After 16 years behind bars, the hip-hop world is celebrating the release of renowned rapper Max B. The Harlem-born artist, whose real name is Charley Wingate, has officially left prison after a lengthy legal battle stemming from a tragic armed robbery in New Jersey.
A Complex Legal Battle and Reduced Sentence
Max B was first arrested in 2007 on charges of manslaughter and armed robbery. The case centred on a botched 2006 robbery that resulted in a man's death. Prosecutors successfully argued that while the rapper was not physically present at the crime scene, he had played a key role in orchestrating the incident.
In 2009, he was convicted and handed an astonishing 75-year prison sentence. However, a major turning point came in 2016 when his conviction was vacated. His new legal team demonstrated that his original attorney had a conflict of interest, which led to his sentence being significantly reduced to 20 years.
Maintaining a Musical Career From Behind Bars
Despite his incarceration, Max B's influence on the music industry never faded. He remarkably continued to create music and record verses, primarily over the telephone. His artistic output during this period includes the 2011 album 'Vigilante Season' and the 2019 single 'Hold On', a collaboration with his longtime associate French Montana.
His cultural impact was further cemented with contributions to major projects, including an appearance on Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo' and a dedicated interlude on Wiz Khalifa's 'Kush + Orange Juice 2' earlier this year.
A Triumphant Return to Freedom
The rapper's release on Sunday was met with jubilation from his peers and fans. French Montana, who was reportedly one of the first to greet him, marked the occasion with a celebratory social media post. Max B himself had correctly predicted his imminent freedom during an appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, stating, "I'm feeling righteous, man. I'm doing all right. This is almost over… Wavy Baby coming home real soon."
Now a free man, Max B has immediately begun teasing his next moves. In a triumphant message posted on social media, he declared, "ITS TIME TO OPEN THE FLOOD GATES," signalling a highly anticipated return to music and public life.
