''Maxo 187'' (stylized as ''#Maxo187'') is the third mixtape by the American rapper
Maxo Kream
Emekwanem Ogugua Biosah Jr. (born March 29, 1990), known professionally as Maxo Kream, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. His debut album ''Punken'' was released in 2018, and the follow-up and major label debut, ''Brandon Banks'', was re ...
. It was released on March 5, 2015, by TSO Records. The album's release was supported by the release of the single "Cell Boomin" featuring Father. The mixtape has
guest appearances by
Fredo Santana,
Joey Bada$$
Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (born January 20, 1995), known professionally as Joey Badass (stylized as Joey Bada$$), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. A native of Brooklyn, New York City, he is a founding member of the hip-hop collective Pro ...
and others.
Production was led by Wolfe De Mçhls (also known as WXLF GXD) who produced six tracks, including album opener "Thirteen". A number of up-and-coming trap producers assisted him, including
A$AP Mob
ASAP Mob (stylized as A$AP Mob, ASAP being an acronym for "Always Strive And Prosper") is an American hip hop collective formed in 2006 in Harlem, New York City, that consists of rappers (most of whom carry the "ASAP" moniker), record producers, ...
member A$AP P on the boards, Ryan ESL and Christian Lou. The production was acclaimed for its cohesiveness and ability to complement Kream's versatile flow.
Noted by critics for its macabre themes and violent lyrics, ''#Maxo187'' details Kream's teenage experiences in the drug-infested and crime-ridden streets of
southwest Houston, told through accounts of home invasions, robberies and life as a
52 Hoover Gangster Crip. ''#Maxo187'' received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Kream's rapping and storytelling.
Music and lyrics
''#Maxo187'' uses atmospheric beats with rattling hi hats and booming bass, reminiscent of older Houstonian styles while still incorporating new styles of
trap music
Trap is a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in the Southern United States during the 1990s. The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang word "trap", a house used exclusively to sell drugs. Trap music uses synthesized drums and is ch ...
, similar to
Travis Scott's ''
Days Before Rodeo
''Days Before Rodeo'' is the second mixtape by American rapper Travi$ Scott. It was released for free on August 18, 2014, by Grand Hustle Records. The mixtape features guest appearances from Young Thug, Big Sean, The 1975, Rich Homie Quan, M ...
'' and
A$AP Rocky's ''
LIVE.LOVE.A$AP''. "Cell Boomin", the mixtape's
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release ...
, is built around a simple sample of a
phone ringing. The ringing tone's omnipresence seems haunting at times while Kream raps about shifty phone calls with dealers and his never-ending crusade in the drug trade. Album opener "Thirteen" begins with a sweeping synth build and a harrowing backing vocal which sounds as if the speaker is attempting to break through the mold of the volatile synthesizers. Later, a screaming synthline scatters freely across the track.
Singles
On February 27, 2015, Kream released the mixtape's lead single, "Cell Boomin". Later, the single appeared on
Frank Ocean's curated playlist on
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...
, Blonded. In the ''
Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog.
Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
'' review of the mixtape, the track was described as a "drug peddler anthem with
bouncing flow that explore
static thump
and a syrupy codeine haze."
Critical reception
''#Maxo187'' was met with generally positive reviews from critics and rave reviews from listeners. The mixtape holds a 91% user rating on HotNewHipHop. Patrick Montes of ''Hypebeast Limited'' said the mixtape "might be his most fully-formed and developed project yet. From the bombastic, trap-on-steroids production of the intro track to the psychedelic graveyard music of “KKK” and the slow-churned, moody turn-up of "Astrodome," Maxo juxtaposes his ruthless cutthroat-raps with a variety of well-produced, quality beats on ''Maxo 187''." ''Pitchfork Media'' called the record a "sinister and visceral portrait of Houston street life...''Maxo 187'' doesn't portray cripping as an escape from the hood but a liberation from ordinary life."
Track listing
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maxo 187
2015 mixtape albums