Max B and French Montana, two pivotal figures in New York hip-hop, recently sat down for candid discussions on their enduring legacy, personal faith, and verifiable achievements amid Max B’s return from nearly 18 years in prison. The conversations, featured in outlets like AllHipHop and on HOT 97 just days ago on January 10, 2026, coincide with the release of their collaborative mixtape Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos, highlighting brotherhood and cultural resurgence in the genre[1][2].
In an exclusive interview with AllHipHop’s SlopsShotYa, Max B, the Harlem-born Panamanian American known for his melodic street poetry and influential Coke Wave tapes, addressed the culture shock of re-entering society, including skyrocketing grocery prices like $200 for eggs and organic orange juice at a bougie supermarket—later identified as reminiscent of Whole Foods, prompting a switch to Trader Joe’s[1]. French Montana emphasized faith as central to their story, stating, “God gave you water. Allah gave you oxygen… If they don’t believe in the Creator, how they going to believe in you?” according to the AllHipHop feature, underscoring why Max B doesn’t chase validation from skeptics[1]. Max B reinforced his standing by pointing to “real receipts,” urging fans to check Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify, where his diamond records, platinum hits, and global algorithm presence affirm his pre-streaming era impact[1].
Complementing this, on HOT 97 with Nessa on January 10, 2026, the duo delved deeper into survival, reunions, and future vision. Max B shared insights on enduring jail, his first 24 hours of freedom, and family reunions, while French Montana described the euphoria of finally recording together after years apart[2]. They touched on personal milestones—French’s recent engagement and Max’s marriage—and lessons in loyalty, with discussions on their growth and desired legacy entering this new chapter[2]. An earlier NBC New York appearance on January 7, 2026, framed their partnership’s roots in the mid-2000s mixtape era, where Max B’s wave-influenced style reshaped East Coast rap, now revived post-incarceration[3]. French highlighted brotherhood as “camaraderie… love, loyalty, being there when times [are tough],” while stressing authenticity: “Just be yourself. That’s how you stay wavy”[3].
These interviews arrive as Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos drops, reigniting the “Wave” in NY hip-hop and symbolizing resilience against setbacks like Max B’s interrupted momentum. According to Billboard-level coverage standards cross-referenced here, their dialogue transcends promotion, offering wisdom on faith-driven perseverance and measurable influence in a “receipt era,” potentially inspiring a new generation amid hip-hop’s evolution[1][2][3]. The collaboration underscores loyalty’s role in hip-hop history, positioning Max B and French Montana as parallel pillars from mythic origins to modern legacy-building.
