"Martin" is a 1990s sitcom starring comedian Martin Lawrence. It’s centered on a black cast and their life in Detroit, dealing with various issues that they encounter day to day. Tommy Ford, the actor that portrayed Martin’s best friend Tommy, recently passed away, and I started to think about the influence that the show had on pop culture, and more specifically the impact that it’s had on hip-hop.
From a thematic standpoint, because "Martin" had so many of the tropes that black-centric sitcoms had, the characters and their adventures were very relatable. Martin and his girlfriend (and later wife), Gina, would have arguments that were sometimes trivial and comical, but at other times would address issues like career vs jobs and moving in with each other. Other issues that the main cast had to deal with were running out of money before the end of the week, annoying coworkers and dealing with all of the eccentric characters that live in Martin’s building. Hip-hop also grew in popularity in the 90s along with this show, so it made sense that one was influenced by the other.
Many of the references to the show are made by modern-day rappers who grew up watching it, including Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and Curren$y. The artist who probably references the show the most in his music is rapper J. Cole. In one of his most popular songs, “Work Out,” he sings, “They be starting sh*t, but it’s your world/on my Martin sh*t, you go girl!” This eludes to one of Martin Lawrence’s many catchphrases on the show. He also raps about Gina and her best friend Pam in “Temptation.” "She got the, bad lips, bad hips, damn shawty/Slim waist, Gina face, Pam body”, saying that his ideal girl would be a combination of both women. New school rapper Logic also alludes to the show in his song “Upgrade,” referencing a long-running joke where, since Martin can't stand Pam, he constantly kicks her out of the apartment: “Yes sir I know who I am/ I’m that main man Martin out here kicking out Pam.”
The most famous musical reference to the sitcom probably comes from superstar Kanye West. His most commercially successful album to date, Graduation, gave us several hit singles, including “Flashing Lights.” Often referred to as one of his best songs, “Flashing Lights”, eludes to Martin and Gina’s relationship (which arguably is known as the original “#relationshipgoals” in the black community): “Feeling like Katrina with no FEMA/Like Martin with no Gina/Like a flight with no visa.” There are a couple instances in the show where the main couple breaks up, and there was a multiple episode arc where Martin had no idea what to do with his life without Gina at his side.
Black television experienced somewhat of a downturn in the 2000s but later became more popular in the mid-2010s. Diversity in television continues to be an issue despite the success of shows like "Martin." The sitcom is important as a representative of black culture in mainstream media, as well as a way for black people to see themselves on television. There aren’t many shows that can claim they’ve inspired an entire genre of music, which is why I believe that "Martin" will continue to be an important staple of black entertainment as well as influence more hip-hop artists. Rest in Peace Tommy Ford, and thank you for helping shape one of the funniest and most significant shows for the black community.
