Hitmaka
Christian J. Ward (born September 9, 1985), professionally known as Hitmaka, is an American record producer, record executive, disc jockey (DJ) and rapper. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois,[7][8][9] Ward initially secured a record deal with American rapper DMX's vanity label Bloodline, under the stage name Iceberg. Ward would later sign with Epic Records, where he gained major recognition rapping as Yung Berg, releasing his major-label debut single "Sexy Lady", in April 2007. The single was released in promotion for his debut album Look What You Made Me (2008).[10] As a rapper he’s known for other singles such as "Sexy Can I" (with Ray J) and "The Business".
Hitmaka | |
|---|---|
Ward in 2007 | |
| Born | September 9, 1985 |
| Other names |
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| Occupations |
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| Children | 3 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | |
In his later career, he has become better known as a high-profile record producer and executive in the music industry. In 2020, he was appointed as the vice president of A&R at Atlantic Records.[11][12][13]
Career
2001–2005: Career beginnings
In 2001, Ward signed to rapper DMX's Bloodline Records. He made his debut on the Exit Wounds soundtrack on the song "Dog 4 Life" as Iceberg. However, his parents sent him to a military boarding school in Montana in 2001.[14] He moved to Los Angeles after finishing school in 2003.[14][15] In 2005, Ward worked as a hype man and recording assistant for Disturbing tha Peace member and Chicago rapper Shawnna.
2007–present
Ward's debut single, "Sexy Lady", which featured R&B singer Junior, became a hit on Los Angeles urban radio, and he signed with Epic Records among many labels that approached him. Ward's six-track EP Almost Famous: The Sexy Lady EP was released in July 2007. Also in 2007, Ward made a cameo in the music video of singer Kat DeLuna's debut single "Whine Up". "Sexy Lady" peaked at #18 on the Billboard 100. In addition to that single, Ward recorded a song with Lil Wayne and Brisco titled “Bitch Please” which was released in November 2007.
In December 2007, Ward released another single "Sexy Can I", a collaboration with singer Ray J, then his debut album Look What You Made Me.[14] The second single was "Do That There", featuring Dude 'n' Nem, followed by "The Business", featuring Casha, which peaked at #33 on the Hot 100.[16] Look What You Made Me would chart at #20 on the Billboard 200 and at #2 on the Top Rap Albums chart. In December 2008, Ward began casting "exceptionally stand out beautiful dark skin/brown skin women to showcase beauty of all races" for a potential dating reality show that he would host.[17] However, as evidenced by the trailer for his new TV show, titled Back In Business, it will not be a dating show.[18][19] But the reality show was never released as planned. In 2009, Ward formed The Dream Team production group with his older brother K-Young and producer Rob Holladay. In 2012, Ward also co-wrote and co-produced for Nicki Minaj's album The Pinkprint on the tracks "Want Some More", "Buy a Heart" and "Shanghai".
In 2014, Ward would appear in the first season of the VH1 show Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood. The show loosely follows events in his and fellow castmate, Hazel E's personal lives.[20] On November 9, 2014 it was announced by VH1 that they had fired Ward from Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood due to arrest for allegedly assaulting his fellow castmate and girlfriend Masika Kalysha Tucker.[21][22]
In 2020, Ward helmed the executive-producer duties for rapper T.I.'s new album The L.I.B.R.A..
Legal issues
In October 2015, Ward was cited $100,000 in back child support for his child with Brandy Flint.[23] In December 2017, Ward was considered a delinquent parent by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which has published information on Yung Berg's failure to pay child support. At the time, Ward's amount owed in past-due child support is $104,962 for one child.[24]
Personal life
Robbery victim
On August 23, 2008, it was reported and confirmed[by whom?] that Ward had been ambushed by Detroit, Michigan, rapper Trick Trick and his entourage in his club and had his signature "Transformers chain" taken. But on August 26, 2008, Trick Trick denied having anything to do with the altercation, and claimed to have saved Ward from the altercation.[25] On December 16, 2011, Ward explained the altercation by stating he didn't want to go to Trick Trick's club since a member of his entourage had a problem with him, but somehow ended up there. "I was like 30 deep, I went in the club and I went to the back because I had the number one record at the time", he said, stating that he wanted a free bottle. "The co-owner come back and he said, My partner Trick Trick said ain’t no love for you on those bottles. I was like, your partner? Hold on. So now we’re in Trick Trick's club, I come to find out, the same club that I didn’t wanna go to and perform. Now, I’m in the club. I’m like 5’6, 150 pounds. I come out there and the whole club security surrounds me. They whooped my ass through the club, the security. My entourage was all around us and they were getting their asses whooped too!"[26] On October 5, 2010, United Kingdom rapper Rowdy T announced that he had taken Ward's "Batman chain" and called him a snitch for reporting it to police.[27] But during an interview Ward announced that he had done no such thing and the chain wasn't anything important to him.[28]
On March 20, 2011, during an interview Ward announced that he was done with wearing flashy jewelry stating,
On some real shit back in the day when I was buying those big ass chains and shit, I felt like that was a part of me being Yung Berg. But me growing up and being Christian, being Mr. Ward, and who I really I am, I toned down. I'm not going to be with the big gaudy chains because people would look and they would say 'Well, this nigga still ain't learn his lesson.' I learned my lesson. I'm going to have jewelry but it's going to be more upscale and common. It's not going to be catching just the nigga eye.[29]
Controversies
Bow Wow
On March 25, 2008, Ward released his single entitled "Do That There", which was a direct diss towards fellow rapper, Bow Wow. However, during an interview in early 2009, Ward stated that the two had settled their differences.[30]
Brisco
On March 7, 2008, Ward insulted Miami rapper Brisco on a video podcast.[31] On July 10, 2008, Ward became involved in a controversy with rapper Flo Rida when speaking about his upcoming album Look What You Made Me when he stated "my album got pushed back like Flo Rida's hairline", though he later apologized for his remark stating he was just playing. Flo Rida's Poe Boy Entertainment label mate and longtime friend Brisco took offense to the remark stating "You talking too much, Imma beat yo lil red ass".[32]
Teairra Marí
On February 21, 2012 during an interview, singer Teairra Marí stated that she did not like Ward and would get him ambushed again due to comments he made about her during one of his interviews.[33] On May 10, 2012, Ward spoke about the situation stating "On the Teairra situation, first and foremost, I did the interview with The Breakfast Club in 2011, and I left that in 2011," he said in an interview. "After I did the interview, I called Ray J and I said, 'Yo, this is what I talked about in my interview,' because I spoke candidly about our relationship and I felt my loyalty is to Ray, it's not nowhere near to Teairra. I don't even know her like that, and at the end of the day, why are we gonna go back and forth about how you tried to holla at me...you know what you did...I've got bigger things to worry about than being trivial over some pussy, especially when there's so much pussy out there. I've been called worse by better people than her". In 2014, during the first season of the VH1 show Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, it was revealed that Ward and Marí had resolved their former issues towards each other. Later in the season, he produced her song "Deserve".
