Max B aims to demonstrate a new side of his artistry on Black and Im Proud, the first official single from his upcoming Negro Spirituals album.
Its about me really evolving as a person, evolving as an artist, the incarcerated rapper tells Rolling Stone. My music five or six years ago even before when I used to make music it was good, but it lacked the experience I have today. The concept fell into my lap: Im gonna transform from the old Max B into a powerful new artist with a display of content that they arent used to. Im trying to give the people some substance. The title and hook of his latest release echo one of James Browns most famous singles, which became an anthem of empowerment during the 1960s.
Max Bs turn towards substance was encouraged by his mother. In Black and Im Proud, he raps about her influence, while Paul Coutures menacing beat rumbles beneath him: Mama telling me, baby, what you preachin is wrong/They in love with your music, you should be teachin them [in] songs.
But Max B has other concerns on his mind here as well. He doesnt think too highly of the musical competition All this bullshit music, they dont know when to stop. And he takes aim at unnamed detractors, rapping, the people believe its me that was draggin em down.
If I got an issue, a personal problem, sometimes I put it in my music to address it, Max B tells Rolling Stone. I was talking about people in general, people thats not for what were trying to do, theyre trying to hold us back while were trying to elevate and pick our people up.
Max B has been in prison since 2009, when he was sentenced to 75 years in prison, accused of being an accomplice to a robbery in New Jersey that ended in murder. (The rapper was not in the state at the time.) The conviction was later vacated in 2016, after a new legal team argued that Maxs original trial lawyer had a conflict of interest in the case, according to Associated Press. His sentence was subsequently reduced to 20 years.
This year he started to release new music: First the track Hold On, which nods to Sade, and then Dont Push Me, which pays tribute to Grandmaster Flash and Ice Cube.