Jason Martin – “Mafia Cafe” review

Here is the 5th EP from Compton, California emcee, songwriter & producer Jason Martin. Originally known as Problem, he would go on to release over a dozen mixtapes as well as 4 full-length studio albums & 4 EPs. Can’t forget to mention both collaborative efforts DJ Quik, the first being Rosecrans back in 2017 & the follow-up Chupacabra days before Kendrick Lamar’s now historic 1-off Pop Out concert at the Kia Forum. 52 weeks since Repack produced by Mike & Keys, they’re heading to the Mafia Cafe merely 6 weeks following A Hit Dog Gon Holla.

“I Can’t Tell” sets the tone with a drumlessly jazzy instrumental reversing his opposition’s plays whereas “When Will They Learn?” & after “Check It Out” skit embraces a chipmunk soul vibe talking about being in Jamaica backflipping off yachts. “Expensive Rentals” brings back the jazz reminding that Coffee & Kush are great for the mental just before the soulful “Choices” hones in on Jason’s storytelling abilities, portraying a conversation taking place over the phone.

We get some jazzy horns during “Black Entertainment” breaking down the industry as a whole leading into “Cafalonia” drumlessly wittily talks about sipping a latte smoother than Sade’s music. “Pity the Fools” soulfully references WWE Hall of Famer Mr. T & after the hilarious “Akademiks Finally Says Something Worth Listening To” skit, “Tricky Times” jazzily speaks of some harsh realities despite the fact that he got to “Stay Fresh Through It All”.

Not even a couple months since A Hit Dog Gonna Holla & the 3rd extended play from Jason Martin within an entire year quickly surpasses the one that recently came out earlier this fall. Mike & Keys’ production on this one is more sample heavy than it was last time, chopping up records from the jazz & soul genres to provide Jason more than enough space for him to step up his pen-game.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Lefty Gunplay – “I Told You So” review

Lefty Gunplay is a 29 year old rapper from Baldwin Park, California who began his music career in 2023 after a prison stint. He has since dropped 6 full-lengths & an EP, including an outro on “tv off” from Kendrick Lamar’s 6th album GNX around this time 12 months ago. Can’t Get Right produced by Jason Martin formerly known as Problem would become his most celebrated work this spring, coming off Ghetto Heisman‘s mixed reception to have Jason produce his 2nd EP alongside Mike & Keys.

“C-Murder Flow” opens with a homage to the wrongfully incarcerated member of TRU himself almost 2 weeks after No Limit Records smoked Cash Money Records at the Verzuz occurring at ComplexCon whereas Jiggy works in a vocal sample so he can talk about nobody being in his division. “Califa” featuring MC Davo & pfacebabyy finds the trio decently flexing that they’re catching fades throughout the city leading into “M.W.A. (Mexican With an Attitude)” eerily talking about being Hispanic & having an N.W.A mindset.

The song “She Fell in Love with an Ese” beginning the final leg of I Told You So asking if there’s a single person out in the streets who can outrun his gun while “Story of My Life” featuring Coyote, Cricket, Jason Martin & pfacebabyyy gets together over some horns so they can talk about being in the position of making their own rules. The title track ends the EP in the most appropriate way imaginable from the summery guitar instrumental to the lyrics promising that he wouldn’t break his lovers’ heart.

Ghetto Heisman earlier this fall was a little disappointing compared to Can’t Get Right mainly because the production & guests simultaneously felt all over the place in terms of consistency, not quite reaching the bar of WC’s sophomore effort of the same name under Def Jam Recordings over 2 decades earlier. Now regarding I Told You So, it comes off to me as an amalgamation of Ghetto Heisman‘s inconsistencies & Can’t Get Right‘s refinement of Lefty Gunplay’s whole entire Chicano/west coast style.

Score: 3/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Jason Martin – “A Hit Dog Gonna Holla” review

Compton, California emcee, songwriter & producer Jason Martin reuniting with Mike & Keys for his 4th EP. Originally known as Problem, he would go on to release over a dozen mixtapes as well as 4 full-length studio albums & a couple EPs. I can’t forget to mention both collaborative efforts DJ Quik, the first being Rosecrans back in 2017 & the follow-up Chupacabra days before Kendrick Lamar’s now historic 1-off Pop Out concert at the Kia Forum. Almost a whole year since Repack, they’re reuniting so A Hit Dog Gon Holla.

After the “Guns & Sandwiches” intro, “Let Me Roll My J” chops up a soul sample talking about looking to party until the sunrise whereas “Things You Learn While on the Grind” soulfully reflects on what he’s learned since hustling. “Docusign” gives off a drumless chipmunk soul vibe talking about not tripping over any obstacles while “Flu Game Jordan” continues to strip the drums so he can progress through extortion.

