Beatz Settles Child Support Dispute With Ex-wife

Rap producer SWIZZ BEATZ has settled a dispute with ex-wife MASHONDA over missing child support payments as he prepares to welcome his first child with fiancee ALICIA KEYS.

The beatmaker, real name Kasseem Dean, split from R&B singer Mashonda in 2008 after four years of marriage, and their divorce was finalised in May (10).

But within days of the union being officially over, Beatz was accused of falling behind on his alimony and child support responsibilities for the former couple’s three-year-old son, Kasseem Jr.

The producer was due to appear before a judge in New York’s Manhattan Supreme Court in June (10) to answer the allegations, but Mashonda’s lawyer, Bernard Clair, has confirmed Beatz has paid up the $334,000 (£222,670) debt and the court date has now been cancelled.

Beatz and Keys confirmed rumours they are engaged and expecting a baby last week (ends28May10) but the hip-hop star insists they have yet to decide on a date for their big day, which will take place before the end of the year (10).

He tells the New York Daily News, “I’m super excited. People are calling me from Dubai and Japan. We haven’t set a wedding date, but we will. We’re just letting everything flow.”