Fallin’ crooner who we all fell in love with a number of years back for her beautiful husky voice and ‘zig-zag’ cornrows, Alicia Keys, and her husband, beats-maker and producer Swizz Beatz (Kaseem Dean) had their first cover shoot together for magazine and media outlet, Cultured.
In the photos, the couple channel a popular photo of Kathleen Cleaver and her former husband, the late Eldridge Cleaver, made in 1970 when both were leaders in the Black Panther Party. In the photograph, Kathleen, now a law professor and also a friend of the foundation, wears her hair in a beautiful afro; and both exhibit the elegance and strength that the Deans embody.
In the interview, they speak about their seven year marriage and how they maintain balance.
“We’ve been married seven years and we don’t fight, we don’t raise our voices, it’s all about communication.”
Dean openly admits his faults in the past, speaking on his previous marriage, and mentions that it has taught him a few lessons such as the importance of individuality in marriage and coming together as wholesome individuals that complement each other.
“We always talk about how we don’t own each other. She owns herself, I own myself, but we come together and have this amazing family. We established that early, both coming out of long relationships. We knew what had worked in our past relationships and what hadn’t. We came to the table a little knowledgeable for this round.”
The mutliple Grammy-award winning couple also spoke about their latest investment – a photography exhibition featuring the works of people of colour. The first exhibition is set to take place in Harvard in the spring. Entitled, The Dean Collection, it continues to collect works of artists from diverse backgrounds, but its strongest interest is artists of color, globally. Recent acquisitions include works by Nina Chanel Abney, Dr. Esther Mahlangu, Sanlé Sory, Omar Victor Diop, and more.
“The collection started not just because we’re art lovers, but also because there’s not enough people of color collecting artists of color,” Dean says. “We don’t own enough of our culture. So we want to lead the pack in owning our own culture and owning our own narrative instead of waiting for someone who’s not part of the culture to tell our story for us.”
It’s clear to see that these two are redefining black love and culture all at the same time. A refreshing blend in a time where there isn’t as much positivity and investment in the black community going around.
While some celebs allege that slavery was a choice, we’re totally for this agenda. It’s a welcome break.
Photo Credit: Cultured
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