Maxo Kream (MAXOKREAM) - Personification" (Album)

Houston rapper Maxo Kream released his fourth studio album, Personification, three years after his last project, Weight of the World. The album's long album rollout included singles like "Talkin in Screw" featuring his fellow Houston rapper That Mexican OT and "Cracc Era" featuring Grammy winner Tyler The Creator. This new album, out Nov. 15, highlights one of rap's current great storytellers, who once again reflects on familiar themes from his other works but with a fresh perspective. 7 Ways to Retire Comfortably With $1M Fisher Investments 7 Ways to Retire Comfortably With $1M Ad On Personification, Maxo reflects on the various personas he has had in his life: Emekwanem, his real name; Punken, this contemplative, reflective version of himself; and Trigga Maxo, the gangbanger that made a name for himself in southwest Houston. The album artwork shows Maxo looking in three mirrors, each of his personas represented. The first track on the tracklist, "Mo Murda," calls out the various contradictions the Alief rapper constantly battles. Contradiction is the word that comes up often throughout the album, whether from his own words or the construction of the tracklist. For example, the album can go from a hardcore gangbanging anthem like "Drizzy Draco 2" to an angry examination of the hypocrisy of his relationship with religion on "Walk by Faith." Maxo can go from a dark reflection of the realities of his past as a drug dealer to reveling in that same idea. The album is a balancing act in line with its theme that only someone as in control of language and storytelling as Maxo could hope to pull off. He can go from a serious introspection of his past as a gangbanger or being a new father, then slip back into his old habits, sometimes all on the same song, such as on "Bibles and Rifles." 7 Ways to Retire Comfortably With $1M Fisher Investments 7 Ways to Retire Comfortably With $1M Ad He released this album through his own label after a major label stint with RCA. Free to craft the album as he pleases, he has delivered an album uncompromising in its vision. The beats can seem like they come out of the left field or unrelated, but they remain cohesive through the talent and pure storytelling at which Maxo continues to excel. Maxo is speaking through the trauma and his own tumultuous life up to this point. Last year, authorities took him in on an RICO case that has been ongoing since 2016. Personification shows him working through the legal troubles and betrayals he has experienced while also reconciling the death of his father and the imprisonment of his brother. Maxo has also become a father in the three years since his last album, adding a new layer for him to explore. The subject matter can be serious, but what is endearing about Maxo is that despite the seriousness or trauma being discussed, his style and wordplay are just fun. One of the standout tracks, "Big Hoe Me," is the perfect example of a song where he talks through some tough memories of street mentors not looking out for his best interests, but the title and his clever wordplay make the trauma digestible and entertaining at the same time. Maxo Kream's Houston roots continue to be intertwined with his raps. In his storytelling, he constantly names familiar streets and landmarks as he paints his picture of the gang life he once lived. Hailing from southwest Houston, Maxo never passes up a chance to take you down a grimy tour of Bissonet Street. He flexes his connection to Houston throughout the album and his feature list. Houston great Z-Ro appears on the record "Drop Top Impala," drawing connective tissue from one great Houston storyteller to another. Maxo also enlists on-the-rise Texas rapper BigXthaPlug on "Smokey," where the two exchange stories of dealing with clients who fail to pay their dues back in their drug dealing days. At this point, Maxo has solidified himself as one of the best rappers out there. Still underrated, he is the perfect example of an artist with respect from his peers and hardcore rap fans, but not necessarily the pomp and circumstance of the most popular rappers. He gets the same critical acclaim with every project, gaining new fans incrementally. His continued collaborative efforts with artists like Tyler the Creator have introduced him to an entirely different fanbase. Houston through and through, Maxo Kream seems unbothered with the popularity grind, comfortable in both his ability and place in the rap world. He has confidence in his work and his status in the rap game, which allows him to have an enormous runway to do whatever he pleases musically. Already a Houston great, Maxo continues to set the standard for the new generation of Houston rappers staking their claim in the city. - via MSN