“We Know the Truth” continued with a hazy boom bap route talking about hearing nonstop cap spewing out these muhfuckas mouths while “Tee’d” drumlessly reminds us that everything comes with a fee instead of simply being granted to us. “Laugh Now Laugh Later” talks about how everybody be lying but after the “Goofy” skit, “Thang’s Just Ain’t the Same for Gangsters” calls back to “The Watcher”by Dr. Dre & sends off the EP being “Above the Noise”.

There was a lot of mixed reception towards the Repack last fall because of all the features on it & I’m pretty sure Jason Martin heard those criticisms since he takes up all of A Hit Dog’s Gonna Holla’s vocal performances by himself & results in an extended play that I prefer a lot more than the last 1 we got from him. Mike & Keys’ production returns to a traditional west coast sound coming off Tony Shhnow’s 8th album Self Portrait last month & Jason singlehandedly silences those who thought he had become reliant towards guests.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Lefty Gunplay – “Can’t Get Right” review

This is the 5th studio LP from Baldwin Park’s hottest artist currently Lefty Gunplay entirely produced by Compton, California emcee/producer Jason Martin formerly known as Problem. One of whom has been putting it down for the west coast for nearly 2 decades & the other has been blowing up since last summer later appearing on Kendrick Lamar’s 6th album GNX already 6 months ago. After putting out a few singles, Jason & Lefty are teaming up on Can’t Get Right.

“Lord Forgive Me” produced by Scott Storch & Jason fuses west coast trap & gospel music asking why these éses ain’t out yet here without no gun homaging the iconic Boogie Down Productions song “9mm Go Bang” during the hook whereas the title track produced by Mike & Keys and Sndtrak lets everyone know exactly how he got his stage name. “Scary Movie” takes a bit of a nervous vibe talking about the streets making him realizing. Shit out here ain’t as scary as he thought he would be just before “Gangsters Get Scared” featuring Cactus Jack Records’ newest signee Wallie the Sensei & YS talks bout even the realest of G’s taking on fear.

Meanwhile on “Heavens Above (My Angel)”, we have Lefty talking about being pussywhipped to the point where he’ll start listening good & he God sending him angels from above the pearly gates of Heaven to watch him & “Hotel Party” lives up to its name from its horn-heavy beat to the celebratory lyricism partying in his hotel room. “Menace” featuring The Game finds the 2 talking about they way both of them having become to being threats to the societies that raise them while “Cracks in the Ceilings” talks about sitting in the country jail counting the amount of cracks that’re present on the roof.

After the “Tales from the Schu” interlude, “123456” featuring RJmrLA turns the traffic music influences all way the up so both of them can talk about the hustle being hereditary while “1 Day at a Time” featuring Ty$ talks about every single one of us tryna figuring it out taking it day-by-day. “Grey Goose” featuring Kiing Khash & Osbe Chill unites the trio over a Terrace Martin beat trying to become billionaires while “Me, My Gun & You” featuring Storm DeBarge talks about it only those 3 things in the end. After the “It’s Time” interlude, the closer “Through the Fire” ends with a soulful flare claiming the rap game revolves around redemption.

My introduction to Lefty was his feature on Coyote’s breakout sophomore effort last summer L.Aliens & roughly 10 months later, Jason taps in with him to fully produce what could very well be the strongest body of work in his discography yet. The production is a lot stronger than what Lefty has put out previously & aside from a few guests not sticking the landing in terms of their performances, you can very much tell that he was locked in laser-focused by the way his pen has been sharpened.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Jason Martin – “Repack” review

This is the 3rd EP from Compton, California emcee, songwriter & producer Jason Martin. Originally known as Problem, he would go on to release over a dozen mixtapes as well as 4 full-length studio albums & a couple EPs. I can’t forget to mention both collaborative efforts DJ Quik, the first being Rosecrans back in 2017 & the follow-up Chupacabra days before Kendrick Lamar’s now historic 1-off Pop Out concert at the Kia Forum. earlier this summer. However, he’s warming everyone up for the next era by dropping off a Repack.

“Problem” featuring Laila! is a soulful, self-produced Mobb opener referencing the moniker that made a name for Jason whereas “Kill Switch”featuring Daz Dillinger further pulls inspiration from the Bay thanks to Fredwreck talking about their gang ties. “Live It Up” featuring Lil Vada & Sada Baby on the remix maintains a Mobb vibe instrumentally detailing the gangsta lifestyle once more leading into “You Know What It Is” going for a traditional west coast flare to talk about everyone knowing the deal courtesy of Mike & Keys.

