Swizz Beatz

Swizz Beatz Delivered A Very Powerful Speech At DMX’s Memorial Service

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The first of two memorial services for DMX occurred on Saturday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The late rapper was brought in a bright red casket to the arena aboard a massive monster truck that was followed by hundreds of motorcyclists and bikers. As for the service itself, the night was highlighted by a performance from Kanye West and his Sunday Service Choir, a fantastic remix of DMX’s “Slippin” from the rapper’s daughter Sovonah, and appearances from Nas and the Ruff Ryders collective, among others. It was here that one of the most powerful moments of the night came.

Following comments from Eve and The Lox, Swizz Beatz took the stage to remember DMX and get a few additional things off his chest.

“Words can’t describe our loss,” he said. “But, our gain is heavy, as well, because we got a real serious person upstairs that’s looking down on us and that’s going to guide us on our journey… I just wish all of these people showed up for him when he was here. You got thousands of people claiming who they are, and [selling] tickets and things like that. This man needed everybody.”

He added, “He didn’t need everybody when he [was] not here. He needed everybody when he was here. So, we got to learn how to celebrate each other while we’re here… The things that I’m witnessing from my brother’s passing is a big educational thing for me to learn. I’m glad that I got to see it at this age. A lot of people ain’t your friends, a lot of people ain’t your family.”

The Verzuz co-founder then closed his speech with one final thought about “handling your business” and making sure your family is set up in case something goes wrong with your own health.

I need everybody to do a will. You have to do your will. You do not want strangers — bloodsuckers — handling your business when you’re not here. You want to ones that you love handling your business. But, imma make sure my brother straight. Imma make sure my brother’s kids is straight and everybody in here better do the same, as well. ‘Cause this is not a fashion show, this is not a performance, this is a real-life day-to-day.

You can watch Swizz Beatz share his words in the video above.

DMX’s First Posthumous Song Premieres W/ French Montana

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DMX's First Posthumous Song Premieres W/ French Montana

Veteran producer Swizz Beatz is making sure the legacy of DMX is living on. As curator of the Godfather of Harlem television series soundtrack, fans can rejoice as Season 2 approaches with a must-hear new song. DMX’s First Posthumous Song Premieres A new track called “Been to War” featuring the late New York star as […]

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DMX Contributes A Sinister Verse To ‘Been To War’ With Swizz Beatz And French Montana

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Just a week ago, the world was hit with the sad news that hip-hop legend DMX passed away at the age of 50. His death arrived a week after he was hospitalized by a reported overdose, which led to a heart attack that left him in a coma. The news came as the rapper prepared to return with his first album in more than eight years. While fans wait to see if and when they’ll receive that project, they can enjoy a new verse from the rapper through guest feature alongside Swizz Beatz and French Montana.

The three artists join forces for “Been To War,” a rambunctious effort that sees all parties expressing the lack of fear they each possess as they’ve each seen the worse that life has to offer. Swizz Beatz leads the way with a raucous hook that serves as the perfect opener for DMX to arrive and lay a sinister verse. Then, French Montana comes through to close things out on the track. The song was released as a part of the soundtrack to the new season of Epix’s Godfather Of Harlem series.

“Been To War” arrives after DMX’s music streams jumped by almost 1,000% since his death. The rapper’s passing also saw his autobiography return to the bestsellers list.

You can listen to the new song in the video above.

Swizz Beatz, Eve + The Ruff Ryders React To DMX’s Death

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Swizz-Beatz-Eve-Ruff-Ryders-DMX-Death

Hip-hop legend DMX put the Ruff Ryders on the map. The management company turned record label was one of the biggest brands in the music industry during the late-1990s and early-2000s, and DMX was the dog at the head of the pack. Upon the news of Earl Simmons’ death on Thursday, his former labelmates went […]

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Swizz Beatz Reveals What Stopped Dr. Dre VERZUZ From Happening

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Swizz Beatz Reveals Why Dr. Dre VERZUZ Didn't Happen

