The Truth About Alicia Keys's Relationship With Swizz Beatz

Hollywood marriages are not always known for making it to "til death do us part," yet singer Alicia Keys and her husband, producer Swizz Beatz, seem to be going against that trend. The two appear to be happier than ever these days after tying the knot in 2010. While it may not have been love at first sight (more on that later), Keys and Beatz eventually fell hard for each other and became the power couple that they are today.

And Keys and Beatz are not shy about their relationship. In fact, the two frequently gush about each other in interviews, her autobiography, and of course Instagram. In a post from July 2021, Keys wrote that she and her husband are "Deeper than soulmates, Twin flames, An existential earthquake, My souls mirror." Beatz clearly feels the same way, writing in a post, "Your love is the Key to my life." We see what you did there, Beatz.

For Keys and Beatz, it's not all just mushy IG content. Keys explained in her book "More Myself" (via People), "He's definitely like a confidant to me, and I am to him." With all this love and romance it's hard not to be curious about Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz's marriage and how they got to such a great place. So let's take a closer look at their relationship.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz's relationship didn't necessarily get off to a good start but the two did meet long ago when they were just teens. As Keys shared in "More Myself," they first crossed paths when a mutual high school friend introduced them when she was only 14 and Beatz was 16. Yet it definitely wasn't love at first sight. Keys dished, "[We] ended up in the same circles at various awards shows and industry events." She continued, "He'd usually pull up in some fancy car, rolling deep with his Bronx crew and shining with diamonds ... I wanted nothing to do with that scene or with Swizz."

In fact, the "If I Ain't Got You" singer revealed to Marie Claire U.K. (via Us Weekly), that after she met Beatz, she tried to avoid him. Keys admitted, "Honestly, I didn't really like him that much. I thought he was too ostentatious." She continued, "Swizz will have the fastest car, the biggest jewelry, the loudest jacket. Everything with him is really over the top. I used to see him and think, 'He is so annoying.'"

Keys also rejected the idea from her management to work with Beatz professionally, who was and still is a well-respected music producer. "I fought it tooth and nail. Why should I work with him?" she recalled to Marie Claire U.K. "Finally, though, we did it and we had a ball." And from there, it appears Keys' opinions on Beatz changed completely.

While Alicia Keys may not have been into Swizz Beatz at first, the two seemed to really hit off after working together in the studio. Keys revealed that it was then she finally saw a different side to Beatz. In her biography, "More Myself," Keys wrote that they had bonded over their experiences growing up in New York City. They also shared similar views from the work they each did with different charities.

"The more we talked the more I noticed how his mind worked," she remembered. "Beyond the baggy jeans and arm tats there was depth. He was so aware of what was happening around the world." It was because of this, that Keys agreed to have lunch with him, but Beatz almost blew it. Keys explained, "I made a reservation for noon at an outdoor restaurant in downtown Manhattan. Swizz was nowhere in sight." When he "finally came strutting in at 12:20," Keys wanted to be mad but Beatz made up for it.

Keys recalled how he "lifted the mood with a steady stream of humor and fascinating conversation." Then when they left, she recalled, "As we approached my car I noticed something enormous attached to its top." She continued, "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.'"

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys may have worked out their issues with each other, but the two still had to face a lot of drama once they officially got together. That's because during this time in 2008, Beatz was still married to his first wife, Mashonda Tifrere, with whom he shared a son. Tifrere even accused Beatz of cheating with Keys, writing on Twitter (via Refinery 29) that the singer "assisted in destroying a family." Beatz and Keys denied having an affair, with the former telling Essence (via Daily Mail) that their relationship didn't begin "until months after [Beatz and Tifrere] had separated." Beatz had also had a brief thing with Jahna Sebastian and learned in 2008 he'd fathered a daughter as a result. Before that, he had a child with another woman, Nicole Levy, in 2000, which was after he began dating Tifrere. 

Eventually, Tifrere, Keys, and Beatz reconciled and joined forces. "It took two years into our blending to make it happen, but when we did it was like turning the light on," Tifrere told People. "We realized we could minimize the impact on our children by reducing the conflict we had with one another." 

Clearly drawing from real-life experience, Keys put out a song called "Blended Family" in 2016. She told her Instagram followers that the track "means so much to me and our whole family." Two years later, Tifrere released a book about co-parenting called "Blend," and Keys provided the forward.

In true Swizz Beatz fashion, his proposal to Alicia Keys was over the top and crazy romantic. According to E! News, just before her 29th birthday in January 2010, Beatz proposed to Keys with a reported seven-carat diamond ring. While Keys was spotted by paparazzi wearing the big rock during their post-engagement jaunt to Hawaii, her rep initially denied the engagement rumors to Us Weekly (via the Daily Mail). However, a source told the outlet, "They are currently in Hawaii celebrating the engagement and her birthday. She feels blessed."

