Joe and Jada Podcast: “Hitmaka on Yung Berg Name Change, Pharrell & Kanye, WILD rap industry stories”

Host: Fat Joe and Jadakiss
Guest: Hitmaka (fka Yung Berg)
Date: October 21, 2025
Platform: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode features multi-platinum producer Hitmaka (formerly Yung Berg), diving into his evolution in the industry, legendary collaborations, wild behind-the-scenes stories, and brutally honest takes on what it takes to make it and stay winning in hip-hop. Through rapid-fire real talk, the trio celebrates major milestones, reflects on the ups and downs of music careers, name changes, the competitive producer game, and the stakes of entrepreneurship and reinvention.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hitmaka’s Evolution: From Yung Berg to Industry Powerhouse

• Early grind & transformation: Hitmaka shares his journey from being Yung Berg to rebranding as Hitmaka, shedding light on stories of self-production, early co-signs, and why the name change became both necessary and inevitable.
  • Quote: “People don’t know the long form of my career… I was the n***a DMX used to go sick on… then became Young Berg, now I’m just like a heavy stepper as Hitmaka.” (12:47)
• Catalyst for the name change: Hitmaka credits Rico Love for pushing him to leave ‘Young Berg’ behind.
  • Quote: “Rico Love was actually the person who made me change my name to Hitmaka.” (28:56)

2. Creating the ‘Cheat Code’ for Hits

• High-output, high-intensity sessions: Hitmaka details his near-mythical productivity, explaining that he doesn’t just have beats—he has smashes ready, and that’s why artists come to him.
  • Quote: "I’m the walking, talking cheat code... I don’t play beats. I’m playing you a smash." (05:32)
• Producer as ‘Professional Life Changer’:
  • Quote: “I ain’t a producer no more. I’m a professional life changer... you gonna owe me a gift, brother.” (33:10)
• Financial realities: $50,000 per song isn’t unusual for artists seeking that ‘instant hit’ from Hitmaka. (05:32)

3. Inspirations & Producer Competition

• Idols and influences: Hitmaka’s top 5 producers: Jermaine Dupri, Kanye West, No I.D., Timbaland, Pharrell. Notes he’s never worked with Pharrell—still a dream.
• Producer peaks and comebacks: Fat Joe recounts witnessing both Timbaland and Pharrell’s “cold” periods, and how resilience brought them back—emphasizing the cyclical nature of the game.
  • Quote: “I watched the same thing happen to Pharrell in Miami when he got cold... Now this guy’s running Louis Vuitton.” (07:13)
• Competitive drive: No one, says Hitmaka, is “fucking with him,” boasting about the volume of hits he's currently sitting on.
  • Quote: “Nobody has more hits in their phone than me right now.” (11:37)

4. Real Industry Stories (and Why You Never Cheat the Game)

• Fat Joe on industry ‘cheating’:
  • Quote: “In this game, it ain’t no cheating the game... you gotta go in that studio, you gotta let your life out.” (04:30)
• Stories of overlooked talent, viral interviews, and authenticity:
  • Hitmaka defends his reputation for “transparency,” including his viral interview with Cam Newton, acknowledging discomfort and the pressure to feed public curiosity.
    • “I’m not a kiss-and-tell type dude... That’s what the people want. They want to know all your business.” (14:40)
• The importance of being liked: Fat Joe emphasizes you can have talent but it’s all about if “the people gotta like you.” (15:45)
• Wild investment stories: Fat Joe tells how, after blowing through millions, he literally had to hunt down debts from friends.
  • “I went to the bank... It’s no money in here. I walked out like I had a hole in my head like a dolphin.” (66:16)

5. Business Independence & Reinvesting

• Going Independent: Fat Joe discusses why he chose independence—retaining creative control, spending big to keep up the image, and never looking back.
  • “I put up my own money... paid for my videos, samples, everything." (44:41)
• On video budgets:
  • “You gotta act like the pure still there. The cut is there... you have to look like nothing changed.” (46:02)
• Investing and building generational wealth:
  • “My new thing is, I want to buy my son a franchise so he won't keep asking me for money.” (70:46)

