Vigilante Season may be the official debut from Max B, but the rap world has been familiar with Wavy Crockett for years now. Getting his weight up with Jim Jones and Cam’ron as a Diplomats affiliate and ByrdGang member, the Harlem emcee’s sing-song rhymes, undeniable choruses and comically mumbled delivery earned him a three-album deal with Amalgam Digital. Whenever he wasn’t flooding the streets with his mixtapes or guest appearances, he was holding hilarious interviews. Unfortunately, his “wave” settled at shore in 2009, when he began a 75-year prison sentence after being convicted of robbery and murder conspiracy charges. He claimed in a January phone interview that he may get out on appeal this summer and drop a double-disc, but all that the fans have for now is Vigilante Season, which he recorded in 2008 before going in. Though Season has its faults, its highlights are sure to frustrate the fans who only have an inkling of hope to hear more music from Max B.
Max’s excels as a hook man, but his personality fuels Vigilante Season‘s enjoyability. He doesn’t wow listeners with innovative content—women, weight, and whips are the focus here. Yet he croons, chuckles and “ow’s” his way into listeners’ hearts, or at least the back of their minds, on song after song. Beats from Dame Grease don’t hurt either, as the Harlem producer known for his discography with The LOX and Ruff Ryders offers an assortment of silky, synthy soundbeds—12 of the album’s 15 cuts—for Max to roll around in. “Where Do I Go (BBQ Music)” 
and “Live Comfortable” are party-ready with their light-hearted vibes, and Max even seduces a robbery victim with his infectious voice on “I Need More Money.” “Please put your hands in the sky, if you wondering why, nigga you finna’na die/then get the cash, put it up in the stash, 200-plus on the dash, you see the roof in my eyes,” he carols during the chorus. When Grease showcases his grimy East Coast roots on songs like “Boss Don Season” and “Money Makes Me Feel Better,” Max keeps his strong hooks on-hand while toughening his delivery appropriately.
With production and choruses being Max’s primary strengths, Max’s bars aren’t particularly memorable aside from the occasional wisecrack. On that front, Vigilante Season could have benefited from more guest appearances by other emcees. Album opener “Model of Enthropy” succeeds by preceding Max’s rhymes with a capable 16 by Boston-bred lyricist Young Riot, and even the slightly above-average emcee Al Pac brings a welcome change of pace on “White Lines” and “You Won’t Get Far.” Still, verses from Max’s former Diplomats comrades, or any other notable NYC lyricists for that matter, would give this album a shot of extra replay value.
Lack of variety aside, Max B’s Vigilante Season is an enjoyable effort that holds up surprisingly well three years after it was initially completed. Here’s to hoping that more Max B choruses find their way out in months and years down the line.
Dope
Underrated
Never thought this dude had an ounce of talent. But then again, French Montana got a deal, so…
Wack
truthfully? I hate everybody, but this dude actually has some talent. it’s still that gangster shit that I’m sick of, but he does a better job than most.
dude is a peice of fucken shit.
DON’T LET THESE SUCKAS FOOL YOU in the comments, this is a really good album. I doubt they’ve even listened to it. It’s the first max b shit I got and I was impressed. The dude got skills. I think this will be one of the best releases of the year cause I haven’t heard other cats with an album like this. This album shits on anything I ever heard come out of dipset. Don’t sleep on this album!
Catch the wave! 3 years later and this album still bangs that shit aint stale stale at all.
Are yall serious?
oww
If the guy didnt look like such a douche bag i might be inclined to give him a chance haha.
fuck this wack clown
this joint got a bunch of bangers on it!!! Max B doin shit ya fav rappers scared to do!!!! OOOWW OOOWW!!! FREE MAX B COTDAMMIT!!!!!!!
where do i go bbq is smooth .
ok album . not a great rapper . some ok beats . 3 stars
FREE MAX B!!!!!!!!
like i say on many of DX’s album reviews, they gave Gucci Mane’s ‘The State Vs Radric Davis’ 3.5 stars. Max B is in some pretty decent company like Raekwon, Snoop, Ice Cube etc etc etc of people who DX think are NOT as good as Gucci Mane.
Max B is one of the few rappers out that actually have me fiending for more. But i do have a problem with this cd…their is way to much previously released music on here. I feel like if this is the first time you hear max…your not gonna fully appreciate him..cuz most of his best shit is on mixtapes. nonetheless if u need some new max shit make sure u check out that joint “baby i need more” classic wavey oww
Your ratings are all fucked up. You gave this piece of shit the same rating Diabolic got? GTFOH! Diabolic would smash this joke with 2 lines he could never response properly. I get that preferences affect the rating, but yall should try to be objective, Diabolic deserves a higher rating for the technical standpoint ALONE.
dis was the crack
yesiwetwoyounameandnomecall
mans an artist cant nobody match this dude on a random beat he can turn it into a classic
Who the fiuck cares about this guy?
niggaz thats wavy….act like u know douche bag
Can’t lie he sounded shit when I 1st heard him but he defo does grow on you. There isn’t a day when I don’t listen to him, nigga gets me thru life. Free max