Damion Young — the Damizza Story

Damion Young — the Damizza Story

Damion Young, also known as Damizza, is an accomplished producer, artist, and author with big-name credits.

He started out in the music industry at just age 12 and went on to produce some truly massive tunes. Working with Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson to Nate Dogg and Krayzie Bone, Damizza has shaped American music for more than 30 years. Once named the 4th most powerful person in hip-hop by The Source magazine, he is an influential taste-maker and bona fide global star.

The early years

Damion Young was born in 1974, starting his life in the coastal city of Santa Barbara. Raised by his widowed grandmother, he loved radio and music from an early age. After flipping the dials on his home radio, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. Damion listened closely to the sounds of California, with the emerging hip-hop scene capturing his full attention. This music was new and exciting in the 1980s, and he wanted to be part of it.

Through a mix of luck and hard work, Damion started his first radio job at age 12. Landing a studio assistant gig at Santa Barbara’s KHTY station, he worked hard to support his family and turn his dreams into reality. When most kids his age were playing ball or getting into trouble, Damion was already shaping his future. During his time at KHTY, he became the youngest program director ever at 17.

Working in radio, Damion helped to popularize artists like Fiona Apple, Garbage, No Doubt, and Hootie & the Blowfish. While this music was a long way from his beloved hip-hop, Damion’s ear for talent was obvious from the start. After working at KHTY, he served as the head of Los Angeles’ Power 106 and New York’s Hot 97. A successful career in radio wasn’t enough for Damion, however, who wanted to branch out as a producer and become a true industry heavyweight.

From radio assistant to hip-hop heavyweight

After moving up the ranks from radio assistant to station executive, Damion was ready for something a little different. He already had connections with some of the biggest names in modern music, having broken hit songs from numerous genres. Before too long, Damizza had established himself as a talented record producer.

He went on to produce music for upcoming artists like Lil Wayne, Ludacris, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. He also worked with established names like Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, architects of the east-coast hip-hop scene. Damion helped to change the shape of hip-hop culture as well, working with new-metal giants Korn as the Californian suburbs started to embrace the sound of rap.

At the start of his production career, Damizza is mostly remembered for one thing. He had a massive influence on Mariah Carey’s career trajectory, going on to produce her song “Crybaby” featuring Snoop Dogg. He also collaborated with Carey on her Glitter album, helping to manage her comeback single “We Belong Together.” Damion’s nickname “Damizza” was actually coined by Mariah Carey in 1998, when the two had a romantic relationship.

Over the years, Damizza became more involved with the hip-hop scene. He played a role reuniting Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, which led to the famous album Chronic 2001. He helped Jay-Z to find global fame, gave Dr. Dre advice on working with Eminem, and helped to rekindle the career of Janet Jackson. During this period, Damion Young was named the 4th most powerful person in hip-hop by the influential The Source magazine.

Author and artist

Damion had changed the face of American music by his 30th birthday, which was a rare accomplishment indeed. His tale was definitely one worth telling, and that’s exactly what he did next. Working with writer J. Marshall Craig, Damion wrote a book on his life called Guilty by Association.

The book was scheduled for publication in 2011, but its release was complicated by legal issues. After two years of delays, “Guilty by Association, hit the shelves”, and Damion started to make public appearances. He spoke at various California universities and colleges, discussing his sharp rise from radio assistant to hip-hop producer to the stars.

When asked for a brief insight into his life, Damion 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).”

Most influential recordings

Damizza has been involved in so many hit tracks over the years that it’s impossible to list them all. Some of his production credits have had a particularly powerful influence, however, due to the huge names involved or the immense cultural pull of the recordings.