Girl On Fire: Alicia Keys Cover July Issue Of Marie Claire Magazine.

 

They are one of the music world's golden couples, supporting each other through their careers and helping to raise two-year-old son Egypt.

But it seems that things weren't always so rosy between Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, as the superstar has admitted that she found him 'annoying' when they first met.

Speaking to Marie Claire, the 32-year-old opened up about the couple's long journey to romance, while posing for an ethereal new photo shoot. More photos after the cut.

'Honestly, I didn't really like him that much,' she said, talking about when she first met the American hip hop artist while they were both teenagers.

'I though he was ostentatious. He'll drive the fastest, brightest car, wear the biggest jewellery, the loudest jacket; everything with him is really over the top,' she admitted.

'I was like, he is so annoying,' she said, reminiscing about when she saw him drive past a restaurant in a huge white Rolls-Royce Phantom.

But after years of knowing each other, and not quite managing to work together, the pair found themselves in the studio, and a relationship soon followed.

'I fought tooth and nail,' she said, admitting that she originally didn't want to work with him. 'Finally though, we did it and we had a ball.'

'I think we've taught each other a lot,' she said. 'He's taught me how to live more fully and I've taught him how to live more deeply.'

The singer also admitted that she struggled with the negative attitudes of people close to her during her rise to fame.

'There might have been people in my life who, now, when I look back, I realise were kind of insulting or abusive - verbally or emotionally - or just not supportive,' she said.

Speaking about her beloved two-year-old son, the singer says '[He] never gets grouchy or grumpy. He has a great disposition.'

The Girl On Fire singer poses in a number of show-stopping gowns for the shoot, looking provocative in a sheer grey chiffon piece on the cover.