Discography
- Look What You Made Me (2008)
- Mr Ward The Album (2011)
- Reality Check (2012)
- YFM The Genesis (2015)
- 1-800-HIT-EAZY
(with Eric Bellinger) (2021) - Big Tuh (2021)
- 1-800 Hit Eazy 2 (Eric Bellinger )
- Tink Pillow Talk (2022) (Hosted By HitMaka)
- Thanks 4 Nothing Tink (Hosted By HitMaka) (2023)
- Back in my prime Ep Jim jones (Hosted by HitMaka) (2023)
TBA (Neek Bucks & Chrishan Tink)Tape Mode (Hosted By HitMaka & Ray J ) TBA (With Skeme) TBA (With Dave East) TBA Hosted by HitMaka TBA Hosted by HitMaka TBA (Hosted by HitMaka)
Filmography
Television
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood | Himself |
References
- ^ Hitmaka. last.fm. Retrieved on October 11, 2015.
- ^ "Delinquent Parent". Illinois.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Donna-Claire Chesman (September 11, 2019). "Hitmaka Interview: "I Would Never Rap Again"". DJBooth.net. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Ogden Payne. "Behind The Calculated Rebrand Of Producer And Atlantic Records VP Of A&R, Hitmaka". Forbes.com. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood Star Fired After Assault Arrest | E! News". Eonline.com. November 7, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "Yung Berg". Bet.com.
- ^ "Vibe - Google Books". Books.google.com. December 2007. p. 133. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (March 22, 2011). Joel Whitburn's Music Stars: Brief Bios of Every Recording Artist who Ever ... - Google Books. ISBN 9780898201765. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "Vibe - Google Books". Books.google.com. August 2008. p. 70. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Upmalis, Jordan; Reid, Shaheem (July 11, 2008). "Yung Berg Raps – And Sings – With Eve, Trey Songz, Lloyd On Star-Filled Debut". MTV News. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
- ^ Yung Berg Is Killing The Producer Game Behind The Scenes, Here's How..., Yung Berg BKA “HITMAKA” Details Reality TV & Becoming A Super-Producer, September 17, 2019.Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ In Depth with Hitmaka VP of A&R at Atlantic Records.Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ Yung Berg-Sway's Universe.Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ a b c Cordor, Cyril (2008). "Yung Berg > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
- ^ . YungBerg.net. Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
- ^ "Artist Chart History – Yung Berg – Singles". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
- ^ Osorio, Kim (December 1, 2008). . Bet.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
- ^ "Video: Yung Berg Back To Business [Reality Show Trailer]". Worldstarhiphop.com. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
- ^ "Young Berg and his Bitchassness (black girl diss)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
- ^ Yung Berg on Love & Hip Hop Hollywood. Vh1.com. Retrieved on October 11, 2015.
- ^ Yung Berg Fired From 'Love & Hip Hop Hollywood' Following Assault Arrest. MTV (November 9, 2014). Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
- ^ Yung Berg Fired From VH1's 'Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood' After Assault Arrest. Billboard (November 7, 2014). Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
- ^ Yung Berg Hit With $100,000 Child Support Bill, October 22, 2015. Bet.com, Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "Delinquent Parent". Illinois.gov. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ Trick Trick Speaks On Yung Berg Beatdown, ’I Saved That Nigga’s Life’ | The Vibe Source. Vibesource.wordpress.com. Retrieved on October 11, 2015.
- ^ "Yung Berg Explains Trick Trick & Maino Altercations | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHopDX. December 16, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- ^ Yung Berg Robbed Of Another Chain | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales. HipHopDX (October 5, 2010). Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
- ^ Langhorne, Cyrus (October 4, 2010) . sohh.com
- ^ Yung Berg Abandons Flashy Jewelry, "I Learned My Lesson" – For The Best In Hip-Hop News. SOHH.com (2011-03-20). Retrieved on 2015-10-11.
- ^ "Yung Berg Interview: Responds Back To Brisco's Comments I Was Just Jokin LOL [AUDIO ONLY]". WORLDSTARHIPHOP. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012.
- ^ Chery, Carl (July 7, 2008). "Yung Berg On Brisco, "I'm punching that nigga in his fucking mouth when I see him" He had his chain stolen". XXL. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
- ^ Brisco Vs.Yung Berg: Round 1. 24 Hour Hip Hop. Retrieved on October 11, 2015.
- ^ Langhorne, Cyrus (February 21, 2012) . sohh.com