Compton, California emcee, songwriter & producer Jason Martin celebrating Christmas Eve with his 6th EP. Originally known under the moniker Problem, he would go on to release over a dozen mixtapes as well as 4 full-length studio albums & his last 5 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. Mike & Keys would be enlisted to produce Repack alongside A Hit Dog Gon Holla & Mafia Cafe, further celebrating the 10-year anniversary of O.T. (Outta Town) to detail A Lonely Winter.
The self-produced intro “Stop Playin’ with Me” featuring co-production from Mike & Keys instrumentally reminds me of something Scott Storch would’ve made in the 2000s sending a clear message to a toxic bitch whereas “Queen Latifah” after the “Home Alone with Precious” skit blends nervous & Mobb music together talking about how living single got this woman living bad. To conclude the 1st half however, we have Jason letting Candice Boyd shine on the mic for the a capella R&B tune “Think About Me”.
“Santa or Nah” kicks off the 3rd quarter going for a drumless chipmunk soul vibe working in a crooning sample finding himself caught between facts & feelings leading into the gospel-influenced “OK (R.I.P.)” promising on his mother’s grave that everything’s gonna be alright, remembering loved ones who left sooner than expected. “Suspect” soulfully talks about looking in the mirror daily ready for showtime while “If You Need That” finishes A Lonely Winter not wanting beef with a dumbass or anything negative that comes with ‘em.
I have to agree with the homie Westside Bear a.k.a. BelowTheHipHop for recently saying that Jason Martin’s last couple of extended plays A Hit Dog Gon Holla & Mafia Cafe are being slept-on by a majority of heads because they both prove he doesn’t need to rely on a heavy list of guests to make an enjoyable listening experience. That said: A Lonely Winter differs from it’s predecessors by enlisting a feature or 2 to join him in taking listeners on a journey to explore the stresses some go through during the holiday season regardless if it’s past or present.
Score: 8/10