For years, Los Angeles-based jazz musician Terrace Martin has been utilized as one of Hip Hop’s secret weapons. To highlight how long Martin has been a key figure in West Coast music, regardless of genre, he helped shape the sound of Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg’s 213 album in 2004 and all four of Kendrick Lamar’s studio efforts, beginning with 2011’s Section.80.
Now Martin feels he has fulfilled his duty helping his “rap friends.”
On Friday (April 22), the noted producer shared a message on social media explaining how he’s always been there to pour into his rap peers and help out, but wouldn’t get the same love and respect in return. In Martin’s eyes, those relationships prompted him to waive off publishing, credits and money but at the same time, he watched other producers get paid more while they also came to him for advice and tips in the music industry.
“Dear Rap Friends,” his letter began. “It just hit me, I’ve helped people my whole career. I’ve helped the biggest artist to the smallest artist. Whether it be producing a record or playing keys or sax solos or bringing in musicians to enhance an album to just giving game from all of my experiences. Now I realize that the love and help I’ve been giving for YEARS has never been returned when I need it.”
He continued, “I have waived publishing, credits, money etc on the strength of relationships, on the “love,” and to watch my “rapper friends” overpay these producers who come to me for pointers and tips is the ultimate slap in the face. So I’m done. I’m not working with anymore rap friends.”
Martin’s solo work has resulted in nine studio efforts, including 2021’s Drones featuring the likes of James Fauntleroy, Robert Glasper, Snoop, K. Dot, Leon Bridges, Ty Dolla $ign and others. Outside of Baby Keem’s The Blue Melodic, Drones was the only album to contain new music from Lamar.
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Martin may no longer be working with his “rap friends” but he’s still working in collaboration with high-end musicians. In February, he helped co-produce Black Radio III with Glasper, Bryan-Michael Cox and Jahi Sundance. Revisit Martin’s contribution to the album below.
There is no such thing as friendship when it comes to the business.
Rap does bad business. You can’t do business with people who praise running off on the plug and trash like that. Just have to come up with a new rap influenced black genre of music made by grown folks. Corporate commercial rap/hiphop/pop whatever is trash music for marketed exclusively for white kids who get off on the stereotypes
!!!!!!!!
half of these musician/producer murders is based on sht like this. these janky promoters/producers rip people off then say you want that money kill me for it. Two days later “rap musician killed in studio”
If you’re trying to be cool with everybody in whatever field your in, either your longevity will suffer or your finances will take a hit. His talent has allowed him to have longevity but it sounds like he hasn’t gotten where he wants to be financially due to doing favors. If I’m him I’m just doubling back around. I’m not going to say anything, but when someone who I’ve done favors for comes to me for production I’m not waiving any publishing and the price has double/triple from what it was. You see this all the time people that are in a position to pay a lot to someone always gives their homies or the person closest to them crumbs while letting strangers feast trying to impress them.
when you not waiving this and that they say you are difficult. on the one hand I feel like it’s soft advertisng your music biz struggles when many with talent are wirking 9-5.on the other hand when millionaires saying they can cut you in on a fair portion it hurts when you all started out in the same boat
*can’t cut you in
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