Max B, the influential Harlem rapper and co-creator of the “wavy” sound, is set to be released from prison this fall.
After serving over 16 years behind bars, the 47-year-old artist, whose real name is Charly Wingate, confirmed his freedom via an Instagram post. Max B announced he will walk free on November 9, 2025, after serving over a decade for a deadly 2006 robbery. He was originally sentenced to 75 years on serious charges including armed robbery and aggravated assault. In 2016, he accepted a plea deal, reducing his sentence to 20 years for aggravated manslaughter.
Max B’s imminent release from Northern State Prison in Newark, New Jersey, marks a highly anticipated moment for the hip-hop community. A longtime affiliate of French Montana, Max B’s return has been a topic of conversation for years. The Harlem rapper has been incarcerated since 2009 following a conviction for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, kidnapping and felony murder. He was initially sentenced to 75 years in connection with a botched robbery in Fort Lee, New Jersey, that left one man dead. Prosecutors claimed Max B planned the crime, though he has denied direct involvement.