Max B paid a solemn visit to A$AP Yams’ final resting place in New Jersey to celebrate his first week of freedom and pay tribute to the late hip-hop visionary on what would have been his 37th birthday.
The 47-year-old Harlem rapper, who just completed a 16-year prison sentence, stood alongside A$AP Yams’ mother, Tati Paulino, and media personality Karen Civil during a graveside memorial service.
The moment was captured in photos shared on social media, bringing together two generations of Harlem’s hip-hop legacy.
The relationship between Max B and Yams runs deeper than just neighbors. While in prison, Max B’s influence remained with Yams’ continued support.
The A$AP Mob co-founder often praises Max’s melodic style and coined slang for helping introduce the “wave” sound to a new wave of artists.
“And s/o max b, when I was 16 he would give me $100 in cash and a bottle of benny to pack his mixtape for me,” Yam tweeted, giving us a glimpse into their early connection.
And s/o max b, when I was 16 he would give me $100 cash and a bottle of benny to help package his mixtape
— … (@ASAPYams) June 9, 2014
Although they never reunited in person, Yams, who died of an accidental overdose in 2015 at the age of 26, considered Max B to be a major influence on the A$AP Mob’s sound.
The influence is evident on early A$AP Rocky tracks like “Get High” and the 2011 mixtape LIVE.LOVE.A$AP, which featured Max’s melodies and slang throughout.
Max B began his return to public life on November 9 after completing his prison sentence for a 2009 attempted robbery.
Despite his long absence, his musical footprint remains intact, with artists such as French Montana, Kanye West and Drake all acknowledging his stylistic influence.
The gravesite appearance, Max B’s first public appearance since his release, was a powerful reminder of Harlem’s interconnected hip-hop lineage.
