Career
Martin has co-authored two books and directed two movies. Martin"s previous stage names include Pony J and Jake. Martin took on the stage name of Nino as part of the Texas rap group PKO (Pounds, Keys and Ounces).
Martin distributes music under the umbrella of Big Ballin Records and Youngsta Records.
He has also used various other outside companies to distribute a series of albums of popular music As a teenager, Martin was a gang member and drug dealer on the streets of San Antonio.
PKO performed at local nightclubs and parties and developed a strong fan base. They began to release singles under their independent label, Youngsta Records.
In 1992, PKO gained notoriety when Cable News Network interviewed the group about the controversy surrounding their underground hit single Shoot the Police.
After the release of the single, PKO recorded their first full length European Parliament, Don"t Fuck With Texas. In 1994, they released The Good, the Bad, the Mafia, which has sold 300,000 units to date and peaked at #64 on Billboard"s album charts. After their Cable News Network appearance, PKO performed with North.W.A, the Geto Boys and Too Short.
Master P invited PKO to contribute a single to the October 31, 1995 release of Down South Hustlas: Bouncin" and Swingin.
PKO is credited with track #9 on the album, Got lieutenant Sowed Up. The album reached #139 on Billboard 200 and #13 on Billboard"s Top Rhythm & Blues/Hip-Hop charts.
Martin and fellow PKO member "Magic" Mark recorded a diss towards DJ Quik entitled San Antonio Ain"t Shit Like Compton in response to Jus Lyke Compton, a track on which DJ Quik compared San Antonio to Compton. The track San Antonio Ain"t Shit Like Compton appeared on 1994"s Tha Good, Tha Bad, Tha Mafia.
PKO declined recording deals with major labels and remained an independent label.
Throughout the 1990s PKO released their own albums as well as those of other artists on their label, Youngsta Records. Martin later went solo, and his debut album, Nino, sold 100,027 units and hit #84 on the Billboard Rap Charts. PKO is remembered as the Southern/Texas group equivalent to NWA.
In 2008 Martin co-wrote two books with real estate agent Mechelle Bower: Faith and Finance and 10 Easy Steps in Creating Success and Wealth as a Real Estate Agent.
Martin and Bower collaborated again on the creation of "Born2flyy Ent", based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Born2flyy Ent specializes in popular and rhythm and blues artists. One of their former clients is Mika Means of the Universal Motown record label.
(1990) Don"t Fuck with Texas
(1991) Armed and Dangerous
(1992) They Scared of a Nigga
(1994) Old School
(1994) Tha Good, Tha Bad, Tha Mafia
(1996) Number Pain Number Gain
(2000) From Dirty to Clean
(2001) Ain"t Went Number Where
(2006) Greatest Hits: Still Big Ballin"
(2006) Still Big Ballin": Screwed
(2006) Live in Japan.