6. Spotlight on New Projects & Artist Development

• Upcoming releases: Hitmaka promotes DreamDoll’s new EP, Ty Dolla $ign album, Ronnie’s project, and executive producing for Gilly’s daughter, New York La.
  • “She’s outta here... For the EP, I put Clue all over it... real New York shit.” (32:08)
• Changing the system: Hitmaka reveals plans to return to a major label in an executive role, encouraging other producers to step inside the building for real artist development. (83:10)

7. Style, Success, and Staying Fresh

• Flexing through fashion: Long segments riff on the importance (and expense) of showing up as a boss—watches, furs, Goyard, and going “unconscious” with fresh fits.
  • Quote: “If you into your fashion shit, don’t come. It’s gonna be unconscious.” (62:03)
• Being ‘fatphobic’ and growing up poor: Fat Joe reflects on his roots and why he’ll always enjoy shitting on the haters.
  • “I grew up shit poor... Don’t tell me about this poor shit ever in your life... you gonna catch this shit till I’m in the casket.” (64:01)

8. Deals, Catalog Sales, and Major Moves

• Catalog sale: Hitmaka confirmed he recently sold half his catalog, describing it as a moment of “another glow.” (80:34)
• Advice on building opportunities: Fat Joe laments never being handed a label exec position, so he created his own ventures—from upNYC to Sonrisa Rum and Kiss Café.
  • “Nobody has come with the bag for years... I had to make it all on my own.” (81:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fat Joe: “In this game, it ain’t no cheating the game. … You gotta go in that studio, you gotta let your life out.” (04:30)
• Hitmaka: “I’m the walking, talking cheat code... I don’t play beats. I’m playing you a smash.” (05:32)
• Fat Joe (on being transparent): “You cut so many records… what they don’t realize is: the people gotta like you.” (15:45)
• Jadakiss (on the industry): “If you don’t [feel like you’re the best], you in the… you should see it.” (11:34)
• Fat Joe (on money): “I spent $400,000 on videos. Shut down LIV, the ceiling come down the fucking mansions, that this. Cause you have to look like nothing changed.” (46:02)
• Hitmaka: “I ain't a producer no more. I’m a professional life changer.” (33:10)
• Fat Joe: "Nobody has come with the bag for years...I had to make it all on my own." (81:16)

Important Timestamps

• 02:28 — Jadakiss & Fat Joe introduce Hitmaka
• 05:32 — Hitmaka on being the “cheat code” for hits
• 06:23 — 350 million+ records sold, 18 #1 radio hits (Hitmaka stats)
• 12:47 — Hitmaka reflects on the full arc of his career
• 28:56 — Rico Love told him to change his name; the “Hitmaka” origin story
• 32:08 — DreamDoll’s come-up & new projects
• 44:41 — Fat Joe on independence and self-investment
• 66:16 — Fat Joe’s broke moment and debt-collection story
• 80:34 — Hitmaka talks about selling half his catalog
• 83:10 — Back to “the building”: Hitmaka to return to an executive role at a label
• 90:01 — Claiming dominance: “At one moment, I had 13 of the 40 top urban radio songs.”
• 62:03 / 64:01 — “If you into your fashion shit don’t come...” and Fat Joe’s “from nothing to the top” speech

Final Notes

• Style and Substance: Beyond the jokes about diamond watches and mink coats, the episode brings real talk about resilience, the challenges behind the success, and the need to adapt in both music and business.
• Culture Drivers: The trio longingly (and humorously) point out how their moves echo through the industry, feeding content to others and shaping the conversation—on air, in music, and beyond.
• Celebration & Toast: The latter part of the episode doubles as a celebration of new projects, the success of “Let Me Explain,” and a toast to grinding “till the casket.”

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the real mechanics of hip-hop success—from the grind, reinvention, and behind-the-scenes power moves, to the hard lessons about the game that only veterans can give.