Keith Sweat is an R&B singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s and 1990s with hits like “I Want Her,” “Make It Last Forever,” and “Twisted.” At the height of his popularity, Sweat was known for his smooth vocals and talent for crafting romantic songs and sensual slow jams. The New York native has continued performing and recording new music up to the present day. So where is Keith Sweat now in 2023, and what’s he been up to lately? Let’s take a closer look at Sweat’s life today.
Keith Sweat’s Current Music Career
While Keith Sweat may not dominate the charts like he once did, the talented vocalist remains active in music. Sweat has continued to release new albums over the past decade. His most recent studio album, Playing for Keeps, came out in 2018. The record featured Sweat’s signature soulful R&B sound on songs like “Love Shoulda Brought You Home.”
In addition to creating new music, Sweat stays busy by touring and performing shows regularly. He often plays concerts internationally, doing shows across Europe and parts of Asia. Sweat also frequently performs at soul music festivals and community events within the United States. His live shows allow longtime fans to hear him sing classics like “I’ll Give All My Love to You” and “Make You Sweat,” transporting audiences back to Sweat’s 1990s heyday.
Recent Television Appearances
While touring and recording new material, Keith Sweat has also popped up on television on occasion in recent years. In 2019, he appeared as a contestant on the singing competition show The Masked Singer. Sweat competed anonymously while dressed in an elaborate hippopotamus costume before finally being eliminated and revealing his identity. That same year, he also was a guest on The Real daytime talk show to promote his Sweat Hotel album and chat about his life and career.
Sweat has additionally made cameos as himself on a few other programs including The Soul Man sitcom in 2014 and the reality show My Life is a Telenovela in 2012. And keeping with the reality show theme, he also participated on Celebrity Wife Swap back in 2013 where he temporarily traded families with singer Sammy Hagar. While Sweat may not be on TV regularly, he seems happy to make the occasional appearance and keep his name and music in the public eye.
Keith Sweat’s Record Label
In addition to focusing on his own music career, Keith Sweat stays busy with his independent record label Keith Sweat’s Platinum Sound Records. Founded in 1993, the label has released albums by artists including Men At Large, Ol’ Skool, and Silk over the years. Sweat takes an active role in discovering and developing new talent for his label.
One of the label’s most recent signings is the R&B group Dru Hill, who released their album InDRUpendence Day in 2020 through Platinum Sound Records. “We look at independent labels differently now,” Sweat told Billboard that year. “Major record labels aren’t the end-all-be-all anymore.” Keeping his own label going allows Sweat to support up-and-coming artists and remain influential in the contemporary R&B scene.
Philanthropy and Activism
Giving back to the community has become an important part of Keith Sweat’s life. He has been involved with several cancer research charities including the lung cancer organization Free to Breathe. Sweat lost his own father to lung cancer. Some other causes he champions are the American Diabetes Association and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Sweat also spends time speaking out and advocating for social justice reforms. He participated in The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective event in 2020. During a panel discussion, Sweat emphasized the need for the music industry to better support Black artists. More recently, he partnered with Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock to encourage voters to participate in the 2022 runoff election.
Personal Life
Keith Sweat’s personal life has seen both highs and lows over the past decade. He was married to his ex-wife Thea Sweat from 2009 until their divorce in 2014. Sweat then began a long-term relationship with celebrity hairstylist Athena Yvette. The two appeared together on VH1’s Couples Retreat show in 2016 as they worked through some relationship issues.
In 2019, tragedy struck when one of Sweat’s children, his daughter Latania, died at age 31 from complications of Lupus. Sweat shared the heartbreaking news on social media, writing “Love you Nia forever and beyond.” He continues to be a father to his four surviving children from previous relationships.
While Sweat keeps details of his current romantic situation private, he seems to be enjoying spending time with his kids and close friends. When not working, he leads a relatively low-key life splitting his time between his homes in Atlanta and Jamaica.
Keith Sweat’s Net Worth
After a long, successful career in the music business, Keith Sweat has amassed an impressive net worth. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sweat’s total assets are estimated at around $8 million as of 2023. Sweat has profited from selling over 13 million records worldwide. He also earns a comfortable living from touring, TV appearances, and his record label interests.
While certainly not quite as wealthy as contemporary music moguls like Kanye West or Jay-Z, Keith Sweat still sits comfortably financially. His steady income allows him to support both his family and philanthropic endeavors as he enters his 60s. And Sweat should continue building his fortune as he keeps making music and running his label in the years ahead.
Keith Sweat’s Legacy and Influence
There’s no denying that Keith Sweat has left a lasting mark on R&B music. His early hits helped define the “New Jack Swing” sound that fused R&B with elements of pop, hip-hop, and dance. Sweat’s signature smooth and sensual love songs also set the stage for romantic crooners like Usher and R. Kelly to find success.
Beyond his own songs, Sweat has influenced artists as a producer and songwriter. He’s produced tracks for the likes of Men At Large, Dru Hill, and Ol’ Skool. And artists from The Notorious B.I.G. to TLC to Drake have sampled or referenced Sweat’s music over the years. Sweat has even been dubbed the “Michael Jackson of New Jack Swing.”
While the charts and radio airplay may not showcase Keith Sweat as heavily as during his peak, he remains an R&B icon. His classic hits and bedroom jams are still played at weddings and parties around the world. And Sweat helped integrate hip-hop into R&B’s sound and visuals in a way that resonates on the genre today. Though his musical output may have slowed, Keith Sweat’s legacy in R&B is set.
Conclusion
Keith Sweat undoubtedly reached his popularity peak back in the 90s. However, he remains a presence in R&B as he continues making music, running a label, touring, and advocating for causes he believes in. Despite professional successes and personal losses along the way, Sweat has maintained a long career as a singer, producer, and entrepreneur. While his days dominating the charts may be behind him, Keith Sweat has cemented his place among R&B royalty. His smooth voice and talent for crafting hits still delight fans looking to reminisce. Sweat has transitioned to veteran status gracefully, displaying staying power in a notoriously difficult industry. So in 2023 and beyond, listeners can count on Keith Sweat to keep making bedroom ballads and sensual slow jams as his own brand of romantic R&B continues influencing contemporary music.