Maxo Kream Announces Brandon Banks LP, His Major Label Debut, Releasing on July 19th via Big Persona/88 Classic/RCA Records
Watch a New Trailer for the Upcoming Project, Named After the Assumed Alias of His Nigerian Father
06.17.2019
Critical Praise:
Punken (2018) Honors:
AV Club Music’s best hip-hop albums of 2018
Noisey’s The 100 Best Albums of 2018
DJ Booth’s 50 Best Hip-Hop and R&B Albums of 2018
FACT Mag’s 50 Best Albums Of 2018
Pitchfork’s Great Records You May Have Missed in 2018
“Over the last couple years, Maxo Kream has established himself as one of Houston’s most exciting young rappers by way of being one of Houston’s least traditionally minded artists.” – Noisey
“All of Maxo Kream’s songs trace heart-stopping scenes, but there isn’t a verse in his discography more gripping than the closer on ‘Roaches.’ It’s like something out of organized crime cinema, full of high stakes drama and involuntary introspection, delivered with the huffed demeanor of someone resigned to a life full of complications.” – Pitchfork
The Announcement:
Rising from extreme poverty in the Houston slums to become one of rap’s most compelling raconteurs, Maxo Kream’s story is just beginning. Turning the page to a new chapter, Maxo announces Brandon Banks, his upcoming major label debut. The culmination of a journey from struggle to triumph, Brandon Banks brings listeners back into the world of Maxo Kream–a world that contrasts the grim realities of poverty with the luxurious life of a successful rapper. Born Emekwanem Ogugua Biosah Jr., Maxo grew up idolizing his father who spent much of Maxo’s youth in-and-out of prison–in his illegal enterprise, his father used the code name Brandon Banks. The upcoming album finds Maxo grappling with his newfound fame–as a budding star, Maxo has no need to return to his previous life, but he is still very attached to friends and family in the street, who he is not quite able to lift out of their circumstances. Featuring appearances from Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, and many others, Brandon Banks drops on July 19th via Big Persona/88 Classic/RCA Records.
Explains Maxo Kream: “This album is me telling the story of how I’m just like my dad except he was a scammer and I was a trapper. Despite his flaws, he was a great parent, always made sure the rent was paid, made sure I went to school, taught me right from wrong. I wasn’t raised to be a trapper, it just happened because of my circumstances. My relationship with my dad now is great – I used to be terrified of him growing up but now that’s my n****a. We’re like yin and yang.”
Though it’s heavily informed by Maxo’s past, as depicted in his previous albums Maxo 187 and Punken, Brandon Banks is an album firmly rooted in the present, with appearances from some of the biggest names in rap. Always looking for adventurous sounds, Maxo leveled up to complete his musical vision, enlisting A-Listers like Mike Dean and Murda Beatz, as well as previous collaborators like teej and Ryan ESL. The upcoming album gives a home to recent singles, including the soulful “Meet Again,” listed by Esquire, Billboard, and Vulture as one of 2019’s best songs so far, the sinister, ChaseTheMoney-produced “Still,” and the sexual and lyrical “She Live,” featuring fellow Houston emcee Megan Thee Stallion, which racked up over 1.3 million Spotify streams since its release on May 10th.
Generating over 30 million streams on Spotify alone, Maxo’s 2018 project Punken earned massive critical acclaim, including “Best Of 2018” honors from Noisey, The AV Club, FACT Mag, and DJ Booth, among others. The project’s most recent single “Roaches,” which boasts a creative music video with over 4.9 million YouTube views. Featuring appearances from Trippie Redd, 03 Greedo, and D. Flowers, and with production from The Wlderness, Beatboy, Sonny Digital, Ethereal, Honorable C Note, $uicideboy$, Tommy Kruise, Wolfe De Mchls, Teddy Walton, and MexikoDro, Punken built upon 2015’s Maxo 187 and 2016’s The Persona Tape with emotional and sonically diverse tracks sitting side-by-side with drug-dealing bangers. Expect a similar creative and commercial leap from Brandon Banks.
Watch a trailer for Brandon Banks: https://youtu.be/1MOrKMtbe5M
Listen to “She Live” ft. Megan Thee Stallion: http://smarturl.it/SheLive
For inquiries, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Audible Treats: michelle@audibletreats.com
Scott Jawson, Audible Treats: scott@audibletreats.com
Kristin Somin, RCA Records: kristin.somin@rcarecords.com
The Background:
Upon meeting him, gangsta rapper isn’t the impression that most would get from buzzing Houston emcee, Maxo Kream, age 28. He has a surprisingly goofy and playful demeanor, often cracking self-aware jokes and displaying a smile which showcases either his gold grin or his trademark gap in the upper row of this teeth. But, make no mistake, Maxo’s backstory is a tale consisting of crime and death that would catch the attention of the most jaded followers of gangsta/trap rap.
Inspired by his college trip to SXSW and the fact that other street cliques throughout Houston such asFDAB (founded by late rapper T.O.Y, a childhood friend and Crip associate of Maxo) and MashMode(which has now resulted in the buzzing careers of Houston rap duo, The Sauce Twinz) were transitioning into music as a form of expression, Maxo and his younger cousin Lyndon (rap moniker Lyndo C), jumped into music. Maxo’s latest album, Punken, takes a deep and revealing look into the rapper’s past, with Maxo mastering his storytelling ability and hypnotic flows atop forward-thinking production. Featuring appearances from Trippie Redd, 03 Greedo, and D. Flowers, and with production from The Wlderness, Beatboy, Sonny Digital, Ethereal, Honorable C Note, $uicideboy$, Tommy Kruise, Wolfe De Mchls, Teddy Walton, and MexikoDro, Punken builds upon 2015’s Maxo 187 and 2016’s The Persona Tape with emotionally and sonically diverse tracks sitting side-by-side with insane drug-dealing bangers.
Links:
official site | twitter | instagram | soundcloud | spotify
Bio, pictures, and streams available here: http://www.audibletreats.com/maxo-kream
Watch a trailer for Brandon Banks LP: https://youtu.be/1MOrKMtbe5M
“She Live” ft. Megan Thee Stallion: http://smarturl.it/SheLive
“Still” (Prod. by ChaseTheMoney): http://smarturl.it/xStill /
“Meet Again”: http://smarturl.it/xMeetAgain
“Roaches”: https://youtu.be/NFshaFXrfTQ
Punken: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/punken/1327576441 // https://soundcloud.com/maxo-kream/sets/punken || https://open.spotify.com/album/1DQGBofK4pgOylFMRRy7dB
“Pop Another”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGh0op5Bo1E
“5200”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCI6GmGZtg8
“Go” ft. D. Flowers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOT5pvE_ep8
“Bussdown” (prod. by Wlderness): https://soundcloud.com/maxo-kream/bussdown || https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bussdown-single/1309216336|| https://open.spotify.com/track/37ddfWZT6PtJpyKBm6TJy6
“Mars” ft. Lil Uzi Vert: https://soundcloud.com/maxo-kream/mars
“Grannies”: https://youtu.be/0p4S9P1DFrE // https://soundcloud.com/maxo-kream/grannies/s-0DWkP // https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/grannies-single/id1198308266