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Swizz Beatz has recorded with a who’s who of hip hop and R&B stars, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, and his wife, Alicia Keys. He began his career working with his childhood friend, the late Earl “DMX” Simmons, and he says he has bittersweet memories of the first song he produced for DMX, the classic “Ruff Ryders Anthem” in 1998.
“It’s been really hard to play this record since DMX passed. It’s the song that started both of our lives musically,” the Grammy winner tells NME.com. “We had so many great moments with this song and so whenever I hear it now it makes me