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Swizz Beatz Talks 'Haute Living' at Billboard Summer Blowout: Video

by Jason Lipshutz, N.Y.  |   August 18, 2011 11:35 EDT
Kyle Dean Reinford

Artists in this Article

Jay-Z
Kanye West
Swizz Beatz

Rapper/producer Swizz Beatz pumped up the crowd at Billboard's Summer Blowout concert last Thursday (Aug. 11) by showcasing production highlights like T.I.'s "Bring Em Out," Jay-Z's "On To the Next One" and DMX's "Party Up," between previews of his new solo material. After his set wrapped, Swizz caught up with Billboard.com to discuss the energy of the crowd at his recent shows.

 

 

"The music that I make, I try to make it to where it's international, whether it's a street record or a club record," says the producer. "Being able to perform for different crowds and go through my catalogue, from '98 to songs that I didn't even put out yet, it's a great challenge and it lets you know that you have the right idea, especially when the crowd reacts and goes crazy. So man, it's a blessing to be able to share all those onstage with the fans."

 

Swizz Beatz Speaks on 'Watch the Throne': Video

 

In between his production work (including contributions a handful of tracks on this week's No. 1 album, "Watch The Throne") and spending time with wife Alicia Keys and their newborn son, Swizz Beatz has been busy prepping his new solo album, "Haute Living," the follow-up to 2007's "One Man Band Man." Swizz has tapped artists like Lil Wayne, Kanye West and U2 frontman Bono to contribute to tracks, although the producer who describes himself as "our generation's renaissance man" is not one for a conventional release.

"I'm not dropping it as an album," says Swizz. "I don't wanna do the week thing -- I wanna put out every single as a movement. Right now I got 'International Party,' which is now the global campaign for Reebok. I got 'Rock'N'Roll,' me, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Wayne… I want people to feel every single like it's an album."

 

PHOTOS: Swizz Beatz, LMFAO at Billboard's Summer Blowout

 

Click here to see Swizz Beatz talk about working with Jay-Z and Kanye West on "Watch The Throne," and check out highlights of his performance and LMFAO's headlining set at Billboard's Summer Blowout.

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