Alicia Keys Says Swizz Beatz Initially Wasn't Her 'Vibe': 'He Loves A Lot Of Attention'
Alicia Keys gave fans a little insight into her first thoughts about her now-husband Swizz Beatz. The couple has been married for 11 years and they have two children together, Egypt, 11, and Genesis, 6.
We all know Alicia as the smooth, laidback chick that can sing and play the piano. Coming from the flashy rap scene, Swizz Beatz, whose real name is Kasseem Dean, was the complete opposite of the singer and while they say opposites attract, for Alicia it was more so of not judging a book by its cover.
The “You Don’t Know My Name” singer sat down withComplex News 360 with Speedy Morman to discuss her new album Keys, but during that conversation she hilariously shared that at one time the hit producer gave her “the ick.”
For those that don’t know, the term “the ick” means when your attraction to someone you’re dating suddenly turns into repulsion for that person.
“He definitely gave me the ick. I wasn’t with it. He just wasn’t my vibe,” Alicia said. “He’s pretty loud. He’s pretty over the top. He loves a lot of attention. Everywhere [there are] like a bunch of people,” she said.
But she soon realized that that was just her perception of him and when she got to know him better, her feelings changed. “Once I got to know who he actually was, I recognized that I was judging him on someone that I thought he was, not who he actually is. And that’s how the ick tide changed,” she revealed.
Both being from New York and making music, the two have been in each other’s lives since they were teenagers, but rumors about them dating didn’t start until 2008. Alicia recalled their first date in her 2020 memoir More Myself where she revealed the beginnings of their relationship.
“I finally agreed to have lunch,” she wrote, “I made a reservation for noon at an outdoor restaurant in downtown Manhattan. I arrived at twelve on the dot. Swizz was nowhere in sight. He finally came strutting in at 12:20.”
While showing up late can be looked at as a dealbreaker for many, Alicia later found out that Swizz’s reason for being late was actually quite thoughtful.
“As much as I wanted to stay mad at Swizz he lifted the mood with a steady stream of humor and fascinating conversation. Later as we approached my car I noticed something enormous attached to its top. He smiled. ‘That’s why I was late,’ he said.”
“It was a painting of a grand piano with paintbrushes attached to the keys. ‘When I saw this,’" he explained, ‘it seemed like the perfect representation of our friendship. You’re the keys, I’m the brushes.’"
Featured image by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Netflix
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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ItGirl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
Producer/AD: Samuel Cho @choboi90
Producer/Tech: Paul Nguyen @paul__winn
DP: Cristian Bernal @cristianbernal
Editor: @30inthemorning
2nd Cam: Paul Nguyen
1st AC: AJ Paug @ajpaug Gaffer: Dennis Albert @dennisalbert_
Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
PA: Rick Carreno @ispeakrick
PA: Tiffany Do @tivani.doee
BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
Car Detail: @sud_studs @slugglobal
Creative Director @hellobosco
Team Lead @kevgumbo3000
Project Manager @zakk_jullot
Creative Producer @iamkingsheyla
Designers @miacolemxn @noelspiva
@xoNecole
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Talent Lead @kaylawalker
Feature image by Prime/ @theartof prime