(Photo: Essence, June 2011)

Alicia Keys is opening up in the new issue of Essence magazine. The Grammy award-winning songstress appears on the June cover where she finally speaks on the negative perception that surrounded her relationship with hitmaking producer Swizz Beatz.

"We didn’t start seeing each other until after they had been separated for months,” Keys reveals to Essence. When news of her romantic relationship with Swizz first hit the media, some accused Alicia of being a "homewrecker" for dating Swizz since he was still legally married to Mashonda. "Of course, people will believe what they want to believe. But I know the truth will shine through.“

Alicia admits that even though the remarks hurt her, she kept quiet about the whole thing. She explains, "...it definitely hurt. But I was sure that if I engaged, it would become a back-and-forth like some sort of sick entertainment, which goes against everything I believe in and only would have made things worse." Despite some not-so-nice open letters penned by Mashonda, AK says that things between her and Mashonda are good now. "We are doing what is best for the children. That's always been the most important thing."

Alicia Keys is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut album, Songs in a Minor, with the release of a deluxe collector's edition version set for release in June.