The couple ended up confirming their engagement months later, along with news that they were expecting their first child together. Keys revealed in her autobiography "More Myself" about a romantic moment from their engagement trip to Hawaii, where she believes their first son, Egypt, was conceived.

In the book, Keys recalled how Beatz told her "'I've always wanted you to be my canvas,'" and proceeded to paint her body. She reflected, "Later, stroke by stroke in the shadows of dusk, he turned me into his masterpiece, covering me in swirls of yellows, reds and purples. Never have I experienced anything more sensual. Which is why, when I missed my period a few weeks later, I wasn't exactly surprised." She added, "As that winter gave way to spring, we relished two pleasures: the engagement and the pregnancy."

While Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz don't usually hold back when it comes to discussing their relationship, their 2010 wedding was actually quite private. According to People, the two wed in front of just close family and friends in a small ceremony in a private home on the Mediterranean Sea, with their friend Dr. Deepak Chopra presiding over the nuptials. Keys wore a Vera Wang dress and carried a bouquet of purple calla lilies, while Beatz donned a Tom Ford suit.

Although the wedding appeared to be super magical, the couple seemed to be even more excited for their baby that was on the way during that time. The music producer gushed to People, "Whatever we're blessed with, that baby is being born to blessed parents." He added. "Alicia is definitely one of those great parents-to-be. She's super ready. Super glowing. Super happy."

And even though the wedding was over a decade ago, for Keys it feels like the two were just saying "I do" not too long ago. She revealed to ET, "It feels like two years. It goes by so fast. We are so connected and we have such a beautiful bond." She added that she still can't believe they "wake up next to each other like, 'What are you doing here? Whoa, I can't believe I am with you, man!' It feels really really cool."

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz share more than just their love for each other; the two are parents to multiple kids. Their first child, Egypt Daoud Dean, was born in October 2010. They then had their second son, Genesis Ali Dean, in December 2014. Beatz also has three older children from previous relationships. In terms of their blended family, Keys told ABC News, "Our family is one big, beautiful family... It is a beautiful partnership. I'm very, very proud of that. It's a real thing, and it's possible."​​

Motherhood has been good to the "Girl on Fire" songstress. She dished to Billboard, "How you view yourself [changes]. I think that was the biggest change for me when I had my first son. I really kind of respected myself for the first time." She also added what she's learned so far, saying, "[My children have taught me] to not forget to be in wonder of all the things around you...Not taking them for granted. It's so special."

Keys also opened up about how meditating has made her a better parent. She told USA Today, "I became a better mother because I was more confident in myself. I could hear what I needed and what my family needed." As for Beatz, he frequently mentions his children on Instagram. In a June 2021 post with all of his sons, Beatz wrote "Fun Day Son Day" and in another post, he gushed about his daughter Nicole in a birthday tribute.

It's clear that music is a passion that both Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz, share. Keys explained to ET, "Each of our first loves is music, and to be able to do that continuously and for there to be genuine love and real connection, that's incredible." Beatz also opened up about how they inspire each other to Us Weekly, revealing, "I think my wife inspired me to be a better artist just by letting me have my freedom...We don't own each other and we just let things flow." He continued, "We have fun and we support each other's passions."

They're also constantly cheering each other on and motivating each other to reach new levels. Beatz once wrote on Instagram, "You shouldn't be jealous or upset if you have a Queen that's successful, Smarter or better than you! What you should do is thank the most high or step your game up!"

Keys was also there to support Beatz when he applied to Harvard. She revealed to CBS, "I was so excited. I've been so invested in this journey with him." Outside of their work, the two encourage each other to push past their limits. Beatz joked, "Sometimes, she [does] things ... like going tubing down some long river...I'm thinking, like, river monsters. I'm thinking everything. I'm doing these things because I love her." He added, "I had to go down in the cave with her and that was just like, 'I would never do this.'"

While both Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz are successful in their own right, together they definitely make a power couple. When it comes to their careers in the music industry, they seemingly rather play to each other's strengths than make comparisons. Keys told CBS, "I feel that one of the things that really works about us is we're very different. Even his style of music is different..." She continued, "We complement each other as opposed to kind of ever in each other's way....We don't rock like that." Beatz went on to explain how it's better not to compete. "That's an unhealthy vibe for any couple, you know, a lot of men are scared of powerful women."

Beatz not only inspired some of Key's romantic lyrics but they've also teamed up in the studio, with him writing and producing several of her albums. Keys gushed to ET, "For us to just both be at our height and place where we have really continued to grow and evolve. It is an honor to do that together and to be able to do that with our first loves," which she clarified is music.

Outside of the music industry, Keys and Beatz are major players in the art world. Not only was Beatz named to the Brooklyn Museum's Board of Trustees in 2015, according to The Wall Street Journal, but the couple was also honored with a ball there "for their groundbreaking creativity" and "support of art in all its forms."

