terrace martin

Biography

Terrace Jamahl Martin, born December 28, 1978, in Los Angeles, California, emerged from the Crenshaw neighborhood, immersing himself in jazz and hip-hop from a young age. A multi-instrumentalist proficient in saxophone, keyboards, drums, and more, he gained early recognition playing with the World Stage All-Stars led by jazz drummer Billy Higgins and touring with Puff Daddy and Kirk Franklin's God's Property, rejecting the starving artist stereotype to pursue mainstream success. His production career took off with a Power 106 radio drop featuring Snoop Dogg, leading to credits on Snoop's albums R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004) and Ego Trippin' (2008), as well as the 213 track 'Joysticc.' Martin's style fuses funk, jazz, soul, hip-hop, and R&B, emphasizing deep bass lines that evoke neighborhood protection and sensuality, rooted in influences like Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Q-Tip, and Mac Dre.

Martin's breakthrough came through close collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, contributing to every album from Section.80 (2011) to DAMN. (2017), including the pivotal To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), which he helped develop and which cracked open new possibilities in hip-hop akin to Duke Ellington's impact. In 2016, he launched his artist-first label Sounds of Crenshaw, inspired by Snoop Dogg's welcoming backstage vibe, releasing his Grammy-nominated album Velvet Portraits through Ropeadope Records, featuring Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway, and his father Curly Martin on drums. A Grammy-nominated producer, rapper, singer, and engineer, Martin continues working with artists like Herbie Hancock, YG, SZA, and Fergie, positioning himself as a servant to his community through genre-bending music that promotes joy, healing, and freedom.

His legacy lies in bridging jazz's communal roots with modern hip-hop, creating a 'new neo soul' movement alongside figures like Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper, while fostering emerging talent via his label centered on Crenshaw's diverse sounds.

Fun Facts

• Martin served in Snoop Dogg's touring band for 13 years alongside Kamasi Washington and Thundercat, absorbing eclectic backstage sounds from Curtis Mayfield to John Coltrane that inspired his label.
• His debut solo project Signal Flow (2007) featured an star-studded lineup including Snoop Dogg, The Game, Busta Rhymes, Problem, Kurupt, and Too Short.
• Martin's label Sounds of Crenshaw is named after the Crenshaw Boulevard sounds and emphasizes bass as 'the bottom end [that] represents the truth'—round, full, huggable yet gangsta.
• He featured his father, Curly Martin, on drums for Velvet Portraits (2016), tapping into family roots recorded in Los Angeles and Omaha, Nebraska.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Billy Higgins - Early jazz mentor who led World Stage All-Stars where Martin played (World Stage All-Stars performances) [late 1990s-early 2000s]
• Snoop Dogg - Key mentor and early collaborator who inspired label launch and provided touring band experience for 13 years (R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, Ego Trippin') [2000s-2010s]

Key Collaborators

• Kendrick Lamar - Core production partner on multiple albums (Section.80 to DAMN., including To Pimp a Butterfly) [2011-2017]
• Kamasi Washington - Frequent bandmate and album collaborator (To Pimp a Butterfly, Velvet Portraits) [2010s]
• Thundercat - Bandmate in mentor's touring group and album features (Velvet Portraits) [2010s]
• Lalah Hathaway - Vocal collaborator on tracks and albums (Velvet Portraits) [2010s]

Artists Influenced

• Kendrick Lamar - Musical partner whose career Martin compares to Duke Ellington's impact (To Pimp a Butterfly and subsequent albums) [2010s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia