Damizza

Damion Young (born October 19, 1975), better known by his stage name Damizza, is an American radio executive, record producer, artist and author best known for his work with Emmis Broadcasting. He was the Senior Director of programming from 1997 to 2004 at the Emmis-owned Power 106 in Los Angeles, and spent considerable time at Hot 97, their New York flagship station. Damizza is also a record executive working with artists such as Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Migos, Nate Dogg, Eminem and Mariah Carey, with whom he made his production debut on the remix of her hit "I Still Believe" in 1998.

Biography

Young's career started at the radio station KHTY in his home town of Santa Barbara, California at the age of 12, making him one of the youngest program directors in history. He quickly became a pioneer of the alternative rock format, breaking artists such as Hootie & the Blowfish, Collective Soul & Garbage, by the age of 17. In February 1997 he moved to KPWR in Los Angeles. As music director he led the fledgling station to No. 1 status, along the way breaking artists such as Eminem and Jay-Z, and reuniting rap legends Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg for the 2001 album. In February 1999 he was named the fourth most powerful person in hip-hop by The Source. Young rose quickly to Senior Director of Programming and Artist Relations, forging friendships with numerous hip-hop artists and other entertainers. He was also dispatched to Power's sister station Hot 97 in New York in an effort to smooth relations between the station and several artists and record companies in the wake of the February 2001 shootout between the entourages of rappers Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown in front of the station’s offices. He was also called in to settle a disagreement Jay-Z had with the station shortly after competitor Power 105 came on the air.

In the wake of changes at Power 106/Hot 97 owner Emmis Broadcasting, he resigned and retired from radio at the age of 30, proclaiming that corporate interference was going to doom the medium. Power dropped from number 1 to 13 within six month of his departure and has never recovered in the ratings war, losing to longtime rival KIIS-FM. Young has been involved in many charities and non-profit organisations such as the World Food Programme, Teddy Bear Cancer foundation and Make-a-Wish Foundation, and has worked closely with Jim Brown and the Amer-I-Can Foundation. In 2007, he released a collaboration album with Butch Cassidy, Back B4 You're Lonely, which produced the hit single “Cruzin.” He has been quoted as saying that a follow-up release is imminent.

He completed working with J. Marshall Craig on a book on his life, Guilty By Association, which is scheduled for release sometime late-2011 after two years of delays over legal issues and made some public appearances at various California universities and colleges discussing the book and his life as a radio prodigy-turned hip-hop producer and performer. When Damizza was asked to give a brief insight to his book he said "A kid from a small town with a dream.. That never took no for an answer, made his dreams come true and did it his way. (With a Lil help from his grannie)".[1]

In late 2009, Damizza made a cameo appearance as himself in Australian filmmaker Frank Howson's next feature picture, "Remembering Nigel," for which he also served as music supervisor. The film won Best Foreign Film at the Paso Robles Digital Film Festival in November 2009 and also took honors for Best Music Soundtrack. As of September 2011 the feature is in negotiations for worldwide release.

His love of music and burgeoning recognition with the rock and roll establishment has opened him to meeting and working with an ever-growing list of rock icons, among them Terry Reid and Eric Burdon of the Animals & War, drummer Phil Jones (longtime percussionist and drummer for Tom Petty) and bass player Rick "The Bass Player" Rosas of Neil Young/Joe Walsh fame. Damizza has also worked with noted Eagles/Johnny Rivers songwriter Jack Tempchin and Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart. In 2011 he began working on a new web venture where he judges new music with A&R music guru Nigel Grainge and iconic rocker Bob Geldof. He has also remixed some of Geldof's latest material.

In May 2013 Damizza said he is thinking of Reviving the Baby Ree mixtape series has a special surprise for the coming July 4 weekend.[1]

Baby Ree Records/Music Production/Damizza Presents

Damion’s alter ego Damizza was a name created by Mariah Carey during the sessions for “I Still Believe” which was also his first commercial release as a producer. He worked with KG from legendary rap group Naughty by Nature to co-produce “Where I wanna be” from his own effort titled the same. In later years Damizza has been working hard on coming out of what he has described in interviews as his "self-imposed exile to focus on my family and helping kids in my native Santa Barbara, where I've found talent just waiting to burst out in a positive way," and rebuilding his label Baby Ree Records. His label has made power moves, among them, signing award-winning (Grammy and Emmy) blues musicians to the label. The LA BLUES ALLIANCE is a supergroup of blues and rock musicians including Snuffy Walden, Keb' Mo', Mike Finnigan and others working with mega producer Mike Post. Their first CD, What a Life, hit stores June 26, 2007 on Baby Ree, distributed through Universal/Fontana. In addition he has been "graduating" a series of producers, singers and songwriters including Carlos "Los" Ramirez a 20-something beat-maker from Santa Barbara, credited for producing Butch Cassidy and Damizza's hit single "Cruzin’. " And "Lewis" who co-wrote and produced "More Than Thugs" w/ Damizza for "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony".

Damizza surfaced in 2016 with a new radio show on Oxnard/Ventura/Santa Barbara #Thetakeover from 6–9:00 pm on Friday nights. "It's great to be back in radio and have #1 ratings at that", he was quoted.. And also, came with a new spin on the "Damizza Presents:" Brand by releasing a new Bone Thugs n' Harmony single "More Than Thugs" in the beginning of the year (co-produced with new up-and-coming local producer Lewis). It enjoyed success at radio, and it spawned a #1 independent radio single according to MediaBase.

He also dropped a street single at the same time partnering with Mr. Capone-E for "Loco" By: Mr. Capone-E feat. Migos & Mally Mall. On his Twitter he was quoted as saying that a "Damizza Presents "Greatest Hits" would be for free download soon and it would feature all his biggest works with Mariah Carey, Ice Cube, Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Bone Thugs & Harmony & More.

He was also quoted as leaving the Bone Thugs N' Harmony project to focus on New artist Lewi & Lil' Bams projects and stated that E-40 protoge' Nef The pharaoh would be featured on the 1st single dropping late summer.

A second single "Home" leaked to the Internet.

Label artists

Awards/Chart Positions

Discography

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2016

References

  1. 1 2 "Former Power 106 Programme Director Damizza", 2013.
  2. ↑ Trauma (Top Independent Albums chart, Billboard, November 19, 2005
  3. ↑ "Crybaby" (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart), Billboard, September 23, 2000
  4. ↑ "Where I Wanna Be" (Hot Rap Singles chart), Billboard, June 16, 2001.
  5. ↑ "Where I Wanna Be" (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Billboard, December 16, 2000.
  6. ↑ [http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-12-09/hot-100 "Where I Wanna Be" (Hot 100 chart), Billboard, December 9, 2000.
  7. ↑ Damizza Presents... Where I Wanna Be (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart), Billboard, December 16, 2000
  8. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-11-25/billboard-200 Damizza Presents... Where I Wanna Be (Billboard 200 chart)], Billboard, November 25, 2000
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