TheSource.com kicked it with Diamond Lane Music Group recording artist “Problem”. The 26 year old spitter better known as Jason Martin is no stranger to the music industry. His entry into the industry was writing a verse for a producer & friend Terrace Martin, for a song called “Be thankful”, featured on Snoop’s compilation album “The Big Squeeze”.
Since then Problem has worked with the likes of Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, The Game, E-40, 9th Wonder, Chris Brown, John Legend, Polow Da Don, Nipsey Hussle, Warren G, Y.G. Mann, and Dom Kennedy to name a few. He’s dropped a seven mix tapes one of them being “Welcome to Mollywood” and since leaving Universal Republic to join Diamond Lane; The Compton rapper is expecting to drop fresh music, more mix tapes, and classic albums. So check out this interview with Problem to see what’s he’s cooking up for 2012.
The Source: What’s good Problem, thanks for taking the time out of day to chat with thesource.com?
Problem: No problem man, like I said I’m just happy that someone wanna talk to my a** (laughing)
The Source: True indeed, tell us about “Welcome to Molly wood”, I see you got a lot of love from YG, Freddie Gibbs, Kendrick Lamar, Ya Boy to name a few. How important is it to get support from fellow west coast artist?
Problem: Yea we got Kurupt, Dom Kennedy, E-40, but I’ma tell you this tho “Welcome to Mollywood 2” is already done.
The Source: How difficult was it to reach out to these guys
Problem: The crazy thing is that two years ago my boy Terrace Martin and Justine credible from Power 106. They were putting together this project and calling it “The Next One Up”. It was me over there Dom Kennedy, Cassie Veggies, Kendrick Lamar, Skeem, and Bad Lucc were over there working.
So we kept in touch since and to see everybody right now is f***ing amazing to me. Freddie [Gibbs] I met on a humbug and I’m a fan of his and he ran up to me and said “man you’re f**king clever, man come f**k with me”. I’m like what? That’s an easy call! When we smoke, we smoked all night and have a ball that’s my brah, brah!
The Source: How important is it for you to click with another artist before creating a dope?
Problem: Very, I don’t do music with maf***as unless I can sit down and have a shot with you, because at the end of the day it comes out in the music.
The Source: What do you think is missing in hip hop that you can add to the culture?
Problem: I don’t think it’s missing anything Kanye [West] and them G.O.O.D music n****as are killing it, YMCMB is killing it, Maybach Music is killing it there’s a lot of dope squads and a lot of dope music out right now.
The Source: What are thoughts on ppl who tend to label certain artist as “REAL” or “Fake” hip hop music?
Problem: Man, Hip Hop culture is way too young to be told what it is. People need to understand that certain artist make music for the time…music is the sign of the times.
The Source: So I understand that you were born in Germany and then move out west, how was that like transitioning from Germany to Compton?
Problem: My dad was in the service and my mom was married so I was an army baby you feel me, but I wasn’t there that long. I was there for like a year and moved to Compton. But that’s a great conversation piece when you’re around females (laughing).
The Source: You’ve worked with a lot of heavy hitters in the rap game as a writer and producer, who inspired you the most on how you should evolve as an artist?
Problem: It would have to be snoop because he was the first person I worked with. He was the first major artist that who paid me to do a job, and really gave me a whole lot of game. He let me really do my thing and let me flourish by giving the tools so it would have to be snoop. He’s a guru at this sh**, he’s been through it all so anything he tells you I’ll take it. From him to all the big homies, all Tha Dogg Pound, all of them from [DJ] Quik everybody that I’ve worked with gave me wisdom and I’d just like to take that and add it to what we’re doing at Diamond Lanes Music Group.
The Source: How’d you link up with Diamond Lane Music Group?
Problem: Diamond lane is my family; I’ve been with them for the last two years. We all know each other’s mamas so it’s a little different. We decided to take it to the next level and go into business with each other. It’s a different vibe because the CEO is my friend and I respect him as my boss too. That’s a hard thing to do for most people, but not me because you have to know what people are good at.
The Source: So what do you have for us in 2012, do you have a release date for Plan B?
Problem: As far as right now, I don’t have any special features on Plan B. I’ve recorded over thirty-five records for that album. This project will be totally different than “molly wood”. I just want the people to know that you’re going to get a different me on this project. So if you wanna hear Mollywood I’m about to give you another one of those, but this “Plan B” album is going to be totally different. You’re about to know who Jason Martin and Diamond Lane Music group is all about. It’s real personal and I’m going to really say stuff that I’ve never said before about life and music. I’m giving the people me and I don’t know if I’m going to have any special features.
Walford Guillaume (wallywall$treet)
