Max B

Born Charley Wingate in Harlem, New York on May 21, 1978, Max B is an influential rap artist whose voice, cadence, and melodic instincts helped reshape the sound of late‑2000s New York hip‑hop. The self‑proclaimed originator of the atmospheric electronic ‘wave’ genre, Max B fuses street‑rooted storytelling with a raw, melodic delivery that blurs the line between rapping and singing, laying groundwork for a generation of emotionally driven rap music. Often referred to as a ‘mood architect’ as well as a rapper, Max B emerged from mixtape culture and released nearly 20 mixtapes before he issued his debut album, Vigilante Season, in 2011. Even before he had released his first album, Max B had already become a cult figure and was admired for his unfiltered charisma and instinctive approach to melody. However, his success may have been negatively affected by issues he was dealing with behind the scenes including being convicted in 2009 of murder. While incarcerated, he continued to release EPs, mixtapes, and collaborate with other artists. Max B’s second album, Negro Spirituals, was released in 2021, a full decade after his debut. His murder charges were eventually vacated, and he was released from prison in late 2025. Max B collaborated with French Montana for the 2026 mixtape Coke Wave 3.5, which included the single “Ever Since U Left Me.”