Swizz Beatz, “The first thing I do in the morning is kiss & hug my wife.”

Swizz Beatz recently did an interview for Uptown Magazine. He briefly discussed his life accomplishments, his advice for other producers and his life with his wife, Alicia Keys. Here’s what he had to say.

Strongest childhood memories:

“The South Bronx. Keith Haring’s ‘Crack Is Wack’ graffiti on handball courts. I remember playing skelzies and riding BMX bikes. I remember my grandparents calling me through the window telling me it’s time to come inside.”

Greatest accomplishment:

“Getting out of the ’hood. Straight up. To be able to get out of the mix and wake up in the middle of the Mediterranean somewhere is a super blessing.”

Greatest regret:

“Things that I probably should regret, I don’t because if I didn’t go through certain things, I wouldn’t have been able to elevate. I can offer a generic regret: I regret signing a publishing deal.”

Advice for young producers:

“Always stay original. Always push yourself. Where a lot of people go wrong, they listen to too many people when it comes to their life. If I would have listened to everybody, I wouldn’t be Swizz Beatz, I would still be a DJ. Use your own intuition. Use your bones; they will always tell you the truth.”

His words to live by:

“The sky is not the limit; it’s just the view.”

The first thing he does in the morning:

“Hit a button and the curtains open and I’m thankful for another day. If my wife is next to me, it’s an instant hug and kiss. Get up, brush the teeth, do this, do that, and then it’s showtime!”

What he has learned from his wife:

“Love.”

Besides interviewing and living it up with his wife, Swizz Beatz has also been working on a lot of other projects. Swizzy’s second album, “Haute Living,” is scheduled for release in September. He is also currently a professor at NYU. The University has named him a “producer-in-residence” at their Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at the Tisch School of the Arts. He gives students one-on-one sessions, group lectures and mentoring. And, on top of that, he is a designer for Reebok and Aston Martin. Sweet!

Sources: Uptown Magazine & Essence