Terrace Martin

Terrace Jamahl Martin, born on December 28, 1978, in Los Angeles, California, is a highly regarded musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Raised with a diverse musical background, including John Coltrane and Parliament, he began playing piano at age six. By 13, Martin was producing tracks using a Casio CZ-101 and an E-mu SP-1200. He taught himself saxophone before attending Santa Monica High School, and later Locke High School where he became first chair of the All-State Jazz Band under Reggie Andrews. His talent caught the attention of Jay Leno, who provided him with a scholarship and a professional horn. Martin’s early career involved touring with Puff Daddy and God’s Property after attending CalArts briefly.

Martin’s musical career gained significant momentum in the jazz world as a member of Billy Higgins’ World Stage All-Stars. His breakthrough in hip-hop came from producing a radio drop with Snoop Dogg, leading to credits on Snoop Dogg’s albums such as “R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece” and “Ego Trippin'”. In 2007, he signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records. His debut album, “The Demo” (2010), featured him as a rapper and producer, including collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, and Kendrick Lamar. He continued to release collaborative EPs like “Here, My Dear” (2010), inspired by Marvin Gaye, and “The SEX EP” (2011).

A pivotal period in Martin’s career includes his “3ChordFold” album series, starting in 2013, which explored jazz-fusion. He contributed extensively to Kendrick Lamar’s GRAMMY-winning album “To Pimp a Butterfly” (2015). In 2016, he released his sixth studio album, “Velvet Portraits,” which earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best R&B Album. Martin also co-founded the supergroup Dinner Party with Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, and 9th Wonder, releasing their debut album in 2020. His record label, Sounds of Crenshaw, launched in partnership with BMG, continues to release new jazz series, showcasing his commitment to progressive, genre-crossing music. Martin has garnered 8 GRAMMY nominations, contributing to projects that have accumulated 15 billion streams and 15 million albums sold.