Harlem rapper Max B was freed from prison on Sunday after spending 16 years behind bars for his involvement in a failed armed robbery that led to a man’s death.
The artist, whose real name is Charley Wingate, gained fame for his mixtapes and for coining the term “wavy” before his 2007 arrest on manslaughter and armed robbery charges.
Earlier this year, he revealed in a phone interview from prison that he would be released on November 9.
“I’m feeling righteous, man,” Max told the Joe Budden Podcast. “I’m doing all right. This is almost over. Wavy Baby coming home real soon.”
In 2009, Max B was handed a 75-year prison sentence after being accused of aiding a robbery in New Jersey that ended in murder, despite not being present in the state at the time.
His conviction was overturned in 2016 after a new legal team argued that his original lawyer had a conflict of interest. The sentence was later reduced to 20 years.
French Montana, who collaborated with Max B on their 2009 mixtape Coke Wave, was among those to celebrate his release on Sunday.
“Can’t make this up! My brother really came home on my bday!” Montana shared on social media.
Even while incarcerated, Max B continued to release music, often recording vocals over the phone, according to Rolling Stone.
He appeared on Kanye West’s 2016 album The Life of Pablo on the track “Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission.”
Earlier this year, he was featured on Wiz Khalifa’s Kush + Orange Juice 2 with the song “Max B Interlude.”
Following his release, Max B hinted at more music to come in a social media post: “It’s time to open the flood gates. See yall in a few.”
Dua Lipa has described Britney Spears as "an icon".
The Houdini singer also pointed out her personal favorite track from the pop legend.
Dua, 30, said that Britney’s 2003 single Toxic is the song she loves most, sharing that she often plays it every night to relax while spending time on holiday with her extended family.
"You're very silly and giggly and fun and I need to hear 'Toxic' at the end of every single night when I'm feeling like that," she told Vogue Magazine. "It's one of my favourite songs."
The Levitating artist took it even further, calling Toxic "one of the greatest" and saying it has a timeless quality.
"I think it's one of the greatest pop songs ever made," Dua gushed. "It makes me feel nostalgic, but also at the same time, if it came out yesterday, it would be an absolute smash. I love it so much."
She also mentioned that the track’s music video, which shows Britney, 44, as a space-themed flight attendant, played a major role in its appeal.
"The bit that stays in my mind that I remember so well is Britney in a stewardess outfit, and I don't think anyone has been able to make a stewardess outfit look so good," Dua said, before confessing her belief that Britney was "an icon".
"I love Britney so much," she said. "I love everything about her, all her songs. She's such an icon."
