Who is Yung Berg? Hitmaka Bio: Net Worth, Parents, Age, Girlfriend, Kids, Songs, Albums, Height

Biography

Christian Ward, better known by his stage name Yung Berg, but now Hitmaka, is a celebrated American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.

He was born on September 9, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, to a Black American father and Puerto Rican mother.

Rising in the early 2000s hip-hop scene, he debuted as Iceberg at age 14, signing with DMX’s Bloodline Records before his parents sent him to military school, pausing his career.

Reemerging in 2007 under Yung Berg, he signed with Epic Records. He scored hits like “Sexy Lady” (peaking at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100) and “Sexy Can I” with Ray J (No. 3).

His 2008 debut album, Look What You Made Me, blended pop-rap vibes but faced commercial hurdles amid legal troubles, including arrests for assault and robbery.

Transitioning to production as Hitmaka, he crafted tracks for artists like Chris Brown, Tinashe, and Jennifer Lopez, earning Grammy nods and becoming VP of A&R at Empire Distribution in 2021.

American record producer
Hitmaka
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Christian J. Ward
Stage Name:	Hitmaka, Yung Berg
Born:	9 September 1985 (age 40 years old)
Place of Birth:	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	N/A
Height:	1.65 m
Parents:	Darrell Ward, Alana Rodríguez
Siblings:	Devin Ward
Spouse:	Not Married
Girlfriend • Partner:	Tink (2020-2023), Masika Kalysha (2014-2015), Karrine Steffans (2013), Joie Chavis (2009-2014), Jaslene Gonzalez (2008), Hazel-E, Tatum Miranda (2014), Teairra Mari (2014), Kat Stacks (2011), Jenna Shea (2009-2012), Milani Rose (2008), Casha Darjean (2008), Arica Kane (2006-2014), Melyssa Ford, Brandy Flint
Children:	Lamont McFerren, Taylor Ward
Occupation:	Record Producer • Musician
Net Worth:	$1 million-$2 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Christian J. Ward, better known as Yung Berg and later Hitmaka, was born on September 9, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois.

He is biracial, with an African-American father, Darrell Ward, and a Puerto Rican mother, Alana Rodríguez. Raised in a working-class household on Chicago’s South Side primarily by his mother and maternal grandmother, Ward grew up in the Englewood neighborhood surrounded by both Black and Latino family members, which heavily influenced his early sound and slang.

He was brought up Christian, attending Baptist church services with his grandmother during his childhood, though he has described himself as spiritual rather than strictly religious in adulthood.

Ward has at least one younger half-brother, Devin Ward, from his mother’s side. Due to his rapid entry into the music industry around age 12 and some teenage behavioral issues, his parents enrolled him in a military boarding school in Montana at 15.

He spent two years there, graduating from high school and the academy before returning to Los Angeles to pursue his rap career full-time. He did not attend college.

Career

Christian J. Ward—first known as Yung Berg and later reinvented as Hitmaka—entered the music industry unusually young.

Performing as “Iceberg,” he began rapping at 12, and by 14, he had secured a deal with DMX’s Bloodline Records in 2001. The contract dissolved after he was sent to military school, but he resurfaced a few years later when his cousin, singer Karina Bradley, connected him with Epic Records executives. He signed a solo deal in 2006.

Ward achieved national recognition in 2007 when Yung Berg’s single “Sexy Lady” featuring Junior climbed to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. His follow-up, “Sexy Can I” with Ray J, became his biggest hit, peaking at No. 3 in 2008 and earning platinum certification.

His debut album, Look What You Made Me, was released later that year, debuting at No. 20 on the Billboard 200. Though the album received mixed reviews and sold a modest 200,000 copies, it established him as a radio-friendly pop-rap presence.

After several public controversies and waning success as a performer, Ward transitioned quietly into production and songwriting around 2012. Rebranding himself as Hitmaka, he landed his first breakthrough with Big Sean’s platinum single “Bounce Back” in 2016.

The run of hits that followed was rapid: he went on to produce and co-write records such as “Don’t Hurt Me” for Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, and Ariana Grande; Tinashe’s “2 On”; Meek Mill’s “Dangerous”; and Chris Brown’s “No Guidance,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song in 2020.

By the late 2010s, Hitmaka had become one of urban radio’s most reliable hit producers, with dozens of RIAA-certified tracks for artists including Jennifer Lopez, Wiz Khalifa, French Montana, Keri Hilson, and Teairra Marí.

In 2021, he was named Vice President of A&R at Empire Distribution while continuing his prolific production work. He has credits on more than 20 platinum or multi-platinum singles and remains a major creative force behind the scenes in R&B and hip-hop.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Hitmaka
• Facebook: Hitmaka (@HitmakaOfficial)
• Instagram: Christian (@hitmaka)
• YouTube: Hitmaka

Personal Life

Christian J. Ward, professionally known as Yung Berg and later Hitmaka, was born on September 9, 1985, making him 40 years old.

He stands at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 meters) tall.

Hitmaka‘s relationships include several notable connections, many of which overlap with his time on Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood. Early on, he briefly dated model Jaslene Gonzalez in 2008, followed by a long-term on-and-off involvement with influencer Joie Chavis from 2009 to 2014. In 2013, he was linked to author and video vixen Karrine Steffans, a friendship that reportedly strained her prior relationship with Bow Wow.

His appearance on the reality show spotlighted romances with rapper Hazel-E (around 2014, portrayed as casual despite her deeper feelings) and strip club owner Masika Kalysha (2014–2015), the latter ending amid assault allegations that led to his firing from the series.

