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-up Chupacabra 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.
Score: 9/10