Legendary producer Swizz Beatz has some upsetting news for rap fans. The award-winning hitmaker reveals a Dr. Dre VERZUZ was “this” close to happening. Swizz Beatz Reveals Why Dr. Dre VERZUZ Didn’t Go Down In an interview with New York’s “The Breakfast Club” radio show, Swizz says the fellow hip-hop icon was going to announce […]

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Dr. Dre Opted Out Of ‘Verzuz’ After A Previous Guest’s Sound Issues

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Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s Verzuz was a breakout hit last year, featuring performances from a plethora of big-name stars that made it must-see entertainment for folks stuck at home during the ongoing pandemic. The duo was even able to sell the show to Triller and offer their prior guests equity in the sale. However, despite scooping up some of hip-hop and R&B’s most iconic entertainers for the show, Swizz and Tim unfortunately missed out on securing one of their peers due to one of their shows turning out differently than expected.

Dropping by The Breakfast Club on Hot 97, Swizz and Tim revealed that Dr. Dre, who was in negotiations to participate in a Verzuz battle of his own, canceled on them after seeing the sound issues during the battle between Babyface and Teddy Riley. Swizz explained, “When Dr. Dre wasn’t feeling the sound from Teddy Riley and Babyface, that hurt our heart. I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ If you go back, Dr. Dre was at the Teddy Riley one. He came at the end, but he was supposed to come at the end and announce he was doing Verzuz that night.”

Unfortunately, seeing the shambles that became of the episode when the sound on Teddy’s elaborate at-home display cut-out, Dre decided that a similar fiasco would hurt him more than it helped. “He got on the phone and was like, ‘Man, I can’t be a part of nothing that look like or sound like that,’” Swizz explained. “‘My legacy is quality. My legacy is this, that.’ I was like, ‘Ohhhh we just lost Dre over that. That one felt pretty crazy but since then, the energy has been really good.”

Most recently, Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and Raekwon The Chef engaged in a friendly tet-a-tet while the Verzuz heads announced Earth, Wind & Fire and The Isley Brothers would participate on Easter Sunday.

Watch the Verzuz collaborators’ interview with The Breakfast Club above.

Swizz Beatz + Timbaland Capitalize On Verzuz Success

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Swizz Beatz + Timbaland Capitolize On 'Verzuz' Success

VERZUZ co-creators and veteran producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland are making big moves and elevating their platform to another level. New reports state that the two hip-hop legends have made a partnership with Triller Network. Swizz Beatz + Timbaland Capitalize With New Deal Verzuz’ new deal will leave the two producers as members of the Triller Verzuz management […]

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Verzuz Has Been Acquired By The Company Behind Triller

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Billboard reports Triller Network, the company behind the popular Triller app, has acquired the popular “hits battle” streaming show Verzuz, giving its creators Swizz Beatz and Timbaland positions on the Triller management team. Swizz and Tim will also receive equity in Triller, which they say they will share with the 43 artists who have appeared on the show to date. Verzuz exploded in popularity last year after an impromptu hits battle on Instagram Live between the two veteran producers expanded into a full-blown concert series, complete with corporate sponsors like Ciroc.

Over its first year, Verzuz invited such guests as Alicia Keys, DMX, Gucci Mane, E-40 Patti LaBelle, and many, many more legends in the game to appear, celebrating their musical legacy in a nostalgic style similar to a sound clash in the West Indies/Caribbean. With little else to do during a partial shutdown of live entertainment nationwide, fans tuned in by the thousands to watch these celebrations of artists who may no longer be trendy, but who have all contributed greatly to the broad spectrum of Black music culture.

Meanwhile, Triller, a video-creation app similar in function to TikTok, has been a fixture on many young music fans’ phones for a while, although it hasn’t received as much attention in that time as its neophyte competitor. It’s likely Triller Network is hoping that the Verzuz acquisition can bring an influx of attention similar to TikTok’s so that it can likewise become one of America’s primary social media obsessions.

You can read more about the acquisition here.