Max B
Max B (born Charly Wingate, AKA Wavy Crockett, Max Biggaveli, Biggavell) is a rapper from Harlem, New York, USA known for his mumbled delivery, off-kilter sing-song chorses and braggadocio interviews and videos.[1][2]
After a period of incarceration on robbery charges 1997–2005,[3] 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).[3] In 2006 Jones formed the collective ByrdGang with Max B as a member.[4]
The two fell out because of financial disputes in following years.[3] 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.[1][2][5] 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).[1]
Having gained release from his contract, he signed a three-album deal with Boston label Amalgam Digital in 2008.[6][7] 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 with a life sentence a possibility.[3][8]
Mixtapes released by Max B include Million Dollar Baby, Keep It Wavy, Street Soldiers, Public Domain:The Prequel (2007),[9] Public Domain 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Public Domain 3: Domain Pain (2008),[10][11] Max Payne, Coke Wave (2008),[12] Goon Music, Quarantine (2009),[13] and pd6: Walking the Plank (2009).[14][15]
Sources
- ^ a b c C. Benz & R. Ripperveli. "Surf's up!", cool'eh #12 (January 2009).
- ^ a b Ben Detrick. "NOW: Max B", VIBE, April 2009. Reprinted online, June 9, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Chris Benson & D. Porter. "Wipeout: The Fall of Max B", cool'eh #14 (July 2009).
- ^ Shaheem Reid, Rahman Dukes, Corey Moss and Bridget Bland. "Mixtape Monday: Fire Starters" (sidebar), MTV, July 17, 2006.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jesse Gissen. "Max B's Lawyer Speaks", XXL, June 9, 2009.
- ^ Shaheem Reid. "Mixtape Monday", MTV, August 3, 2007. (Public Domain: The Prequel reviewed.)
- ^ Frazia Lee. "Max B: Public Domain 3: Domain Pain", Metro Spirit #19.51, July 16, 2008.
- ^ "DJ Whoo Kid & Gain Greene present Max B: Public Domain 3 (Domain Pain)", XXL, August 1, 2008.
- ^ Shaheem Reid. "Mixtape Monday", MTV, December 8, 2008. (Coke Wave reviewed.)
- ^ William E. Ketchum III. "Mixtape Wrapup (February/March)" hiphopdx, March 21, 2009. (Quarantine reviewed.)
- ^ "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.)