Underground Harlem rapper Max B, born Charly Wingate, was released from Northern State Prison in Newark, New Jersey, on November 9, 2025, after serving approximately 16 years for his role in a deadly 2006 robbery. The self-proclaimed 'Wavy God' had his original 75-year sentence reduced multiple times, allowing for his early freedom. He was greeted by family, friends, and collaborator French Montana, whose birthday coincided with the release.
Background
Max B, a influential figure in New York City's underground rap scene, gained recognition in the mid-2000s for his mixtapes and popularizing the term 'wavy.' Born Charly Wingate, he was arrested in 2007 on charges of manslaughter and armed robbery related to a botched burglary at a New Jersey hotel in 2006 that resulted in a man's death. Although Max B was not present at the scene, he was accused of being an accomplice. In 2009, he was sentenced to 75 years in prison alongside his stepbrother Kelvin Leerdam, who received life plus 35 years for the fatal shooting.
His conviction faced legal challenges. In 2016, a new legal team successfully argued a conflict of interest with his original trial lawyer, leading to the conviction being vacated and a guilty plea to aggravated manslaughter, reducing his sentence to 20 years. Further reductions in 2019 brought it down to 12 years with time served, paving the way for his 2025 release.
Release Details
Max B confirmed his release date during a 2024 phone call on The Joe Budden Podcast, stating, 'Be out November 9 2025, baby.' He expressed optimism, saying, 'This shit is almost over. Walking this thing down one day at a time, we keep on grinding. Everything good.' Earlier in 2025, he spoke with Young Thug from prison, telling him, 'Hell yeah, we ’bout to hit the home stretch, baby. We gon’ make some history?'
Upon release, French Montana shared a joyful Instagram video of the reunion, captioning it, 'CANT MAKE THIS UP ! MY BROTHER REALLY CAME HOME ON MY B DAY ! HAMDULILLAH. WALKED IT DOWN ! NO MORE FREE YOU.' The timing aligned with Montana's 41st birthday. Despite incarceration, Max B continued making music, including features on Kanye West's 2016 album The Life of Pablo and Wiz Khalifa's 2025 project Kush + Orange Juice 2. Post-release, he teased new material on social media: 'ITS TIME TO OPEN THE FLOOD GATES 🌊🌊🌊 SEE YALL IN A FEW.'
Context and Connections
Max B's story echoes other rappers' legal battles, such as Young Thug's 2024 release after a RICO case involving his label YSL. On the podcast, Max B discussed future plans: 'I can’t wait to get in the studio... But they gotta be A-list.' His return is anticipated to revive his 'wavy' influence in hip-hop.
