Hitmaka Talks "Privileged" Upbringing & Not Wanting To Be A Rapper Again

BY Erika Marie 10.8K Views
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Hitmaka, Yung Berg
He also joked about his Verzuz moment that was encouraged by Ray J and a little bit of Casamigos.

He has long ditched the Yung Berg moniker and is now known as the award-winning producer Hitmaka, and it doesn't look like he'll be returning to the mic anytime soon. Although some will never forget those early days of Hitmaka's career, it was announced last year that he would be spending his time crafting tracks for the industry's hitmakers as well as acting as Vice President of A&R at Empire. He spoke about his evolution while on the Posted on the Corner Podcast, including his upbringing that differed greatly from other rappers on the scene during his inception in Hip Hop.

"What's crazy is my parents was already millionaires," he said. "I came from like, a privileged background,  but like, I wanted to be in the streets and I wanted to be a rapper."

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His Rap journey has taken his away from the mic and it seems that Hitmaka is satisfied with his career. When asked if he would be returning to music as a performer, he quickly said, "No, sir."

"When the Verzuz just passed, like, Ray J kept convincing me, they kept feeding me Casamigos," he said with a laugh. Hitmaka claimed that he was enjoying his time before he was encouraged to come out on stage to "say hi." He added, "I'm like, come out and say hi? We might as well do it if I'ma come out on stage. I did it and I'm glad I did it 'cause that Verzuz was—it's goin' down in history."

Elsewhere, Hitmaka talked about working on a record with Lakeyah and detailed what fans could expect from his full-length album where he'll once again show off his production skills. Check it out below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.