Hip hop producer Damizza pens tell-all book on rap

Damion "Damizza" Young worked on Mariah Carey's single Crybaby

He's worked with the likes of Mariah Carey, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg.

Now Damion "Damizza" Young has released a book about his experiences as a one of hip-hop's most respected producers and executives.

Before he turned 30 he was the producer behind nearly 40 million sold records and his career now spans 15 years.

His book Guilty By Association reads like a who's who of hip hop.

'Not gossip'

"I started in the business when I was 12 years old," he explains. "This book is about a kid that had a dream to succeed.

"It's not a gossip book or a kiss and tell as the media have portrayed it. What it really is, is my autobiography and all of the cool stories I got to witness.

"By the time I was 30 I was burnt out. What made me leave it all was the fact that I never had a life of my own.

"I was always doing things for other people. I was on the Dr. Dre Chronic tour back in 2001, then on the weekends flying to be with Mariah who I was with. We were together for three years. It was just too much."

The book's release has caused controversy in the States with Mariah Carey's lawyers unhappy with some of its content.

But Damion tells Newsbeat that reports that Mariah tried to sue him over the book are untrue.

"They were worried that I might reveal trade secretes in the book, what makes her tick as an artist, which I haven't.

"It's not a tell-all book. I've treated her with the utmost respect as I always have."

In the book there are details about how Damizza watched Eminem record 'Hi My Name Is...' in Dr. Dre's home studio before he became the star he is today.

Entire chapters are dedicated to Dre, Snoop, Mariah Carey, Warren G, Eminem, Ludacris and Jay-Z, Tupac and Biggie.

Guilty By Association is out now.