 20-year history, and Kanye West called Dean "the best rap producer of all time".
Happy Birthday Swizz, you're Verzuz saved us during the lockdown!