SWIZZ BEATZ MIXES WITH VENTURE FIRM
Kasseem Dean, aka Swizz Beatz,
had big — or should we say, bigger — business in town earlier this week. We’re told that the rapper was apparently here to serve as a special guest during a private event for Boston’s own Glasswing Ventures.
Dean, a noted record producer who is married to fellow artist Alicia Keys, appeared during an exclusive dinner the firm held at Citrus & Salt on Berkley Street Tuesday night. Glasswing Ventures, which just announced its first fund totaling $112 million that will be used to invest in artificial intelligence startups, welcomed Dean as its special guest at the first annual meeting attended by about 100 of its employees, limited partners, advisers and other affiliates.
“One of our views of A.I. is that it automates the mundane and frees us humans up so we can focus on creativity,” Rudina Seseri, founder and managing partner of Glasswing Ventures, told the Track.
“Kasseem is someone who’s done quite a bit of that,” she continued. “He’s not only an amazing producer and a Grammy winner. … He’s taken his creativity outside of music and into other industries.”
In fact, Dean has brought his artistic touch to spaces completely unrelated to his Swizz Beatz stage presence, such as fashion design and branding. He’s been actively involved with major global brands like Reebok, Monster, Aston Martin and Kidrobot.
“Not many people know it, but he’s also an avid art collector and influencer,” Seseri said. “He’s focused on positive disruption, particularly around art and getting visual artists to be financially stable.”
Our eyes and ears at Citrus & Salt had another fun fact to share about the star: He appreciates a glass of top-shelf tequila. While at the Boston hot spot, we hear that he sipped on Clase Azul Mezcal and fellow guests reported he was a complete gentleman.
And as far as Glasswing goes, in addition to having Swizz Beatz serve as the keynote speaker during the VIP dinner, it also welcomed other big names, such as Chelsea Clinton, at its continued festivities the following day.