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.
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-upChupacabra 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.
Harlem emcee Dave East joining forces with Mike & Keys for his 4th LP. Breaking out in 2014 off his 8th mixtape Black Rose, this resulted in the man signing a joint deal with Def Jam Recordings & even Nas’ independently owned Mass Appeal Recordsas well as a spot in the iconic 2016 XXL Freshman Class. However, his full-length debut Survival wouldn’t come out until 3 years later & was very disappointing in the sense that he tried appealing to a more mainstream audience that just didn’t exist. The Harry Fraud produced sophomore effort Hoffa proved to be better as did his final Def Jam offering Fortune Favors the Bold, so I was already intrigued to hear him take it back to his independent roots on APT 6E.
After the intro, the first song “Doin’ Great” starts off with pianos & hi-hats explaining the ways to get out of this life whereas “God Produced It” hooks up a sample-laced trap instrumental talking about telling himself he could do it time & time again. “Snow White” discusses the largest gang takedown in the history of the Queens borough over a psychedelically rattling beat prior to “I.D.R.N. (I Don’t Regret Nothing)” goes into a ratchet direction so he can talk about not regretting anything.
“Me vs. Me” jumps on top of organs & soulful guest vocals from Stacy Barthe making it clear that the toughest fight of his life was within himself just before “This Lifestyle” featuring Kurupt mixes hi-hats & synthesizers as they break down the way they both living currently. “Ballin’” featuring Buddy finds the 2 cloudily smoking good & poppin’ another bottle while “Dangerous Riddim” featuring Shaggy comes through with summertime vibes top to bottom generally.
Stacy returns on the whimsically rugged “So Much Changed” getting on his grown man shit topically, but then “Intervention” talks about going through it over pianos & hi-hats. “Can’t Even Know” hops over a soul sample making it clear that he ain’t concerned unless it’s over the guap & that he has a lot more to learn. “Out the Way” passionately explains his passion outlasted doubters & critics while the final song “I Remember” ahead of the outro ends APT 6E in the form of a profound ballad dedicated to all sorts of people.
Dave’s R&B EP For the Love produced by Scram Jones from the beginning of the year was disappointing as intrigued as I was about the idea going into it from the beginning, but APT 6E finds him reclaiming his independent spirit & has me highly anticipating Hoffa 2 since it was hinted at a while ago. Mike & Keys bring their west coast sound & mix it with Dave’s hardcore East coast lyricism.
The Underground at Catch One reeked of the finest weed smoke while rap lovers gathered around the stage to spark the beginning of Dizzy Wright’s “It Gets Greater Later” tour. Supporting acts included: Los Angeles-based Demrick, Jarren Benton representing Decatur, GA, and Reezy from the capital of sin, Las Vegas.
As I pushed the doors open, I was met by a sweet herbal smell and a huge cloud of Dizzy OG (the award-winning strain of our headline act). There were merch tables filled with tees, vinyl records, CDs, stickers, and marijuana paraphernalia. The bar was surrounded by men and women in the freshest streetwear, high-end snapback hats, and clean sneakers.
The post-Dodgers opening day traffic made my drive from DTLA to Mid-City a little hectic, so I was late to the show and missed a few of the opening acts. As I got settled, Reezy was on stage performing songs from his latest release – BLVD Volume 2. The opener vibes were in full effect as the crowd was unfamiliar with the trappy-sounding beats.
Reezy’s microphone levels did not match his backing tracks, so I couldn’t hear the braggadocious lyrics that accompanied his bass-ridden music. His stage presence was that of an entertainer who was too cool for school, or maybe the lack of crowd enthusiasm created his lack of energy. Hopefully, this was just the prelude tour show jitters. He has the potential to gain fans with his music, I hope other cities treat him with more respect than the stereotypical superficial LA hip-hop fans.
After a brief DJ switch, I could sense a positive shift in the overall energy of the night. In less than a minute Demrick hopped on the speakers and slapped hands with fans in the front row.
Demrick has the stage presence of a star, his time supporting Xzibit & B-Real could be the reason for his calm and collected aura during his performance. I was astonished when I realized Demrick performed 2 full songs with a drink in hand (without spilling a drop).
I was impressed by the call and response effort from Demrick, the crowd was actively engaged. It wasn’t long before he grabbed a fan’s phone and rapped some of his verse in a selfie-video style, then passed it back to its joyous owner. This type of work ethic should be respected and applauded.
Before I knew it, Demrick thanked the fans and exited the stage to roar from the crowd. I looked at my watch, and realized his 30 minute set flew by. If he didn’t gain any new fans, I’d be surprised.
The flow of the night was not broken up, Jarren Benton was front and center directly after Demrick’s exit. Benton brought a rock star stature to the lineup, wearing a black Supreme varsity jacket, skinny jeans, trucker hat, and sunglasses.
Benton’s stage show was filled with heavy crowd interaction; he invited fans to stage dive. He even saw DJ Hoppa in the audience and called him to the stage to get the props Hoppa rightfully deserves. The only negative about Benton’s show was the sound setup, I could hardly make out his vocals – which meant Catch One should invest in a better sound technician.
A quick midnight intermission ended when the headliner, Dizzy Wright, joined in the night’s festivities. Draped in an iconic Dickies Eisenhower jacket, black-and-white windowpane plaid pants, Wright looked every part of a Los Angeles local. His two-step dance to the stage was met with applause and camera flashes.
Wright’s hour-long set included hits like “Killem with Kindness”, “Roll My Weed”, “Still Movin”, and “Hotel Stripper”. Bringing Demrick & Jarren Benton back on stage to perform their respective tracks made the event feel like a family affair.
For most of the show, Wright performed tracks from his latest album, Live at Daddy Macs (fully produced by 3 Ninjas a.k.a. Mike & Keys and MyGuyMars).The album officially released at the same time as Wright debuted the tracks live. “You Get What You See”, “Willing & Ready” and “Get Out My Business” were a few highlights from his performance.
This new album has all the Los Angeles signature sounds and vibes – it’s definitely worth adding to your next beachside drive. There was a moment in his set where Wright proclaimed his gratitude for this highlight moment.
Tonight’s show was the beginning of a multi-city tour that will stop within every state on the west coast. If you enjoy high-level raps, smooth but hard-hitting beats, and an appreciation for weed, I highly suggest you check Dizzy Wright & friends. Tickets are available on Wright’s website.
