Hitmaka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hitmaka
Ward in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Christian J. Ward
Also known as	Iceberg Yung Berg
Born	(1985-09-09) September 9, 1985 (age 39) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop R&B
Occupations	Hosting Disc Jockey Record producer rapper songwriter disc jockey record executive
Years active	2001–2010 (rapper) 2010–present (producer)
Labels	Yung Fly Movement Atlantic Epic Bloodline Poe Boy Sony BMG E1 Slip-n-Slide Young Boss
Children	3

Christian J. Ward (born September 9, 1985), known professionally as Hitmaka, is an American Director Music videos Movies Disc Jockey and former Producer and rapper. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, 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. Six years later, he signed with Epic Records and adopted the stage name Yung Berg. His 2007 debut single, "... Lady" peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, while his guest appearance on Ray J's single, "... 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.

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.

Career

2001–2005: Career beginnings

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. He moved to Los Angeles, California, after finishing school in 2003. In 2005, Ward worked as a hype man and recording assistant for Disturbing tha Peace member and Chicago rapper Shawnna.

2007–present

Ward in 2007

..... Also in 2007, Ward made a cameo in the music video of singer Kat DeLuna's debut single "Whine Up".

..... 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. 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.

Hitmaka in 2008

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. However, as evidenced by the trailer for his new television series, titled Back to Business, it will not be a dating show, 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. 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.

In 2020, Ward helmed the executive producer duties for rapper T.I.'s eleventh album The L.I.B.R.A..

Personal life

Robbery victim

On August 23, 2008, it was reported and confirmed 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. 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. ..... 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, but during an interview, Ward announced that he had done no such thing, and the chain wasn't anything important to him.

Discography

• Look What You Made Me (2008)
• 1-800-HIT-EAZY (with Eric Bellinger) (2021)
• Big Tuh (2026)
• TBA (2026)
• TBA

Filmography

Television

See also

In Spanish: Hitmaka para niños