By Naya Clark
Photos by Colton Chapman
When it comes to R&B, rap and hip-hop productions, Hitmaka is at the forefront of the industry. Hitmaka built his reputation with #1 hits like “Sexy Lady” and “Sexy Can I” and cemented it through collaborations with artists like Nicki Minaj, Ray J, TI, Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa. Today, Hitmaka is the vice president of A&R at Atlantic Records, where he recently released “Down Bad,” a new single featuring Jeremih, Fabolous and Ivory Scott. We spoke to the sought-after producer about how he integrates tattoos and production into his musically expressive life.
People who know Hitmaka, formerly known as Yung Berg, have watched his development as he created some of the biggest hits through multiple production styles, confirming his name as a hitmaker. From his earliest days, Hitmaka credits one element of his career as a constant – his love for the people in his life who have influenced him positively. This is evident in his extensive tattoo collection, adorned with ink dedicated to other musicians, producers and family members who have died.
Most of Hitmaka’s tattoos are done spontaneously. He says his tattoos are rarely drawn on purpose or in advance, but are usually spontaneous decisions when he’s traveling or working out of town. “It’s really a moment when you get a tattoo,” he says.
Himaka follows a similar approach in his music, always focusing on the present. “Everything I do is based on the energy of how I’m feeling right now,” he says. “Tattoos and music mean the same thing to me and just go by feel. I always draw from different creators as a producer. I think that’s the dope part about it. You can also build someone else’s feeling… and take their energy to a whole other level and feed off of them.
“I think that collaboration, whether it’s between you and your tattoo artist or that [musical] The artist you work with in the studio is key,” he continues. “They need to know how you feel and you need to know how they feel. You make a masterpiece together.”
Hitmaka was inspired by Lil Wayne for his first tattoos. Famed for his full body covered in ink, not to mention his facial tattoos, Lil Wayne motivated Hitmaka to express himself through music and ink in a similar way. “It’s about being creative, so create whatever you put on your body, that’s your choice,” he says. “I think once you take the plunge and start getting tattoos on your face, you’re crazy, for one thing. Second, you have to do something creative.”
Hitmaka also mentions that friends like Wiz Khalifa inspired him to get a jukebox tattoo on his neck. He recalls a specific moment just before Wiz Khalifa released his first #1 single “Black and Yellow”. As a friendly competition, Hitmaka assumed Wiz wasn’t as tough as him and got the jukebox tattoo, which he jokingly described as a bad idea. He was trying to keep his composure at the time, but he can’t deny that a neck tattoo is tough to get over. “It hurt like hell,” he admits.
If you look at all of his tattoos together, they tell a story about where his heart is. He has tattoos on the inside of his lips. A tattoo of Chicago’s skyline on his back. A tattoo inspired by Nipsey Hussle, someone he dreamed up in the music industry. “His journey was very important to me,” he says, “so I got a tattoo in my honor.” He also has a tattoo dedicated to his grandfather and one of Christopher Martin, a former tutor of his. who was tragically killed.
Photo by Colton Chapman
In all aspects of his life, Hitmaka draws inspiration from friends and the people he works with. “I’m just trying to look up to the people who are in front of me [people who] do creative things that move the culture forward,” he says. “As far as my colleagues go, I love what Southside is doing. I love what OG Parker makes. I love what London is doing on the track. In the past it was the usual suspects – Dr. Dre, Kanye, Pharell and Timbaland. No ID has been very important to my career and has gotten me to where I am now.”
The city of Chicago, Hitmaka’s hometown, also helped shape his production style. With the help of his mentor Boogs, he put together his first demo while he was still in high school. The two continue to work together to this day and have created several hits together.
During the pandemic, many musicians have had to take a different approach to collaborating. Fortunately, Hitmaka had his own studio where he could work in a safe environment and collaborate with others. During these home sessions, “Down Bad,” the feel-good summer song that sets the perfect mood for a trip to Miami, took shape.
Longevity is one of the hardest things to establish in the music industry. Everyone is talented, but it takes a certain amount of ingenuity to stay past a hit or two. Hitmaka started grinding in high school and for him grinding is the key to his success.
“I think it starts with work,” he says. “You just have to keep pushing and always be in the studio and work will catch up with you. It may not seem like the work is happening, but if you stay, put the work in, and release that energy, it will catch up with you. I promise it.”
Hitmaka put in a lot of hard work to get to the top of the record industry, and he’s inked the receipts on his skin. The music that inspired him, the people that helped him get to where he is, and the beliefs that anchor him are all represented in his tattoo collection. And as the hits keep coming, the collection will keep growing. That’s something you can rely on.