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Hitmaka

Hitmaka
Ward in 2024
Ward in 2024
Background information
Birth nameChristian J. Ward[1][2]
Also known as
  • Iceberg
  • Yung Berg
Born (1985-09-09) September 9, 1985 (age 39)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[3][4][5][6]
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
  • disc jockey
  • record executive
Years active2001–2010 (rapper)
2010–present (producer)
Labels
Children3

Christian J. Ward (born September 9, 1985), known professionally as Hitmaka, is an American record producer and former rapper. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois,[7][8][9] Ward was the first artist to sign with American rapper DMX's vanity label Bloodline Records (under the stage name Iceberg) in 2001, at the age of 14.[10] Six years later, he signed with Epic Records and adopted the stage name Yung Berg. His 2007 debut single, "Sexy Lady" peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, while his guest appearance on Ray J's single, "Sexy Can I" and Ward's own follow-up single, "The Business" peaked at numbers three and 33 on the chart, respectively, the following year; all three of which preceded the release of his debut studio album, Look What You Made Me (2008). Despite generally unfavorable critical reception, it peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200. After releasing a number of follow-up mixtapes and singles that failed to chart, he shifted focus away from recording in favor of a career in music production by 2014.[11]

Ward's production and songwriting work has proved commercially successful. Since the 2010s, he has been credited on the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Bounce Back" by Big Sean, "John" by Lil Wayne, "Party" by Chris Brown, "Look Back at It" by A Boogie wit da Hoodie, "Dangerous" by Meek Mill, and "Plan B" by Megan Thee Stallion. In 2020, he was appointed Vice President of A&R at Atlantic Records.[12][13]

  1. ^ Hitmaka. last.fm. Retrieved on October 11, 2015.
  2. ^ "Delinquent Parent". Illinois.gov. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  3. ^ Donna-Claire Chesman (September 11, 2019). "Hitmaka Interview: "I Would Never Rap Again"". Djbooth. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  4. ^ Ogden Payne. "Behind The Calculated Rebrand Of Producer And Atlantic Records VP Of A&R, Hitmaka". Forbes.com. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood Star Fired After Assault Arrest | E! News". Eonline.com. November 7, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Yung Berg". Bet.com.
  7. ^ "Vibe - Google Books". Books.google.com. December 2007. p. 133. Retrieved April 29, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (March 22, 2011). Joel Whitburn's Music Stars: Brief Bios of Every Recording Artist who Ever ... - Google Books. H. Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780898201765. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Vibe - Google Books". Books.google.com. August 2008. p. 70. Retrieved April 29, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Before Multi-Hyphenate Hitmaka Became A Music Label Executive, He Was Dropped By DMX's Label As A Teen". afrotech.com. November 22, 2022.
  11. ^ "Hitmaka Talks "Privileged" Upbringing & Not Wanting to be a Rapper Again". HNHH. September 12, 2022.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Yung Berg-Sway's Universe Archived March 25, 2020, at the Wayback Machine.Retrieved March 24, 2020.

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