Hitmaka | |
|---|---|
 Ward in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christian J. Ward[1][2] |
| Also known as |
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| Born | September 9, 1985 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[3][4][5][6] |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2001–2010 (rapper) 2010–present (producer) |
| Labels | |
| Children | 3 |
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 debut single, "Sexy Lady" was released in April of that year and peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, his guest appearance on Ray J's 2008 single, "Sexy Can I" and his own single "The Business" peaked at numbers three and 33 on the chart, respectively; both of which preceded the release of his debut studio album, Look What You Made Me (2008). It peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and saw generally mixed critical reception. After a number of follow-up mixtapes and singles which 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. During the 2010s, he was 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 the vice president of A&R at Atlantic Records.[12][13]
In 2001, Ward signed to rapper DMX's Bloodline Records. He made his debut on the soundtrack to Exit Wounds 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, California, 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.
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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 number 18 on the Billboard Hot 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 number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.[16] Look What You Made Me would chart at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and at number 2 on the Top Rap Albums chart.
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.[17]
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.[18] However, as evidenced by the trailer for his new television series, titled Back to Business, it will not be a dating show,[19][20] 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 appeared in the first season of the VH1 series Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood. The series loosely follows events in his and fellow castmate, Hazel E's personal lives.[21] 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.[22][23]
In 2020, Ward helmed the executive producer duties for rapper T.I.'s eleventh album The L.I.B.R.A..
In October 2015, Ward was ordered to pay $100,000 in back child support for his child with Brandy Flint. The ruling was part of a default judgement after he failed to appear in an Illinois court to respond to charges.[24] In December 2017, Ward was considered a delinquent parent by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which has published information on Ward's failure to pay child support. At the time, Ward's amount owed in past-due child support is $104,962 for one child.[25]
On August 23, 2008, it was reported and confirmed[by whom?] that Ward had been ambushed by Detroit 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.[26] 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!"[27] On October 5, 2010, British rapper Rowdy T announced that he had taken Ward's "Batman chain" and called him a snitch for reporting it to police,[28] but during an interview, Ward announced that he had done no such thing, and the chain wasn't anything important to him.[29]
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.[30]
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.[31]
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Main article: Hitmaka discography |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood | Himself |
