The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts has announced that super producer, artist, and entrepreneur Swizz Beatz has been named its first Producer in Residence.
The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts has announced that super producer, artist, and entrepreneur Swizz Beatz has been named its first Producer in Residence. The appointment, which begins immediately, is for 2010/11 academic year and supports and enhances the emphasis the Recorded Music Department places on teaching students the skills of creative entrepreneurship for the music industry.
“Swizz Beatz’ amazing track record as an artist and producer, coupled with his commitment to education, makes him the ideal role model for our students,” said Jeffrey Rabhan, chair, The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. “We consider it a great honor to have him involved with this unique program.”
"I’m excited to be able to take my many years of experience in the music business and use it as an example to instruct students,” remarked Swizz Beatz. “The invitation from Mr. Davis and Professor Rabhan is humbling and I’m honored."
The Producer-in-Residence provides students with direct access to one of the music industry’s most successful entrepreneurs, filling the Department’s experiential education mandate. In this role, the Producer-in-Residence will guide students through a variety of portals, including one-on-one sessions, group lectures, songwriting critiques, and mentoring.
As a music producer, Swizz has created hits for a long list of music legends, including Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Metallica, and Jay-Z. They seek him for his signature sound: brash instrumentals and futuristic beats layered with what’s become his sound mark—clever, catchy sound-over’s on a track. From Beyonce’s, Ring the Alarm to Limp Bizkit’s Rollin’, nearly every song he’s touched has turned to gold, platinum or diamond.
Not content to be just a successful producer/artist since composing his first hit record in the early 90s, Swizz has branched out as a designer and philanthropist as well. He has recently been working alongside world renowned shoe designer Christian Louboutin on an exclusive men’s line. Currently he’s in the recording studio working on a new album while pursuing other entrepreneurial projects.
The innovative artist’s philanthropy includes adopting the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, located in the Hunts Point neighborhood. It was founded by an entrepreneurial group of parents and educators to encourage creativity within its students. Early this year, Swizz helped raise funds to be used for supplies and outings for the children.
Swizz (Kasseem Dean) was born and raised in the South Bronx where he grew up in a family immersed in contemporary music. His father, Terrence Dean, is the founder of Terrence Dean Entertainment Management, and Swizz’s uncles started Ruff Ryders Records, where Swizz, at 16, began using his talents to produce tracks. The label’s first chart breaking hit, DMX’s Stop, Drop, was one of Swizz’s productions. And in 2001 at the age of 23, the talented Swizz founded his own record label, Full Surface Records, a joint venture with Clive Davis of J Records.
The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music is the first of its kind to provide professional business and artistic training toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The undergraduate program is designed to provide professional training for students who aspire to succeed as creative entrepreneurs in the music industry. Since it opened its doors in 2003, the program has been a leader in training aspiring music entrepreneurs. It has been on the cutting edge of music education, offering innovative courses like “The History of Def Jam,” “Emerging Music Trends,” and “Branding.” The program bears the name of its chief patron and advisor, Clive Davis.