Why the Gulf has become central to Swizz Beatz’s creative vision

One of the year’s most acclaimed hip-hop songs nearly fell apart in its final stages. So Be It, the lead single from American duo Clipse’s long-awaited reunion album Let God Sort Em Out, is built around a sample of Maza Akoulou, a song recorded by the late Saudi singer Talal Maddah in the 1970s. The track was almost pulled off the album because clearance from Maddah’s estate was running out of time.

As a last attempt to keep the sample, the group contacted Swizz Beatz (real name Kasseem Dean), the Grammy-winning producer who has spent more than five years working across the Gulf in cultural and sporting roles.

Dean says he was already travelling to Riyadh and took the required meetings in person. The clearance was completed within days of his arrival. Released in June, So Be It became a key track of Let God Sort Em Out, which is now in the running for Best Rap Album at next year’s Grammy Awards.

Kasseem Daoud Dean aka Swizz Beatz. Photo: Rafid Allo

Dean downplays the moment and says the experience reflects what he learnt through his time in the region. “A lot of people think this region is transactional. You can do business for sure, but if you move like that, it will take the long way around. The people here are smart. You still have to earn it,” he says.

The anecdote captures the way Dean has been working in the Gulf, where he describes the ethos as “relationships over transactions”, reflected in everything from art exhibitions and creative programmes to a camel racing team that became a winner on the Saudi circuit.

Doha sits at the centre of Dean’s latest venture, Qatar Airways Creative 100, launched with the national carrier and scheduled to host a gala event at Art Basel Doha in February.