Swizz Beatz is headed to the Ivy League…
The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer, born Kasseem Dean, has been accepted to Harvard Business School’s nine-week Owner/President Management Extension Program, the same one attended by Antonio “L.A.” Reid at the request of Clive Davis.
Beatz, the husband of Alicia Keys,made the announcement by posting his acceptance email on his Instagram account earlier this week.
“This might be one of the happiest days of my life,” he posted on his social media account. “From BX to Harvard.”
Beatz has produced hit singles for the likes of Nas, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Bono. He’s also a fashion and shoe designer, art collector and tireless brand promoter who spent the 2010-11 academic year as the first “producer-in-residence” at New York University‘s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.
The HBS program awards those who pass the curriculum a certification for the course, which is aimed at CEOs and heads of companies. The price tag is $33,000 per credit, with Beatz taking three credits for a cool 100 grand, beginning next month. He’ll live in Harvard housing.
“Admission is a selective process based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. We look for professionals who have demonstrated business talent and leadership potential,” according to the school’s official site.
The program focuses on navigating the global economy, maximizing financial resources, aligning strategies and sales and other business skills.
Keys and son Egypt will join him in the dorm on weekends, according to Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman, who interviewed Swizz on the carpet at the The Amazing Spider-Man 2 premiere. His wife performed her soundtrack song with Kendrick Lamar at the post-premiere party.
Swizz, who never went to college, started his music career directly after graduating high school.