On Wednesday night, incarcerated rapper Max B released his second newly recorded song in as many weeks. Dont Push Me offers a singsong update of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Fives seminal single The Message; along with the recently released Hold On, the latest track will appear on Max Bs next mixtape with French Montana, Coke Wave 3.
Speaking from prison on Wednesday, Max B said Dont Push Me aimed to recapture some of that old flavor that Grandmaster Flash feel, that Ice Cube Check Yo Self feel. Theres no more riding music out there right now, thats some ancient folklore, Max B added. So we gotta put that back in perspective. I was coming with some funk.
For help on his latest track, Max B called in his longtime collaborator French Montana, the producer Paul Couture (who handled Hold On) and the artist Will Luo (the blazing cover art). French Montana riffs on the original lyrics from The Message as well as the hook of Puff Daddys Been Around the World, which in turn recycled Lisa Stansfields All Around the World.
All the throwback references are purposeful: My agenda was to attract the older fanbase who now listen to todays music and are like, nah, Im not listening to that shit, cause they cant relate to it, Max B explained. Im trying to put some of that old flavor in with this new revolution we got going on.
Though Max B hadnt released a freshly recorded song in eight years before Hold On, the track received more than 100 spins at radio last week from stations around the Northeast, plus SiriusXMs Shade 45. Thats no small feat, considering the track had no promotional support.
Aint nothin but good things happened since we put that joint out, so lets put out another one, Max B said. You know me: I dont like to be known as the dude with just one hot song.