Swizz Beatz Teams With Canon For Art Exhibition, Says Inspiring People Is His One Job

Yep, Swizz Beatz has yet another job. The Hip-Hop producer turned mogul teamed with Canon EOS Rebel to curate artwork by unknown artists at Sotheby’s in New York City. 

The exhibition called #TheUnknowns went down at the famed auction house last week (Feb. 2), and Swizz, who is part of the Canon Rebel With A Cause campaign, was on hand to see it come to fruition. Swizz hoped to facilitate an “entry point” to take the work of talented artists from their homes to gallery walls.

“We’re here to change those people’s live,” Swizz told Hip-Hop Wired. “And to take them from their couches to put them on walls on the outside of the community…have them in Sotheby’s today which is another place that they might take a long time to get into. I think it’s a good opportunity.”

Over the years, Swizz has become known for his appreciation of art, and his robust Dean Collection, almost as much as for the hits he’s helped craft for rappers like DMX, Drake and Jay Z. According to Swizz, his love for art goes back to his The Bronx roots.

“My art love starts way back growing up in the South Bronx,” he said. “Seeing Keith Haring on the handball courts; spraypaint, trains, things like. I can’t say. I can say I knew I was loving art at that time but it was around me and it came an everyday thing. I realize my love started back then, I just didn’t know.”

Today, Swizz is still a sought after producer (he contributed a pair of tracks to Kanye West’s new album) and it seems like every other week he’s being announced as the creative director of a brand (Reebok, Lotus). But the man born Kasseem Dean says he only has one gig.

“I have one job, and that’s to inspire. That’s my job. They all add up to the same box. Through music, through art, through being a family man, through being a husband, to being a father, it’s to inspire people.”

Five artists were initially chosen to have their work showcased at Sotheby’s. The pieces are now available for you to bid on via online silent auction: theunknownsauction.com. Proceeds from sales go to the Bronx Charter School of the Arts.