Hard Target

Ryan Fleming, known professionally as Hard Target, was born in Redford, Michigan, and raised in Florida. He initiated his musical career as a solo artist, focusing on a fusion of hip-hop, country, and Southern rock. Fleming gained early recognition through performances at open-mic events in his hometown of Spring Hill, Florida. During this period, he independently released several CDs, which helped expand his audience across the Southern United States. His early work as a solo artist laid the groundwork for his distinctive sound and established his presence in the evolving Southern rap scene.

Over a decade, Fleming continued to develop his solo career. He connected with Czech rapper Marpo through the Internet, leading to collaborative projects where they featured on each other’s albums and toured together in October 2006. This international collaboration marked a significant milestone in his career, broadening his artistic scope and exposure. Following his extensive solo work, Fleming expanded Hard Target into a group by collaborating with Dustin Bennett, an MC from Georgia, and Wesley Breit from Florida, who assumed the role of the group’s producer. This formation allowed for further exploration of their blended genre.

In 2016, the group Hard Target collaborated with the Georgia-based country rap duo, The Lacs. This partnership resulted in the project Racket County and the release of the album “Welcome to Dodge City.” This collaboration demonstrated Hard Target’s continued engagement with and contribution to the country rap subgenre. Throughout his career, Fleming has maintained a consistent output of music, including numerous albums such as “Karma” (2013), “Ricochet” (2014), “Chain Smokin'” (2019), and several singles in 2023, 2024, and 2025, reflecting ongoing musical activity and evolution.