Damizza

Damion Young (born 1972), 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, 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)".

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.

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.

Music Featured In

• "In 2's" / EA Sports "NBA LIVE" video Game (performed/produced)
• "The Best" / EA Sports "MADDEN 2007" Video Game (CO-Produced/Mixed)
• "Various" / True Crime: Streets of LA / Video Game
• "Bad News" / Dark Angel TV show
• "Various" / Glitter (Movie)
• "Life Ain't A Game" / The Fast & The Furious Movie & Soundtrack
• "Thugg Muzik Play On" / Down to Earth (Chris Rock Movie) Co-Produced

Label artists

• Mike Post's L.A. Blues Alliance (with W. G. Walden, Keb' Mo', Sonny Landreth, Mike Finnigan, etc.)
• Lil' Bams
• Lil' Skipp's
• Lewi

Awards/Chart Positions

• Trauma — DJ Quik, No. 1 Billboard Independent Albums (Consultant)
• "Crybaby" — Mariah Carey featuring Snoop Dogg, No. 23 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
• "Where I Wanna Be" — Shade Sheist ft Nate Dogg, and Kurupt; No. 1 Hot Rap Singles, No. 1 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, No. 95 Billboard Hot 100 (Co-Producer)
• "I Still Believe" — Mariah Carey, Krayzie Bone, and Da Brat No. 2 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart
• "Daily" — TQ No. 5 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart
• Damizza Presents... Where I Wanna Be: The Compilation No. 28 R&B/Hip-Hop No. 143 Billboard 200
• "What Would You Do?" — Mariah Carey featuring Shade Sheist Nate Dogg and Damizza No. 57 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart & No. 57 Airplay
• "Lights Out" — Mack 10 featuring Ice Cube, WC and Knoc-turn'al No. 61 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, No. 58 Billboard airplay chart
• "Irresistible" — Mariah Carey featuring Ice Cube, Mack 10, and WC No. 34 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart
• "Talk to Me" — Butch Cassidy No. 22 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart
• ABC TV/Radio Music Awards 2000 APD/MD of the year
• ABC TV/Radio Music Awards 2001 APD/MD of the year

Discography

1999

• I Still Believe (Pure Imagination) / Mariah Carey feat. Krayzie Bone / Thug Mentality / Remixed No. 2 R&B/Hip hop single

2000

• No More / Ruff Endz / No More Maxi Single from Love Crimes album / Ruff Endz / Remixed
• If You Were My Bitch / The Murderers, Ja Rule, Shade Sheist / Murderers / Produced
• Daily / TQ / The Second Coming / Produced No. 2 R&B/Hip hop single
• The Grind / TQ feat. Warren G / Second Coming / Produced
• Why Didn't You Call Me / Macy Gray / (Unreleased) / Remixed
• Crybaby / Mariah Carey feat. Snoop Dogg / Rainbow / Produced R&B/Hip hop single
• Big Caz/ Caz feat. Shade Sheist/ Thundadome/ Produced
• Yeah That's Us / Major Figgaz / (Unreleased) / Remixed
• It's Ur Life / Ja Rule feat. Shade Sheist / 3:36 / Produced
• Lord What Have I Done / Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Shade Sheist / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced
• Used To / TQ / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced
• Life Ain't A Game / Ja Rule / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced
• Have A Nice Day / Caz feat. Shade Sheist & Damizza / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced
• Now That Ur Mine (aka If You Were Mine)/ Shade Sheist feat. Tatum Tots / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced
• Is It Me? / Damon Sharpe feat. Krayzie Bone / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced
• Where I Wanna Be / Shade Sheist, Nate Dogg & Kurupt / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Co-produced
• Where I Wanna Be / Various - Compilation / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Executive Producer No. 1 Rap single (sales) No. 14 U.K.
• Bling Diamante/ Interlude/ Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced
• If You Were Mine / Caz, Damizza, Shade Sheist, Tatum Tots/ Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced/Rap
• Uncle Carmin's BDS / Damizza / Damizza Presents: Where I Wanna Be / Produced/Rap
• You / Lucy Pearl feat. Shade Sheist / (Unreleased) / Remixed

