Damion Young (born 1974), also known as Damizza, is an American radio executive, record producer, artist and author.[4]

Damion "Damizza" Young
Born
Damion Young

Other namesDamizza[2]
Years active1986-Present[3]
Notable work Where I Wanna Be

Biography

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Young began his career as a studio assistant at the age of 12, where Young went on to popularize numerous artists while working at Santa Barbara’s KHTY station, including Fiona Apple, Garbage and Hootie & the Blowfish, and later served as the head of Los Angeles’ Power 106 and New York’s Hot 97.[5]

Young would later go on to produce Crybaby (Mariah Carey song) featuring Snoop Dogg.[6] Young, has also worked with Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Korn.[7]

Young would later go on to produce for artists Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Lil Wayne and Ludacris, and claims a hand in the reunion of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and the resulting 2001 (a.k.a. Chronic 2001).[8]

Young was named the 4th most powerful person in hip-hop by The Source magazine 2 years after being named program director Power 106, after he helped Jay-Z find an international audience, helped Janet Jackson rekindle her career, helped Dr. Dre with advice on 'how to break the white kid from Detroit' and introduced the world to Eminem.[9]

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)".[10]

In 2023 Damion "Damizza" Young was included in Marquis Who's Who.[11]

Awards/chart positions

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References

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  1. ^ KETTMAN, MATT (27 June 2013). "Rise of Santa Barbara Hip-Hop". INDEPENDENT.COM. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Mariah Carey's former producer, Damion (Damizza) Young, slams report about their love affair: 'NOT my quotes'". NY DAILY NEWS. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  3. ^ McKenzie, Greg (11 October 2010). "Hip hop producer Damizza pens tell-all book on rap". BBC News. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  4. ^ Jones, Pete. "Programmer, Music Exec, Producer Damion 'Damizza' Young Added To Marquis Who's Who Registry". All Access. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Damion "Damizza" Young". Marquis Who's Who (MARQUIS WHO'S WHO TOP ARTISTS): 1. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ Weiner, Natalie. "We Belong Together: Mariah Carey's Collaborators Share Untold Stories Behind 8 Classics". BILLBOARD.COM. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  7. ^ "B4 THE DESERT SUN 1". The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California. No. 10 July 2009. The Desert Sun. The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  8. ^ Putnam, Robert (14 October 2015). "PRODUCER CROSSTALK: DAMION "DAMIZZA" YOUNG". Music Connection. No. CROSSTALK, FEATURE ARTICLES, LATEST, MAGAZINE. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  9. ^ "I Link 2 Music Appoints Radio Icon Damizza as Director of New Media Development". Marketwired. Yahoo News. Yahoo Finance. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Former Power 106 Programme Director Damizza", 2013.
  11. ^ "Damion "Damizza" Young has been Inducted into the Prestigious Marquis Who's Who Biographical Registry". Marquis Who's Who. No. Mr. Young: Pioneering Visionary in Music and Media. 24. 24-7 Press Release. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  12. ^ Damizza Presents... Where I Wanna Be (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart), Billboard, December 16, 2000
  13. ^ 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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