HHDX: A lot of people don’t appreciate the hectic often 24-7schedules that many producers have. Can you describe your average workday?
DE: My average workday? There is no average workday! (laughs) I mean really, there is no 9 to 5. It is a 24-hour commitment. There really is no downside. Thank god I’ve had a little success, and what that means is that I’m being called upon for all types of events- you’re meeting people, more faces, then during the day you’re making calls and setting up sessions, and it’s around the clock. Your phone is always ringing, and you’re always in front of a console and your always in creative mode. And that’s what it is. If anybody tells you that it’s set hours they’re doing something wrong. (Laughs).

HHDX: Considering the wide range of artists that you’ve worked with, does that help or hinder you when it comes to taking on a new artist?
DE: Man, it only helps. Because I can take experiences that I’ve had, for instance like with the Beyonce’s…well I can’t say that cause there’s only one, with Beyonce, and Pink, who’s totally the opposite end of the spectrum, and the Gwen Stefani I can take a little bit from each experience that I’ve had and mold the situation, especially with a new artist. New artists come in green. For example me and my partner we started a label called Beverly Hills Confidential, and we got new artist called Jenay (just signed her), and she’s 15 years old. She’s like play-dough. She’s got her experiences that she wants to bring to the table, but she’s very green. So it means like I can take instances from Pink’s situation or Beyonce’s situation and incorporate some of this and some of that. It only helps- you have to have that experience to create something new.

HHDX: We’ve all seen the show, but what’s it like working with Keyshia Cole?
DE: It’s just like her damn show. Keyshia is interesting, I found Keyshia…there’s a couple things they don’t mention on the show, but it’s all good. I found Keyshia. She was out of Oakland, you know she had just gotten to L.A., and she was in a girl group. Meagan Goode was working on a movie called Biker Boyz, and I was working on a movie called Malibu’s Most Wanted. So I was kinda in downtown L.A. and Meagan calls me and says "I have this girl you have to meet, she’s my friend and come on over, please Damon I’m not wasting your time." So I went over the set and it was really late and I was tired, but I went cause I love Meagan, because she’s like my little sister. So I went over there, and Keyshia was in the trailer and she was just singing, like just singing her heart out. And I’m like, yo, this girl’s got something. So I offered her, right there, like you gotta come to the studio. She’s like, (just like she is on the show) “nigga I ain’t coming to the fucking studio with you right now! I don’t know you… “ So I’m like cool, here’s my number, call me if you’re interested. She played the waiting game, and called me and we went in my studio in the valley and cut 10 songs. I was working on Mya’s album at the time, so I introduced her to Mya, who became a serious mentor to Keyshia, and Mya kinda took her under her wing and really helped facilitate a lot of the deal because (A&M Records President) Ron Fair was my partner at the time on Mya’s album . So I played a single called  "Love" for Ron. And the rest is history. She got signed right there on the spot. We took her to Jimmy Iovine and he loved it. She has not really changed since, (most people change with stardom) she’s still the same little girl from Oakland. And I’m very proud of her for that. We’ve had our arguments, and our differences, but we’re past that. And everything is cool. And I’m proud of her. When I watch the show I just laugh, I’m not a part of it, which is funny because I really started her whole shit, but it’s like watching her just brings back so many memories, cause that’s exactly how she is, that’s the real Keyshia. That’s why I named her album The Way It Is, cause it really is the way it is. What you see is what you get. I think that’s why she’s been so successful. Continued on page 3 »