The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on a lot of couples but Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys' relationship managed to survive quarantine. That said, the "No One" singer did tell People that it did take some adjusting. "So much of our life is spent traveling," she shared. "Obviously, with [the pandemic], we're literally seeing each other every day. We looked at each other the other day and were like 'So this is what it's really like to be married.'" While it may have been nice to be hunkered down together, they did find solo time. Keys revealed, "One of the things we're really good at is giving each other the space that we need ... And even just being intuitive about what each other needs is also something that comes really fluid for us."

Yet the time together seemed to be a good thing for their family. Keys dished to the outlet, "You're creating and be in your space and then also the togetherness. It's been wonderful. A lot more family dinners." She went on to share that they make a point to "do things that's not digitally attached" once a week. "So we play a lot of board games, we'll watch movies together, we'll do bike rides and stuff like that."

Keys even credits her husband for being able to keep things light during a difficult time. She gushed to People, "He's definitely a real prankster and a jokester. He always keeps us laughing."

Alicia Keys was by husband Swizz Beatz's side as they mourned the death of his good friend DMX. The rapper died of a heart attack in April 2021 at age 50. Beatz took to his Instagram to pay tribute to his friend, writing, "My brother was a different type of brother. A different type of artist....Different type of soul. He lived his life for everyone else."

Keys spoke to People about how Beatz was dealing with DMX's death. "It's always hard to say goodbye, especially too soon and to someone that you love," she said. "My husband has definitely been doing really well with just talking through what he feels and talking about it with the kids and even on his socials." The songstress was sure to be there to help Beatz be open with his feelings. "We're told that guys don't express their grief and that's such a lie. We've been talking a lot about just being able to feel how you feel and let that process and not rush that."

Their children have also been helping. "The kids are really sweet," Keys told the magazine. "They go into the room and ask if they can do anything. I think that's important for them to see how to be thinking about other people and what they're going through." The grief hit hard, and his support system was essential. "During these times, it's about focusing on family and what really matters," she said.

It seems that the key to Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz's relationship is communication and quality time. Chatting with Billboard about her marriage, she said, "I think the most important thing in any relationship is presence — being present and really choosing to make the time and take the time for the people that you love ... not letting a part of your job be more important." She continued "And communication — really talking about who you are, because we grow, and we should be growing together ... So you're both growing and both evolving and learning more about yourself and learning more about each other."

The "Fallin'" singer also revealed in her book "More Myself" that she and her husband try to stick to one big rule they made. "Swizz and I are striving to keep our promise never to go more than two weeks without seeing each other. Swizz has even flown from New York City to Sydney to be with me, in order to keep that promise intact." She added they also are sure to "set aside one weekend a month to go away together."

And it appears to be working. As Keys dished to People, "We don't fight because we talk so much....We can both be genuinely honest. It's the first time I've ever had a relationship that has been so genuine."

When it comes to their anniversaries, Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz love to celebrate with elaborate dates and romantic Instagram tributes to each other. The couple took a trip to Corsica in July 2021 as a way to celebrate their 11th anniversary by returning to the place they got married. Keys posted photos of them together on their trip and shared they had a "72 hour date night." Beatz posted something similar, writing, "The fact we haven't been back to the house in Corsica we got married at 11yrs ago until now is crazy!!!!"

Ahead of their 9th anniversary, the music producer told Us Weekly that they are "very spontaneous" when it comes to these excursions. "We start with all these big plans and then might just end up sitting home, eating popcorn and just laughing, making jokes," he said. "Then, going somewhere at the last minute."

It appears that adventures together have always been part of how Keys and Beatz celebrate their relationship milestones. Even back in 2012 on their second wedding anniversary, the couple returned to their native New York to visit the Apollo theater. "At midnight we brought in our anniversary under the lights that inspired us both! Just Like Teenage Love," Keys wrote on Instagram. It's clear that the duo knows how to make every anniversary special. 

For Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, it sure seems like money is no issue. Between her being a Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, and him being one of the most sought after producers in hip hop, the couple seems to have no problem making their income from music. Keys has also done some acting, wrote multiple books, appeared on "The Voice," and has served as a spokesperson for several brands. Per Celebrity Net Worth, Beatz's list of additional ventures includes a clothing line, a contract with Bacardi, and being the Vice President of Sports Style Marketing, Design, and Brand Music Development for Reebok.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, together Keys and Beatz are worth an impressive $150 million. Outside of their high end art collection, it seems the couple spends a lot of their money on real estate. In 2019, they scooped up a place in La Jolla, California, called The Razor House — a $20 million mansion that, as E! News noted, was featured on "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles." Two years later, the Phoenix Business Journal reported that they decided to sell another mansion they owned in Arizona for $3.1 million because it wasn't getting enough use.

The duo also appreciates nice cars. Like, really nice cars. In 2018, TMZ got a front-row seat when Keys gifted Beatz an Aston Martin for his 40th birthday. Palatial homes and fancy gifts aside, it appears Keys and Beatz love goes much deeper than material things, which may be why they're still going strong all these years later.