Hitmaka

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, 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 debut single, "Sexy Lady" was released in April of that year and peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On March 25, 2008, Ward released his single entitled "Do That There", which was a direct diss towards fellow rapper Bow Wow.

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.

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.

However, during an interview in early 2009, Ward stated that the two had settled their differences.

In 2009, Ward formed The Dream Team production group with his older brother K-Young and producer Rob Holladay.

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.

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.

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".

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.

Ward's production and songwriting work has proved commercially successful.

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 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.

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.

In 2020, he was appointed the vice president of A&R at Atlantic Records.

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