Swizz Beatz is still in disbelief by his appointment as the first producer-in-residence at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, because he was far from the model student during his youth.
The hip-hop star, who is married to Alicia Keys, took up the post in November (10), mentoring students at the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music through lectures and one-on-one tutoring sessions.
But Beatz admits he wasn’t the most attentive kid in the class when he was young, transferring from one school to another as he grew up in the Bronx, New York.
He tells New York magazine, “The funny thing about me being a professor, I didn’t really get along with school. It wasn’t based on education, it was based on survival. You go in there with a new pair of sneakers on, trying to focus on work, but this person over there is thinking about jumpin’ (stealing from) you.”
However, Beatz revels in his new job and is determined to help his students at Nyu succeed in the music industry while becoming business savvy.
He adds, “I have a whole new plan, knowing the scope of what I’m dealing with, where I can have these kids do music and pay off their student loans at the same time. That formula is 85 per cent done.
“I want to make a real difference, so I can help them and we can help each other. ‘Cos I’m a student too.”
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SWIZZ BEATZ – SCHOOL MENTOR SWIZZ BEATZ WAS NOT A MODEL STUDENT