7.19.2024
Video: Maxo Kream – “Eye Know” (Prod. by Evilgiane)
The Houston Native Connects Once Again with the Surf Gang Producer to Craft a Fast-Paced Rapping Clinic
Critical Praise:
Every line arrives like deftly paced camerawork, as Maxo constructs a scene worthy of a Scorcese film.” – Rolling Stone
“The secret to keeping every song so effortless and flowing, regardless of subject matter, is in the phrasing. He can boil something as complicated as friends betraying each other down to a simple and clever line.” – Pitchfork
“Maxo Kream is one of the smartest, funniest, rawest rappers out of Houston (or anywhere), a gifted storyteller with a drawl that draws you in and an eye for detail that holds your attention” – Stereogum
“His best songs are stuffed with so many specific names and places that the listener has no choice but to believe what they’re hearing as true. It’s rare for me to believe anything a rapper says these days, but with Maxo it’s different. His vulnerability and clear-sighted perspective when recounting traumatic events leads me to believe Maxo is a reliable narrator” – Passion of the Weiss
“Houston rapper Maxo Kream has been dropping singles lately, and his conversational, melodic style remains addictive each time.” – BrooklynVegan
“His discography deals in-depth with the family struggle. It’s also a reminder for all of us to listen to the whole story. Otherwise, you inevitably miss a crucial piece of the incredibly complex puzzle of his life: poverty, gang culture, his complicated relationship with his parents as an immigrant son.” – NPR
The Video:
Consistently toying with listeners’ expectations, Maxo Kream effortlessly molds underground sounds to fit his speaker-knocking Houston style. The acclaimed emcee connects with Surf Gangproducer Evilgiane for “Eye Know,” his new video single. The Surf Gang producer (known for his work with Kendrick Lamar and Earl Sweatshirt, among others) provides a beat that swings with relentless propulsion, as Maxo steps up his game, decrying haters and fakes with his double-time rhymes: “I know some n****s that’s gangsta on Insta/You catch ’em and see ’em they really some h*es/I know some n****s got millions on YouTube, but can’t do a concert, can’t sell out a show.” Directed by Michael Onipede, the video matches the song’s playful vibe, liberally using the fisheye lens as Maxo hits licks and counts the cars in his garage.
“Eye Know” is this year’s second collaboration between Maxo Kream and Evilgiane, following “Bang The Bus,” an ethereal and energetic offering that arrived in January and earned acclaim from Stereogum, Rap Radar, Hits DD, and more. “Bang The Bus” kicked off a productive 2024 for the beloved rapper. Maxo used his music to process a loss in his family, paying tribute to his hero, his father Emekwanem Ibemakanam Ogugua Biosah Sr., aka Brandon Banks, who passed away earlier this year, in the single and music video for “No Then You a H*e,“ covered in Billboard, HotNewHipHop, Brooklyn Vegan, and more. He teamed up with fellow Texan That Mexican OTfor “Talkin In Screw,” a syrupy tribute to DJ Screw and the South Texas rap scene.
A master storyteller who has succeeded for over a decade in the game on his own terms, Maxo Kream is a proud torchbearer for the Texas rap tradition. Today, the Houston heavy-hitter celebrates his birthday by sharing “Talkin In Screw,” a new single and music video featuring fellow Texan That Mexican OT. Produced by Nick Grand, the new song is Houston to its core, populated by screeching synths and thumping 808s, inviting Maxo and OT to apply their fastest flows as they flex in double-time and dare any smack-talkers to meet them face-to-face. In the final minute of the song, “Talkin In Screw” slows to a syrupy pace, putting a spotlight on Maxo’s lyrics and paying tribute to the late Houston innovator DJ Screw. Maxo is hard at work on an upcoming project, due later this year, featuring these singles and diving deep into Maxo’s personal history.
Maxo’s upcoming album is the highly-anticipated follow-up to the 2021 album Weight Of The World, which earned critical acclaim from Pitchfork, NPR, Complex, and many others. The album featured collaborations with heavy-hitters including Tyler, The Creator, A$AP Rocky, Don Toliver, and Freddie Gibbs, and was expanded with 2022’s Weight Of The World (Deluxe), adding features from Benny The Butcher, Anderson .Paak, Babyface Ray, and more. Maxo spent 2023 releasing more fiery collaborations, including “Bonecrusher” ft. Key Glock and “Whatchamacallit” ft. Luh Tyler, and working on his health: the rapper recently shared that he lost more than 75 pounds and is in better shape than ever before.
Maxo Kream is currently on tour with his good friend That Mexican OT. Buy tickets HERE
Stay tuned for much more from Maxo Kream, as he continues to perfect his personas and honor his late father in 2024.
Watch “Eye Know”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvZtNhh16e4
Stream “Eye Know”: https://stompdown.lnk.to/eyeknow
Links:
instagram | twitter | soundcloud | spotify
“Eye Know” (Prod. by Evilgiane): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvZtNhh16e4
“Talkin In Screw” ft. That Mexican OT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKnBQNyG-cM / https://stompdown.lnk.to/talkininscrew
“No Then You a H*e”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyXAz5Wh_oE
“Bang The Bus” (Prod. by Evilgiane): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rydJEwoZq0