2001

• Thug Music Play On / Bone Thugs N' Harmony / Down to Earth (Soundtrack) / Co-produced
• Fast Money / Bone Thugs N' Harmony / (Unreleased) / Produced
• If They Only Knew / Krayzie Bone / Thug on Da Line / Produced
• Boyfriend/Girlfriend / Krayzie Bone feat. Lareece / Thug on Da Line / Produced
• Uh-huh / Kurupt & Roscoe / (Unreleased) / Produced
• Bitches / Kurupt feat. Butch Cassidy & Roscoe / Space Boogie Smoke Odyssey / Produced
• Odd Squad / Kurupt feat. TQ / (released in 2005 on Kurupt's Greatest Hits Vol.1) / Produced
• Life / Kurupt feat. Trey Lorenz / (Unreleased) / Produced
• At It Again / Space Boogie Smoke Odyssey / Produced
• Just Got Paid / Kurupt / Space Boogie Smoke Odyssey / Produced
• Cali Diseaz / Shade Sheist feat. Nate Dogg / Fast & Furious Soundtrack / Produced
• Freestyle / Busta Rhymes feat. DJ Vice / (Unreleased) / Produced
• Take Me With U / TQ feat.Shade Sheist & Pnutt / Headbeaterz Compilation / Produced
• Bad News / Damizza feat. N.U.N.E, Shade Sheist / Dark Angel Soundtrack / Produced/Rap
• If We / Mariah Carey feat. Nate Dogg, Ja Rule / Glitter / Produced
• Last Night A DJ Saved My Life / Mariah Carey feat. Busta Rhymes, DJ Clue / Glitter / Produced
• Music and Me / Nate Dogg / Music and Me / Produced
• Dirt/ Mack 10 feat. Fat Joe & Damizza/Ghetto, Gutter & Gangsta/Mack 10
• The Reverend Knoc / Knoc-Turn'Al / Knoc's Landin / Produced

2002

• Somebody Steals the Show / Shade Sheist / Informal Introduction / Produced
• Act Like You Know Me / Shade Sheist feat. Knoc-Turn'Al & Fabolous / Informal Introduction / Produced
• X2 / Shade Sheist feat. DJ Clue / Informal Introduction / Produced
• Walk a Mile / Shade Sheist feat. Nate Dogg, Vita & N.U.N.E / Informal Introduction / Produced
• Stop…and Think About It / Shade Sheist feat. Caz / Informal Introduction / Produced
• BMF / Shade Sheist / Informal Introduction / Produced
• Thug Love / Shade Sheist feat. Barbara Wilson/ Informal Introduction / Produced
• Cali Diseaz / Shade Sheist feat. Nate Dogg / Informal Introduction / Produced
• Here I Come / Shade Sheist feat. Damizza / Informal Introduction / Produced/Rap
• Wake Up / Shade Sheist / Informal Introduction/ Produced
• Urban Gospel / Shade Sheist feat. King Arthur & N.U.N.E / Informal Introduction / Produced
• Money Owners / Shade Sheist/ Produced/Rap
• Hatas/ Caz feat. Damizza/ Goin Head Up/ Produced
• Irresitable / Mariah Carey feat. Westside Connection / Charmbracelet / Produced

2003

• Oh Boy (Remix) / Mariah Carey feat. ES from Three Times Dope / (Unreleased) / Remixed
• Chip The Curb / Damizza feat. Kurupt & Roscoe / Damizza Presents, Vol. 2 / Produced/Rap
• Dirt / Mack 10 feat. Fat Joe & Damizza / Ghetto, Gutta & Gangsta Comp. / Produced/Rap
• A Thing of the Past / Damizza feat. Butch Cassidy, Roccett & Spit Fiya / unreleased / Produced/Rap
• Lights Out / Mack 10 feat. Westside Connection & / Ghetto, Gutta & Gangsta Comp. / Produced
• Lights Out / Westside Connection/ Terrorist Threats/ Produced
• Dangerous / Dr. Stank feat. Butch Cassidy / Damizza presents... Baby Ree Mixtape Vol.1 / Produced
• I'll Do Anything / Damizza feat. N.U.N.E / True Crime: Streets of LA (The Soundtrack) / Produced/Rap
• Mizza / Damizza & Mariah Carey / Released / Produced/Rap
• What Would You Do / Nate Dogg feat. Mariah Carey & Shade Sheist / Damizza Presents, Mix Tape 1 / Produced
• What Would You Do / Nate Dogg feat. Mariah Carey & Butch Cassidy / second version / Produced

