Max B
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Max B (born Charly Wingate, AKA Wavy Crockett, Max Biggaveli, Biggavell) is a rapper from Harlem, New York, USA known for his mumbling delivery, his off-kilter sing-song style choruses, and his braggadocio interviews and videos.
After a period of incarceration on robbery charges 1997–2005, Max B came to prominence through his affiliation with the Harlem collective The Diplomats, and with rapper Jim Jones in particular. He is credited as co-writer on Jones' biggest hit "We Fly High", and features on several songs on Jones' albums Harlem: Diary of a Summer (including its lead single "Baby Girl", 2005) and Hustler's P.O.M.E. (2006). In 2006 Jones formed the collective ByrdGang with Max B as a member.
The two fell out because of financial disputes soon after. This left the rapper's official recording career in limbo, since he was under contract to Jones' ByrdGang Records. He maintained a following by embarking on an extensive series of mixtape releases, often in collaboration with Harlem producer Dame Grease, and by dint of often bizarre and excessive media interviews and self-produced internet videos. Signature catchprases "Oowww" and "wavy" featured liberally in all these outlets. His alias Biggaveli denotes his belief that he is an amalgam of artists The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z (AKA "Jigga") and Tupac Shakur (AKA Makaveli).
Having gained release from his contract, he signed a three-album deal with Boston label Amalgam Digital in 2008. Preparations were underway for a debut album to be entitled Vigilante Season when in 2009 Max B was found guilty of involvement in a robbery which left a man dead. Sentencing is due in September 2009, and a life sentence is expected.
Mixtapes released by Max B include Million Dollar Baby, Keep It Wavy, Street Soldiers, Public Domain:The Prequel (2007), Public Domain 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Public Domain 3: Domain Pain (2008), Max Payne, Coke Wave (2008), Goon Music, Quarantine (2009), and pd6: Walking the Plank (2009).
Sources
- C. Benz & R. Ripperveli. "Surf's up!", cool'eh #12 (January 2009).
- Chris Benson & D. Porter. "Wipeout: The Fall of Max B", cool'eh #14 (July 2009).
- Ben Detrick. "NOW: Max B", VIBE, April 2009. Reprinted online, June 9, 2009.
- Ben Detrick. ""The Leftovers With Max B", VIBE, April 8, 2009.
- Chris Faraone. "Music: Max B earns an A for arrogance", Boston Herald, August 13, 2008.
- Matthew Cooper. "Max B: The Wavy Harlem Renaissance", hiphopdx, February 4, 2009.
- Frazia Lee. "Max B: Public Domain 3: Domain Pain", Metro Spirit #19.51, July 16, 2008.
- Shaheem Reid. "Mixtape Monday", MTV, December 8, 2008. (Coke Wave reviewed.)
- "DJ Whoo Kid & Gain Greene present Max B: Public Domain 3 (Domain Pain)", XXL, August 1, 2008.
- "Big Mike & Max B Present Public Domain 6: Walking The Plank", XXL, July 16, 2009.
- William E. Ketchum III. "Mixtape Wrapup (July)", hiphopdx, August 3, 2009. (pd6 reviewed.)
- William E. Ketchum III. "Mixtape Wrapup (February/March)" hiphopdx, March 21, 2009. (Quarantine reviewed.)
- Shaheem Reid. "Mixtape Monday", MTV, August 3, 2007. (Public Domain: The Prequel reviewed.)
- Shaheem Reid, Rahman Dukes, Corey Moss and Bridget Bland. "Mixtape Monday: Fire Starters", MTV, July 17, 2006.