Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’s love story hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Their relationship had a rocky start, and things only got more complicated with the very public issues involving Swizz’s ex-wife. Even though they’ve been married for over a decade now, some people still wonder if their relationship might be facing some challenges.
In her memoir (which we’ve linked below), Alicia talks about how she first met Swizz when she was just 14, and he was 16. They were introduced by a mutual friend and chatted for a few minutes. Swizz asked for her number, but Alicia’s response? “Nah, I’m good. I’ll see you when I see you, beat it, ashy!”
That same year, Alicia also crossed paths with a 24-year-old musician named Kerry Brothers, who went by the name Crucial. They became friends, with Alicia fibbing and telling him she was 17. By the time she was 15, their friendship had grown into something more serious, and Crucial became not only her boyfriend but also one of her key collaborators.
In the late 90s, Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz often found themselves at the same events, like award shows and industry parties. But Alicia wasn’t impressed by him at all. In fact, she found him totally irritating. In an interview with Marie Claire UK, she said, “I thought he was too flashy. Swizz had the fastest cars, the biggest jewelry, and the loudest jackets—everything about him was just too much. I would see him and think, ‘He’s so annoying.’”
Swizz eventually asked her out for lunch, but Alicia wasn’t exactly excited about it. When he showed up late, she was already annoyed. However, as they left the restaurant, Alicia noticed a small painting of a piano with paintbrushes on the keys sitting on her car. Swizz explained that he was late because he had been setting up the artwork as a surprise for her. That moment sparked something between them—they both shared a deep love for art, and it became one of the first things they bonded over.
But at that time, Alicia was still with her boyfriend, Crucial, and Swizz was involved with someone else too. Around 1998, Swizz started dating Mashonda, and in 2000, they suffered the heartbreak of a stillbirth with their first pregnancy. That same year, Swizz had a son, Prince Nasir, with another woman, Nicole Levy. Even though he had been unfaithful, he and Mashonda got married in 2004, and in 2006, they welcomed their son, Kasseem Jr.
Alicia Keys made a splash in the music world with her debut studio album, Songs in A Minor, released in 2001. It was a hit, earning her seven times platinum certification. Crucial played a huge role in bringing that album to life, both in production and songwriting. They were quite close—living together and all—but that didn’t stop the media from speculating about Alicia’s sexuality. In an interview with Access Hollywood, she clarified that she wasn’t a lesbian, but she embraced her strong, assertive nature, admitting it made some people uneasy.
Fast forward to the lead-up to her third studio album, As I Am, in 2006. Alicia opened up in her memoir about falling into a depression due to a family member’s health issues. She and Crucial were still an item, but she felt a growing disconnect. When she learned he was considering engagement rings, her anxiety shot up. At just 26, she wasn’t sure she was ready for marriage and ultimately decided to end things with him that same year.
Some fans believe that letting Crucial go might have stripped Alicia of the magic that made her music so captivating. Is that why her voice cracked during her Super Bowl performance? Just a thought—maybe she should consider calling him back because her recent music hasn’t quite had the same spark.
Swizz Beatz joined Alicia Keys to write and produce a few tracks for her fourth album, The Element of Freedom, back in 2008. It’s rumored that this was also when they started dating, even though he was still married to Mashonda at the time. In her memoir, Alicia shared how, as she got to know Swizz better, she realized there was a lot more to him than his baggy jeans and tattoos. He had a depth that really surprised her, and he was incredibly aware of what was happening in the world.
While Swizz insists that he and Mashonda were separated, Mashonda has a different take. She revealed that she found out about Swizz’s affair just two days before their son turned one. By that time, Alicia and Swizz had already been involved for a few months.
In 2009, after Alicia tweeted, “In love, is it better to go for the choice that is smart or the choice that has spark?” Mashonda fired back, expressing her frustration at how Alicia had handled things. She said that after two years of trying to reach out, all she got in return was Alicia’s selfish behavior. Mashonda wasn’t just worried about the family being torn apart; she was also upset that Alicia could make comments about love while fully knowing the impact of her actions. She concluded with, “You have no idea how much pain I was caused because of this affair.” Alicia’s response? “He’s mine. You might have had him once, but I got him all the time.”
By April 2008, Swizz and Mashonda were moving forward with their divorce. Then, just a month later, Russian singer Jahna Sebastian gave birth to a baby girl named Nicole, who was presumed to be Swizz’s child. They couldn’t establish paternity right away, but Swizz was ready to get serious with Alicia. They got engaged, and in May 2010, Alicia revealed that she was expecting their first child.
However, that same month, Mashonda accused Swizz of being a neglectful father, claiming he owed her $325,000 in child support and $99,000 in alimony. Her attorney pointed out that it was particularly troubling, especially since reports said Swizz had bought Alicia a lavish 7-carat engagement ring and they were planning to move into a $14.5 million penthouse. Swizz defended himself in The New York Post, saying Mashonda’s claims were exaggerated. He insisted that he had always taken care of her and had even given her $700,000 when the court ordered him to pay $200,000 upfront.
As they planned their wedding, Alicia suggested a different approach: instead of a traditional marriage, she proposed they create their own document to define their relationship. “We can sign it ourselves,” she said. This definitely gave off some Jada Pinkett Smith vibes, hinting that Alicia might not really want to marry him.
But soon enough, Alicia realized that Swizz was pretty conservative and wasn’t on board with her idea at all. Just before they could celebrate their one-year anniversary, they flew to London together, where Swizz took a paternity test for his child with Jahna Sebastian. The test confirmed that he was indeed the father, making him a dad of four with four different women.
Things between Swizz, Mashonda, and Alicia are still a complete mess. In a candid interview with Sister 2 Sister magazine, Mashonda revealed that Alicia told her son Kasseem to call her “Ummi,” which is Arabic for mommy. Naturally, Mashonda was furious. She asked Alicia to knock it off, but it seemed like her words fell on deaf ears. To make matters worse, she spoke to Swizz’s other baby mama, Jahna, and found out that Alicia also tried to get Jahna’s daughter to call her “Ummi.” I mean, seriously? Does she want to be everyone’s mom?
Now, I have to say, I’m a bit old-school when it comes to how kids address adults. Where I’m from, it’s all about using titles—like saying “Miss” before a name. Honestly, Alicia is acting like she should be called Miss Jada Pinkett! It should really be “Miss Alicia,” or maybe even “Auntie Alicia,” though that might confuse the little ones.
Sure, “Ummi” means mommy, but let’s be real—the kids probably didn’t know that when they were told to call her that. It was just a way for them to address her. Those kids don’t need to be running around calling her by her first name, especially considering her reputation!
Even though she was happily married, Alicia still had to deal with accusations of being a homewrecker. And on top of that, she had to face rumors about her sexuality. Syd tha Kyd, from the hip-hop group Odd Future, opened up in a 2011 MTV interview about her experiences. She admitted that she was initially scared to come out as a lesbian because of the jokes people made about Alicia being one. Syd said, “I don’t want anyone joking about me the way they joke about Alicia.”
Swizz jumped to Alicia’s defense in an interview with Sister 2 Sister, saying, “It’s just another one of those things people try to label as a negative. Alicia does so much good, and they need something to hold her back. But she’s strong enough not to let it affect her.” Of course, right? This is the same woman who had her house broken into, and the thieves even used her organic shampoo! Let the LGBTQ+ community have some fun with your wigs; we’ll make sure they look fabulous!