2004

• Western Conference / Conway feat. Butch Cassidy / How The West Was One / Produced
• Best Of Me / Conway, Damizza & Barbara Wilson / How The West Was One / Produced
• Starz / Stacee Adamz feat. Butch Cassidy / Gunz & Butter Unreleased / Produced
• Times Done Changed / Stacee Adamz feat.Kokane & Knoc-Turn'Al / Gunz & Butter Unreleased / Produced
• Change This Game / Knoc-Turn'Al / The Way I Am / Produced
• Killa/ Kam feat. Damizza/ California Love Part.1/
• Saturday Night / Damizza feat. Knoc-Turn'Al and LT Hutton/ Baby Ree Mixtape Vol.2
• Gangsta Lean / Damizza feat. Butch Cassidy, Jayo Felony, Titus Fuck and Down / Baby Ree Mixtape Vol.2
• Throw Away Chick/Conway feat. Damizza/Baby Ree Mixtape Vol.2
• Backflip / Raven-Symoné / This Is My Time / Produced
• Top Ballin'/Damizza feat. Butch Cassidy / Produced/Rap
• The Watcher Pt.3

2005

• Can't Knock The Hustle / Damizza feat. Nate Dogg
• Somebody Like Me / Nate Dogg / Nate Dogg/ Produced
• Word Up (Reemix) / Korn / Damizza presents: The Baby Ree Mixtape Vol.III / Remixed/Produced
• Shake It Off (Reemix)/ Mariah Carey / Unreleased / Remixed/ Produced
• My Life / Damizza feat. Mariah Carey and Knoc-Turn'Al / Damizza presents: Guilty By Association The Mixtape / Produced/Rap
• One Small Kiss / Damizza feat. Vanessa Marquez / Damizza presents: Guilty By Association The Mixtape / Produced/Rap
• Ghetto/ Lil Wayne feat. TQ/ Produced
• Chris Is High/ Ludacris/ Disturbing tha peace/ unreleased / Produced
• L.A. / Damizza / Unreleased / Produced / Rap
• Cali Love / Damizza, DJ Couz, O'Shay & Fingazz / Unreleased / Co-produced/Rap
• Don't Fuck With Us /Damizza feat. Butch Cassidy, Rocket, & Spitfiya/ California Love Part 2 / Rap
• They Act Like They Don't Know / Sly Boogy feat. Damizza
• Stick N' Tired / Damizza feat. SaDiva

