Problem

Jason L. Martin, professionally known as Problem, was born on May 8, 1985, in Würzburg, West Germany, and predominantly grew up in Compton, California. His entry into the music industry began through songwriting in 2007, when he penned a verse for producer Terrace Martin’s track “Be Thankful,” featured on Snoop Dogg’s compilation album, ‘The Big Squeeze.’ This early work garnered attention from notable artists like Nas and Talib Kweli. Building on this recognition, Martin further collaborated with significant West Coast artists such as Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, and DJ Quik, contributing to various records. In 2008, he founded his independent record label, Diamond Lane Music Group, and signed with Universal Republic Records for the release of his debut commercial singles, “I’m Toe Up” and “Whereva U Like.” Despite these early releases not achieving chart success, Martin continued to develop his craft and expand his professional network.

A turning point in Martin’s career arrived in 2012 with his guest appearance on E-40’s single “Function,” alongside YG and Iamsu!. This track achieved gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and charted on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, significantly elevating his profile. The momentum continued with the 2013 collaborative mixtape ‘Million Dollar Afro’ with Iamsu!, which included the song “Do it Big” featured in the popular video game ‘Grand Theft Auto V.’ That same year, he released the mixtape ‘The Separation,’ featuring collaborations with artists such as Wale, T.I., Snoop Dogg, and Wiz Khalifa. His single “Like Whaaat,” also released in 2013 and featuring Bad Lucc, became his most commercially successful song as a lead artist, reaching number 20 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart. In late 2013, Martin independently released his debut EP, ‘Understand Me,’ through Diamond Lane Music, featuring production primarily by himself and League of Starz.

Over the years, Jason Martin has maintained a consistent presence in the music and entertainment industries. In 2016, he partnered with the Los Angeles Rams to create the team’s theme song, “My Squad,” for the NFL season, accompanied by a Snapchat-style music video. He released his debut album, ‘Selfish,’ in November 2017, followed by ‘S2’ in 2018. His venture into film was marked by the 2020 release of the short film ‘A Compton Story,’ narrated by Mike Epps and executive produced by Terrence “Punch” Henderson. More recently, in May 2023, he released his third album, ‘I Owe Myself,’ and a companion soundtrack for ‘A Compton Story’ in November 2023. Martin continues to collaborate with a diverse range of artists and has been involved in brand partnerships, expanding his influence beyond music. In June 2024, he performed “Like Whaaat” at Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Pop Out: Ken & Friends’ concert, reaffirming his standing in the hip-hop community.