Maxo Kream Drops New Single “Big Hoe Me”
“Big Hoe Me,” is the latest and final single we can expect from Maxo Kream ahead of the release of his new album Personification. In it, the Texan rapper takes listeners back to when he was 14 years old hustling in the streets under the wing of an older mentor. In the track, the rapper wades through a groovy and intense beat as he recounts discovering his father’s arrest, a near-death experience, and realizing that his mentor wasn’t as tough as he thought. Maxo tells it like it is with lyrics like, “Big hoe me had me doing sh*t he ain’t ever done before / but little did I know my big hoe me was a ho.”
Maxo Kream’s surgical storytelling skills allow the listener to step foot into each verse and join him in unraveling the events that progress throughout the project. Taking a look inward and tracking his evolution from street firebrand to acclaimed lyricist to respected entrepreneur, Personification, drops on November 15th, on all digital platforms and on vinyl, via his own label, Stomp Down. The upcoming album is currently available for pre-save HERE.
His first album since 2021’s Weight of the World, and its 2022 Deluxe Edition, Personification looks back on Maxo’s life and career through the guise of three personas. The first is Trigga Maxo, the blue headband-wearing citizen of the streets that stormed into the rap game with songs like “Cell Boomin” and projects like #MAXO187, melding traditional Houston rap with underground sounds and raw lyricism. Trigga Maxo gives way to Punken–a persona Maxo crafted on the album of the same title, named after his childhood nickname–reflecting Maxo’s elevated narratives and refined fashion sense, as songs like “Grannies” and albums like Brandon Banks established the Houston native as one of the finest storytellers in the rap game. The final persona is Emekwanem, Maxo’s birth name, which retains elements of Punken and Trigga Maxo, but subsumes them into a more mature package. Emekwanem is a business owner and family man, focused on building a lasting legacy and living a cleaner lifestyle. Fans saw glimpses of Emekwanem on songs like “No Then You A Hoe,” a single that pays tribute to Maxo’s father, who passed away earlier this year.
Maxo’s three personas intersect in unexpected ways throughout the album, which features guest appearances from heavy-hitting names in hip-hop. Personification features singles like “Cracc Era,” which features a guest spot and production from Tyler, The Creator. Earlier this year, Maxo teamed with Surf Gang producer Evilgiane for the spritely “Eye Know” and the ethereal “Bang The Bus,” earning acclaim from Stereogum, Rap Radar, Hits DD, and more. He teamed up with fellow Texan That Mexican OT for “Talkin In Screw,” a syrupy tribute to DJ Screw and the South Texas rap scene. The rest of the album is similarly eclectic, with some sounds that borrow from all eras of Maxo’s career and others that launch the artist into heretofore unseen territory. Stay tuned for many more announcements about Personification before its release in November.
Personification is the follow-up to his 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.
Now in better mental and physical shape than ever before–Maxo has lost more than 75 pounds over several months–Maxo is ready to make a statement with his next album. Stay tuned for much more from Maxo Kream, as he continues to perfect his personas and honor his late father in 2024.