He also had a short fling with singer Teairra Marí during this period, marked by public feuds.

More recently, Ward dated rapper Tink from 2020 to 2023, a three-year relationship that blended professional collaboration with personal drama, including a 2023 public altercation in Cancun involving mutual accusations of infidelity and physical confrontation.

Rumours have swirled about brief encounters with figures like Melyssa Ford and model Tatum Miranda, though details remain unconfirmed.

Ward is a father to at least three children from prior relationships, though his involvement has been limited and controversial. He shares a son, Taylor Ward (born around 2007), with ex Brandy Flint, for whom he was ordered to pay over $100,000 in back child support in 2015 and faced delinquency charges as recently as 2017 for owing nearly $105,000.

Flint has publicly stated that he hasn’t seen Taylor since infancy and that he has another son in Illinois, whom he doesn’t support.

He also has a son, Lamont McFerren (with another unnamed mother), and at least one more child, amid ongoing legal battles over paternity and payments.

Ward has not publicly addressed fatherhood extensively, focusing instead on his production career.

Net Worth

Christian J. Ward, known professionally as Yung Berg and later Hitmaka, has an estimated net worth of $1 million to $2 million.

This figure stems primarily from his evolution from a mid-2000s rapper with hits like “Sexy Can I” (platinum-certified, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100) to a prolific producer and songwriter under the Hitmaka moniker, where he has earned royalties from over 20 platinum singles for artists including Chris Brown (“No Guidance,” Grammy-nominated), Nicki Minaj, and Tinashe.

Additional income sources include his role as Vice President of A&R at Empire Distribution since 2021 and occasional reality TV appearances on Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood.

Early career earnings were tempered by legal issues and modest album sales for Look What You Made Me (2008, ~200,000 units), while his production pivot in the 2010s boosted financial stability despite child support obligations exceeding $100,000.

Discography

As Performer (Yung Berg Era)Studio Albums  

• Look What You Made Me (2008, Epic Records) – Debut album; peaked at No. 20 on Billboard 200; features hits like “Sexy Can I” and “The Business.”

Selected Singles  

• “Sexy Lady” (feat. Junior) (2007) – Peaked at No. 18 on Billboard Hot 100.  
• “Do That There” (feat. Dude ‘n Nem) (2008) – Lead single from debut album.  
• “The Business” (feat. Casha) (2008) – Peaked at No. 33 on Billboard Hot 100.  
• “Sexy Can I” (Ray J feat. Yung Berg) (2008) – Peaked at No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100; platinum-certified.

Mixtapes & EPs (Selected)  

• Genesis (2013) – Collaborative project with Mia Rey & Jordan Hollywood.  
• Mr. Ward (2011)  
• Reality Check (2011)  
• The Love Project (2010)  
• Ground Work (2010)

Guest Appearances (Selected)  

• “Bitch Please” (Lil Wayne feat. Yung Berg) (2007)  
• “Lonely” (Collie Buddz feat. Yung Berg) (2007)  
• “Hit The Black/Slide In” (Shawnna feat. Yung Berg) (2006)  
• “Feelin’ On You” (K. Smith feat. Yung Berg) (2008)

As Artist (Hitmaka Era)

Collaborative Albums  

• 1-(800)-HIT-EAZY (with Eric Bellinger) (2021)  
• 1-(800)-HIT-EAZY: Line 2 (with Eric Bellinger) (2023)  
• Back in My Prime (with Jim Jones) (2023)

Singles  

• “Thot Box” (feat. Meek Mill, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, & NLE Choppa) (2019)

Production & Songwriting Credits (Selected Notable Tracks)

Hitmaka‘s production signature (“Hitmaka!” tag) appears on dozens of hits, often co-produced.  

2010s Highlights  

• “John” (Lil Wayne) – From Tha Carter IV (2011); co-produced.  
• “Snapbacks & Tattoos” (Driicky Graham) (2012)  
• “The One” (Tamar Braxton) (2013)  
• “Double Cup” (DJ Infamous feat. 2 Chainz, Young Jeezy, & Yo Gotti) (2014)  
• “Want Some More” (Nicki Minaj) – From The Pinkprint (2014)  
• “2 On” (Tinashe feat. ScHoolboy Q) (2014)  
• “Bounce Back” (Big Sean) (2016) – Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard Hot 100; platinum.  
• “F with U” (Kid Ink feat. Ty Dolla $ign) (2017)  
• “Nasty” (Kid Ink) (2018)  
• “No Guidance” (Chris Brown feat. Drake) (2019) – Grammy-nominated for Best R&B Song; multi-platinum.

2020s Highlights  

• “Baddest” (Yung Bleu) (2021) – Co-produced with OG Parker.  
• Tracks from Tink‘s Thanks 4 Nothing (2022): “Goin Bad,” “Switch,” “Opposite,” “Throwback,” “Mine” (feat. Muni Long), “Cum See Me” (feat. Toosii), “Oooh Triflin” (feat. Fabolous), “Ghetto Luv” (feat. G Herbo).  
• “How Does It Feel” (Chloe Bailey & Chris Brown) (2023)  
• “If You Want Me to Stay” (Jim Jones feat. Jeremih) (2023)  
• Additional credits: “Dangerous” (Meek Mill), “Look Back at It” (A Boogie wit da Hoodie), “Don’t Hurt Me” (Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj & Ariana Grande), “Worthy” & “I Think of You” (Jeremih).