2006

• After She's Gone / Damizza, Destino, G-Pride, Hyena, Shalla, SSG / Katrina Relief UNITED mixtape/ Produced/Rap
• So Fly Pt. 2 / MC Magic feat. Gemini / Magic City / Co-produced
• Lyrical Terrorism / Amir / Lyrical Terrorism / Produced
• The Best / Bishop Lamont feat. Chevy Jones / Madden NFL 07 (video game) / Produced
• West Coastin' Intro / Damizza / DJ HU$TLE presents WestCoastin 1 / DJ HU$TLE / Skit
• The Watcher (Pt. 3) / Damizza / DJ HU$TLE presents WestCoastin 1 / DJ HU$TLE / Rap
• We Get Down / Damizza / DJ HU$TLE presents WestCoastin 1 / DJ HU$TLE / Skit
• Future Projects / Damizza / DJ HU$TLE presents WestCoastin 1 / DJ HU$TLE / Skit
• Dig In The Crates / Damizza / DJ HU$TLE presents WestCoastin 1 / DJ HU$TLE / Skit
• Hit Us Up / Damizza / DJ HU$TLE presents WestCoastin 1 / DJ HU$TLE / Skit
• Click Clack/ Damizza feat.Taje & Noni Spitz / DJ HU$TLE presents WestCoastin 1 / DJ HU$TLE / Rap
• Outro / Damizza / DJ HU$TLE presents WestCoastin 1 / DJ HU$TLE / Skit
• Hip Hop Chick - Damizza feat. O'Shey/ West side Ridin’ 21 mixtape/ Produced/Rap
• Westside Ridin' - Damizza feat.C4/ Westside Ridin’ 22 mixtape/ Produced/Rap
• Cruzin / Damizza & Butch Cassidy / Back B4 You're Lonely / Buch Cassidy & Damizza / Produced/Rap
• View From The Top / Damizza, Vanessa Marquez, Bishop Lamont & Roccett / Back B4 You're Lonely / Buch Cassidy & Damizza / Produced/Rap
• 805 Worldwide / Monteloco feat. Damizza, Sly from C4 & Paul Dateh/ 805 Kingz compilation part.1/ Co-Producer/ Rap

2007

• Get Your Party On / Damizza & Butch Cassidy/ / Back B4 You're Lonely / Buch Cassidy & Damizza / Co-Producer / Rap
• Back B4 You're Lonely / Damizza & Butch Cassidy / Back B4 You're Lonely / Buch Cassidy & Damizza / Co-Producer / Rap
• Click, Clack! / Damizza & Butch Cassidy feat. Taje & Noni Spitz / Back B4 You're Lonely / Buch Cassidy & Damizza /
• Tragic End / Damizza & Butch Cassidy / Back B4 You're Lonely / Buch Cassidy & Damizza / Co-Producer / Rap
• West Coastin' 2 Intro / Damizza & Butch Cassidy / DJ HU$TLE presents "Westcoastin' 2"/
• Can't Stop Me Know / Damizza feat.Roccett / DJ HU$TLE presents "Westcoastin' 2"/ Performer
• Hustle, Leaking Our Sh*t / Damizza & Butch Cassidy / DJ HU$TLE presents "Westcoastin' 2"/ Performer
• Can't Move It Like Me" / Damizza feat. Down aka Kilo & Chino XL/ Performer
• "I Aint Playin" / Damizza feat. Prime / Producer/Rapper
• "805 Worldwide" / Monteloco feat. Damizza & Sly of Guilty

2008

• "Cruzin'" / Damizza & Butch Cassidy/ / Back B4 You're Lonely / Buch Cassidy & Damizza / Co-Producer / Rap
• "Audio Hustlaz" / Young De / Co-Executive Produced DJ Skee Mixtape with B-Real of Cypress Hill
• "Potential Breakup (reemix) / Aly & AJ / Co Produced Remix
• "Not Me" / Silas (of Guilty) Co Produced single
• "Seed of memory" (Bring our troops home) / Damizza Feat. Terry Reid

2009

• "Oh No" / Damizza

2010

• Eric Burdon Sessions
• Terry Reid Sessions (Producer)
• "I.W.P." Bishop Lamont Feat Indef (Producer)
• "F*k N. Korea" / Bishop Lamont / Team America mixtape (Performer)

2011

• "M.C.S.B." / Damizza / (performer / producer / engineer)
• "Secret Agent Man" / PF Sloan / music from the motion picture soundtrack "Remembering Nigel"
• "New Design" / PF Sloan / music from the motion picture soundtrack "Remembering Nigel" (Producer)
• Sir Bob Geldof Album Ree-Mixes

2016

• "Loco" / Mr. Capone Feat. Migos, Mally Mall Produced by: DJ Mustard (Exec Producer / Promotion / Marketing / Label)
• "More Than Thugs" Bone Thugs N' Harmony (Co-Produced / Label / Exec Producer)
• "Home" Bone Thugs N' Harmony (Co-Produced / Label / Exec Producer)
• Various Song for Mr. Criminal

External links

• Damizza on HipHopDX
• Damizza Interview on SoPrupRadio.com