As for My Boy”, we have Jason & Glasses Malone coming together to drop braggadocio just before “Poridge” featuring Jay Worthy & Mitchy Slick shows off the rare aura of all 3 of them. “5 Pack” blends g-funk & hyphy talking about being artists being indicted for what they say in their music which I think is wrong, but then “Cookie” turns the bass up refusing to go back-&-forth over a topic of discussion he doesn’t care enough for.

“Come & Shine with Me” featuring RJmrLA playfully encourages everyone to shine with them leading into “Hold Up” featuring LaToiya Williams balancing g-funk & trap to talk about y’all having no more chances. “Actin’ Tuff” featuring Dreebo goes drumless breaking down specific type of bitches & after the “God Knows Best” skit, “Goin’” featuring Lil Neph soulfully finishes by talking about keeping it moving the money flowin’.

Restoring a feeling that’s been missing from California music as a whole 5 months ago, the Repack is completely different since Mike & Keys take the opportunity to help Jason bring together a myriad of west coast sounds old & new with the beats with the guests that join him being a dope mix of mainly west coast veterans and of course a few up-&-comers sprinkled into the equation.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

DJ Quik & Jason Martin – “Chupacabra” review

Compton, California producer/emcee DJ Quik reuniting with German-American emcee Jason Martin formerly known as Problem for their 2nd collaborative LP. One is amongst THE most underappreciated producers of all-time who I consider to be on the same level as the Quincy Jones of hip hop himself Dr. Dre behind the boards & the other started out in the mid-2000s crossing paths with QDT during the sessions for WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg’s 9th album Ego Trippin’. 9 years later, they linked up for the first time on Rosecrans in the spring of 2017 to significant acclaim & are reuniting 7 years later to put out Chupacabra.

The title track featuring The Game starts with pianos, kicks & snares stellarly portraying themselves as 2 versions of the monster even though I respectfully think Game is corny for dissing Rick Ross & siding with Drake in his beef with Kendrick Lamar on “Freeway’s Revenge” to spite Dr. Dre for not letting him perform the Super Bowl LVI halftime show exactly like he did when he made “The Black Slim Shady” off his last album Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind whereas “Dern & Spruce” uses the same sample Madlib did on “No More Parties in L.A.” by Ye formerly known as Kanye West featuring Kendrick talking about being back in this bitch.

“Eazy Call” by DJ Quik himself & Big Hit finds the 2 flipping “Heartz of Men” by 2Pac for an Eazy-E tribute while “Cold Ass 2 Step” works in these carefree horns & claps so Suga Free the pimp himself can handle the verses. Jay Worthy’s crew Meet the Whoops get their very own title track on Chupacabra with the quintet flowing over a boom bap beat for 2 & a half minutes approximately that is until we get a soulful sequel to “She’s Not Around” solely performed by The Game which is as solid as the titular intro & certainly better than the STB Entertainment compilation Time that he hosted last weekend.

Jason returns to the mic with Jay Worthy himself & Larry June for “Gurbs & Youngs” for a smooth ass dedication to both of those types of people while “Workout” heavily samples “U Don’t Hear Me Tho” by Rodney O & Joe Cooley so Jason can talk about expressing yourself by doing your thing in the mirror reminding that we all make mistakes. “Chupa’s Groove” serves as a this funky instrumental intermission that Quik & Thundercat cooked up together in the lab closing out the album’s first half until “Two Hi (Waves)” by Quik featuring Channel Tres & Wiz Khalifa is this fun summertime jam to start the other.

“Fresh White T” featuring D. Blake & Shiro prior to the “Quik Message” interlude from DJ Drama hooks up a guitar & hi-hats boasting that there ain’t too many like them while “Since I Was Lil” featuring Bun B, Curren$y & Jay Worthy kinda gives off a g-funk vibe talking about how long they’ve been doing this shit. Dom Kennedy lands a solo cut in the form of the bass guitar-infused “Money, Cars & Guns” speaking those 3 things & Jason returns again accompanied by Barney Bones on “AYO” for a KAYTRANADA joint that’ll rock the dance floors. “DITTO” by CeeLo Green, Shiro & Gwen Bunn finds the pair rapping & singing about needing time ahead of “Soul Circus” by Ab-Soul ends on a drumless note.

What Jason & Quik gave us on Chupacabra achieves the goal that both artists & its curator Jay Worthy had set out to do from the start restoring a feeling that’s been missing from California music as a whole. Just like they did on Rosecrans about 7 years ago, you have both Compton powerhouses joining forces 1 more time for the city showcasing their musical talents including a creative chemistry that date back over 15 years & how far they’ve come since ‘08. Just when one of the greatest west coast producers of all-time was gonna hang it up, Jason helped Quik find his passion in the process.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!