Fuck Yeah Max B

The last great MC out of New York.

Weird story: The day that Complex published that Max B interview and the accompanying "25 Best Max B Songs", I pitched an idea to the EIC (@N_C_B_) to do a list of the 50 best Max B songs that same morning. David Drake and The Martorialist did a great job on that list, don’t get me wrong. But parsing Maxy’s catalog to less than 50 doesn’t do it justice. I’m not up on too many iterations of the “Library of a Legend” mixtape series, but his has 24 chapters and 520 songs. Since I listen to so much of the man’s music anyway (and Jim Jones won’t be releasing any of the locked down material unless he raps the shit himself), here are 25 more of my favorite Max B songs. 

Every Morning (Prod. by Dame Grease) (Quarantine No DJ)

In high school all we did was get high, so Max talking about “I wake up every morning and roll me a blunt” was automatic for me. I remember looking everywhere for this version of Quarantine without the DJ that was on iTunes. The fact that “Quarantine” (A.K.A. “Six’s Too” when a snippet of the song was buzzing before the tape dropped) made the Complex list verified it for me.  

Grind For Me (Million Dollar Baby)

Not only does the beat have that slowed down island sound that’s perfect for a hammock at a vacation resort, but Max’s persuading croons about a girl selling drugs for him is quintessential Wavy Crockett. 

I’m Kinda High (Bloomberg Series)

I’m not an an advocate of needing drugs to enjoy music, but I will say this: I didn’t get Max’s appeal until I faced some Sour Diesel and listened to PD3 in 2008. It’s not like you need to get high to love what he does, but smoke and listen to a song like “I’m Kinda High” and try not to get hooked. It’s futile. 

Poodie

Feel good music that you can’t help but move your shoulders to. That’s Max at his best, flutes and all. Goes best with summer, barbecues, and weed, and women.

Lonely

"Pops was an addict, Moms was an addict, Auntie still is, palm trees fill in". That’s how you start a verse. Released on a random (garbage) mixtape promoting Amalgam’s new artist Young Riot, this gem was dropped in the middle. Hearing Max wail "I’m looooooooooonelyyyyyyyyy, read me a bedtime stooooooryyyyyyyy" is A1 stake sause. 

First Of The Month (Prod. by Young Los) (Goon Musik 2.OWWW)

This is one of my favorite Biggavel joints. You can tell right from the jump that this is signature Young Los production. Him and Max had a Guru/Premo type of chemistry. It’s a shame Young Los doesn’t get more placements these days. His shit is like bedroom Dipset/Heatmakerz, blunted out and looped up on soul. 

Friends (Feat. French Montana) (Quarantine No DJ)

More high school shit to stunt on girls to. “Nooooo need to fuck, let’s be friends”. lol

Don’t Take It Personal (Million Dollar Baby 2)

Infectious beat, effortless shit talking. Max has a way of just barely touching on the pain in his life while boasting about some player shit. It wasn’t just striking that particular balance that made him special, but the way in which he’d drop hints to let you know he’d been through some shit, but he wasn’t dwelling on it: he was just dealing with it by making wavy music.

I Ain’t Tryna (Prod. by Young Los) (Public Domain 5: Quarantine)

Sometimes when I get drunk this is all I wanna hear. The sax rings off in my head and Max is talking about not wanting to go home. Emotional shit. “Mama say all my songs foul, mama sound all my songs sound, provocative, mami how would you know? The shit you doing’s not marketin, I’ma spark again”. 

Here It Is (Prod. by Young Los) (Coke Wave)

One of the best things about the Boss Don’s music is that he sings so far off key that singing along is utterly irresistible. “Here It Is” is the best example. This beat is like bananas swinging from the fucking tree, b. “BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABYYYYYYY HEEEEEERE IT ISSSSSS”. This is top 10 hooks of all time, any genre. Fuck it. 

