Rock-born DJ Damage scores BMI Trailblazers award

JAMAICAN-BORN Leonard “DJ Damage” Douglas is celebrating career-defining achievements as the creative force behind Without You, a chart-topping single by Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz. The single, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart in February, was recognised as one of the year’s most-performed gospel songs at the Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI) Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards on July 21 in Nashville, Tennessee. The milestones are an international breakthrough for DJ Damage, whose two-decade career has taken him from Jamaica’s sound system culture to the global music stage.

The Atlanta-based DJ played a multidimensional role in the success of Without You, which is recognised as an urban, hip hop praise anthem, contributing as a songwriter, scratch DJ, producer, background vocalist, and featured performer in the accompanying music video. The Billboard #1 capped an extraordinary 33-week run that saw Without You reshape the gospel and urban radio landscape, including a 12 per cent surge in radio spins during its climb to the top spot, and a #26 placement on the Billboard Year-End Top Gospel Airplay Chart. “Reaching the Billboard #1 spot was nothing short of a dream come true.

For a kid from Jamaica to achieve that level of recognition on one of music’s most prestigious charts is a milestone I don’t take lightly,” he said. “It represents both my personal achievement and a moment of pride for Jamaica and the Caribbean as a whole. Very few creatives from our region have ever stood at that height, and I’m deeply grateful and humbled to be among them.” DJ Damage has built a career behind the scenes of the music industry, spinning for Grammy Award-winning R&B group 112; touring with American rap rock band Gym Class Heroes; and sharing stages with artistes including Swizz Beatz, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Ashanti, Sean Paul, Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, and Bounty Killer.

Jevon Dewand credits DJ Damage’s versatility and musical instincts as key ingredients in the success of Without You. Sight is a blessing and vision is a gift. I saw the vision in him,” said Dewand.

“DJ Damage knows all types of music, and he’s very versatile in all genres. Most DJs play music but can’t make it music. He can.” While Billboard recognition and the BMI Award mark two of the biggest moments of his career, DJ Damage says the jo…