Trina and Kenyon Martin: What Most People Get Wrong About Hip-Hop's Most Intense Power Couple

If you were outside during the mid-2000s, you couldn't escape the image of Kenyon Martin’s neck. Right there, etched in bright crimson ink, was a pair of lips. Not just any lips—they were a direct replica of the "Diamond Princess" herself, Trina. It was the ultimate "doing too much" gesture that defined an era of hip-hop and sports crossovers. Honestly, it was a vibe, but it was also a warning sign of just how intense things were between the NBA's most aggressive power forward and Miami’s baddest femcee.

People still talk about Trina and Kenyon Martin like they were a fever dream. Maybe because they were. This wasn't some PR-curated relationship handled by a dozen agents. It was raw, volatile, and deeply public in a way that pre-dated the Instagram era. Looking back from 2026, where every celebrity move is sanitized for the algorithm, the K-Mart and Trina saga feels like the last of a dying breed: a real, messy, high-stakes romance that didn't care who was watching.

The Tattoo Heard 'Round the League

Let's get into the ink because that’s usually where the conversation starts. Kenyon was at the peak of his powers with the Denver Nuggets, a walking double-double with a mean streak on the court. Trina was ruling the charts and setting the blueprint for the bold, sexual agency we see in female rap today. When Kenyon showed up with those ruby-red lips on his neck, it sent shockwaves.

Most NBA players were getting tribal sleeves or "Only God Can Judge Me" across their chests. Kenyon went for a permanent mark of devotion to a woman he wasn't even married to yet. It was a bold move. Maybe too bold.

Years later, after the dust settled and the relationship crashed, that tattoo became a punchline. He eventually covered it up with a black-and-red crown—which some fans jokingly said looked like something out of Lord of the Rings—but the shadow of those lips remained. It's a classic cautionary tale about tattooing a partner’s name (or anatomy) on your body, but at the time, it represented a level of "ride or die" loyalty that fans found intoxicating.

A Crash, a Tournament, and the Belize Connection

One of the most bizarre and terrifying moments in their timeline happened in July 2008. Kenyon and Trina were in Belize for a charity basketball tournament. They were riding in a Ford Excursion when they were side-swiped and run off the road.

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The SUV flipped. It was a serious accident.

While Kenyon and Trina walked away relatively unscathed, two young boys were injured in the crash. The incident brought up a lot of questions. Why was Trina there? Were they engaged? At that point, the rumors of a "hush-hush" engagement were everywhere. They were moving like a married couple without the paperwork. It showed that she wasn't just a "rapper girlfriend"; she was part of his life, traveling internationally for his charity work.

Why Did It Actually End?

The breakup wasn't a clean break. It was more like a slow-motion car wreck (ironically). For months, Trina’s camp insisted they were "very much together" even while the streets were saying Kenyon had already checked out.

Rumor has it things got volatile. We're talking "don't touch my expensive stuff" kind of volatile. Reports surfaced that they fought more than they loved, and the pressure of Kenyon's ongoing divorce proceedings with his ex-wife, Heather Martin, didn't help.

Trina eventually opened up about the toxicity in various interviews, including a famous sit-down on The Breakfast Club. She hinted at the struggle of being with a high-profile athlete who was still legally tied to someone else. There's also the "cheating" aspect. Trina once told a story about snooping through an ex's pager—yes, a pager—and finding things that made her want to "blow his spot up." While she didn't name Kenyon specifically in every anecdote, the timeline fits the era of her life when she was dating ballers and dealing with the fallout of very public infidelities.

Where They Are Now: The 2026 Perspective

Kenyon Martin Sr. has transitioned into the "proud dad" and media mogul phase. He’s been a fixture on podcasts like The Underground Lounge, talking about his son K.J. Martin's NBA journey and the evolution of the league. He seems settled, far removed from the "moist" neck tattoo controversies of the late 2000s.

Trina, on the other hand, finally found her "forever." In May 2024, she married Benjamin Kearse Jr., and honestly? She looks the happiest she’s ever been. After years of high-profile heartbreaks—from Lil Wayne to French Montana to Kenyon—the Diamond Princess seems to have traded the drama for stability.

She’s still touring, still "Da Baddest," and still a main cast member on Love & Hip Hop: Miami. But the Kenyon chapter is firmly closed. It remains a fascinating case study in what happens when two alpha personalities collide at the height of their fame.

Real Talk: Lessons from the K-Mart and Trina Era

• Ink is Forever, Relationships Aren't: If you’re thinking about a neck tattoo for your boo, maybe just buy them a watch instead. Cover-ups are expensive and rarely look better than the original mistake.
• Public vs. Private: Trina admitted she tried to hide the breakup because she didn't want to look "foolish" after the Lil Wayne situation. Protecting your peace is better than protecting your image.
• Growth is Mandatory: Both have moved on to better versions of themselves. You can be the "Baddest B*tch" or a "No-Nonsense Forward" and still learn how to be a partner later in life.

If you're looking to dive deeper into how these types of celebrity dynamics affect career longevity, you should check out the latest episodes of Love & Hip Hop: Miami or listen to Kenyon's recent deep dives on the Knuckleheads podcast. They both offer a lot of nuance on how they survived the "gold digger" and "thug" labels of that era to become respected veterans in their fields.

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Next Steps:
If you want to understand the full scope of Trina's influence, you can stream her 2019 album The One, which features her reflections on past loves, or look up the 2026 tour dates for her upcoming East Coast run. For the basketball side, keep an eye on K.J. Martin’s stats to see how the Martin legacy is evolving in the modern NBA.