Live Comfortable (Prod. by Dame Grease)

Things were looking bad for Max by the time Vigilante Season dropped. Most of the songs had already been released, but the album actually delivered quality, never before heard cuts. This isn’t one of them. Play this at a pre-game, prior to being drunk. 

R.I.P. Sean Bell (Feat. Mak Mustard & Al Pac)

Over a sinister beat commemorating the death of Sean Bell, Max once again skates the line between sensitive and street with a hook that sounds like it was extracted straight out of the production. He had a way with hitting those higher notes on the scale that was far from traditional but always on point. 

Bang Bang Boogie (Million Dollar Baby Radio)

Can’t help but bop your shit when this comes on. Excellent late night subway music in New York when you’re observing bums or crazy people riding around underground. That’s just me though. 

Cake (Prod. by Alchemist) (Bloomberg Series)

Max B and Alchemist is something that should have happened a lot more often. This one is a fan favorite. “I was in the room seekin closure, smokin on the doja”. 

Quarantine Intro (Public Domain 5: Quarantine)

PD5: Quarantine was a turning point. It disappointed some, but for others it solidified Max’s position as an A-list rapper with crossover pop attempts like “Gimme Slaws” and “DJ Saved My Life” alongside classic tracks like “West Coast Freestyle Pt. 2” and “Fuck Faces 2K9”. Looking back, it actually makes me sad that more people didn’t appreciate his work when his output was so high. This is a beautiful, blunt-melting intro. One of Max’s more underrated heaters. 

Won’t Go Back (Prod. by Young Los) (Public Domain 5: Quarantine)

Another PD5 classic. The keys come in and you’re immediately in a drop top heading to the beach. Max comes with the untouchable hook. A lot of his best tracks came during the period that lead up to his trail and sentencing. 

Don’t Love Hoes (Prod. by Young Los) (Public Domain 5: Quarantine)

Max’s key strength is taking hurtful, negative experiences and making the most positive music out of them. The vulnerable guy turned street thug. He can talk about missing a girl and remembering how she would love him and keep him company, and finish it off with “I don’t love these hoooooooes”. And the way he sang in such an obtuse way made it all come together as a believable character. 

Fuck You (Prod. by Dame Grease) (Vigilante Season)

Max stretching into more vocal out-of-boundaries that any other rapper would happily (and perhaps wisely) avoid. He never seemed to give a fuck about putting a limit on what a rapper was supposed to do with his voice. He’s the real rappa ternt singa. 

Lord Is Tryna Tell You Something (Prod. by Dame Grease) (Vigilante Season)

Originally on the crunchy, lo-fi “Coke Wave 2”, this was a standout on that tape that made it on to Vigilante Season. A driving beat with an inspired and self-aware Max, it was a standout on “Coke Wave 2” alongside “Ooh Waa (Do What I Gotta Do)”, “Gain Greene Team” (specifically, the beat and Max’s part), and “Tattoos On Her Ass Part 2”. Anytime Max is talking about the Lord, the song usually turns out dope. Great song to wake up to. 

City Wit No Hoes (Public Domain 3)

One of my favorites from the project that put me on to Max. Sulking beat. This might be Max’s strongest project. 

All My Days (Prod. by Young Los)

Another drug anthem. If you’re high and this comes on, it’s basically a wrap. 

No, No, No (Free Al Peezly) (Max Payne)

Max asking why his bitch wants to hurt him over another moody beat. All you need to know.  

Harlem Bomb (Public Domain 2: Rise Of The Silver Surfer)

Max at his peak while working with Dipset over sunshiny pianos. 

Cake (Remix) (Prod. by Young Los) (Public Domain 5: Walking The Plank)

Not to be confused with the Alchemist record above, this had a different earlier version called “Cake and Eat It Too” with the same floating beat but a different hook and verses. No denying the later one’s superiority: “5 star telly fuck that, I don’t need that shit, short stay, never did the foreplay”. Then the hook comes and your body just levitates up to heaven. 

Closer I Get To You (Feat. Young Qua & West) (Million Dollar Baby 3)

Max B - Take A Flick