Videos by According2HipHop
Max B is making his return count. Just weeks after walking out of Northern State Prison last month, the Harlem native is already back in the studio—and back in formation with frequent collaborator French Montana. The pair has officially announced Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos, a new installment in their cult-favorite mixtape series that helped shape an era of New York rap.
The momentum behind the reunion was sparked by footage Max B shared from a Newark studio session with French and longtime collaborator Harry Fraud, marking the trio’s first time together in years. Despite the long pause, their synergy feels intact, tapping into the melodic street aesthetic that defined their late-2000s rise.
Max B—who spent 16 years behind bars for his involvement in a 2006 attempted robbery—was originally sentenced to 75 years before his legal team secured a major reduction in 2016. Now released at 47, he’s wasting no time reclaiming his place in Hip-Hop.
Thankfully, music appears to be the focal point of his resurgence. Biggaveli is gearing up for the Dec. 3 drop of his upcoming solo album, Public Domain 7: The First Purge (Patient Zero), led by the Dame Grease-produced single “No More Tricks.” It’s a return to the gritty-but-wavy formula that originally set him apart.
But for many fans, the real headline is the revival of Coke Wave. The original 2009 mixtape not only helped launch French Montana’s career but solidified Max B ’s imprint on the wavy sound that would ripple through Hip-Hop well into the 2010s. Their chemistry produced fan favorites like “The New Wave,” “Been Around,” and the 2019 standout “Coke Wave Boys” with the late Chinx.
Now, studio clips teasing Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos have ignited excitement across social platforms. With Fraud’s signature production setting the tone, the project appears poised to blend nostalgia with the maturity both artists gained over the last decade.
With new music, renewed partnerships, and a legacy ready for its next chapter, Max B’s second act is already shaping up to be one of Hip-Hop’s most compelling stories of the 2020’s.
