Video: Maxo Kream – “Smoke Break”

Houston’s Maxo Kream Smokes Up In Video For Standout Track Off Persona Tape

10.14.2016

Critical Praise for Maxo Kream:

“Over the last couple years, Maxo Kream has established himself as one of Houston’s most exciting young rappers by way of being one of Houston’s least traditionally minded artists.” – Noisey

“Going off Maxo’s last few tracks, The Persona Tape should live up to the expectations set by last year’s excellent MAXO 187.” – HotNewHipHop

“A sinister and visceral portrait of Houston street life.” – Pitchfork

The Video:

One of the freshest voices coming out of Houston right now, Maxo Kream makes dark trap music anchored by his oversized personality. In his latest video he takes a “Smoke Break,” relaxing on the couch with his homies and partying on a boat with a group of beautiful women. Maxo rolls up tight verses that showcase multiple flows over the halting piano sample drives the Chuck Inglish produced beat. This is not Maxo and Chuck’s only collaboration: Maxo was featured on “Running Man,” the first Cool Kidssong in five years. “Smoke Break” is a standout track from Maxo’s Persona Tape, released via LiveMixtapes earlier this summer, and follows up the videos for “Out the Front Door” and “G3“. Maxo Kream is currently in the midst of his first national tour, opening for Danny Brown on 40 dates over the span of three months. Danny Brown’s label mate ZelooperZ is also opening on the tour. Buy ticketshere.

Picking up where he left off with #Maxo187, Maxo Kream returns with equal grit on the Persona Tape. Featuring appearances from fellow Houston rapper Paul Wall and Atlanta rappers Playboi Carti, Key!,and Rich the Kid, the tape finds Maxo Kream exploring the intricacies of his public profile and how he is perceived.“Your persona is how you carry yourself,” says Maxo Kream to Complex in their premiere for the Friday-inspired “Big Worm” video. “It tells people everything about who you are, so it’s more important than a social security number. This tape is everything I’m about. Persona shit.” Prior to the tape, Maxo Kream released “Big Worm,” in which he synthesizes the sounds of Southwest Houston with the sound of South London as he repurposes the classic Grime beat from Wiley‘s “Morgue,” earning co-signs from Skepta and Wiley, and garnering over 435,000 Soundcloud plays in the process. “Spike Lee,” featuring verses Playboy Carti and Rich The Kid and production from Chuck Inglish, finds Maxo and friends turning up over the booming, horn-filled production with rhymes about their lifestyles filled with women, money, and lean.

Watch “Smoke Break”: https://youtu.be/TGlRtHg1cyg

Stream Persona Tape on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/maxo-kream/sets/persona-tape

Persona Tape Tracklist:
1. Choppas (prod. Wlderness)
2. Karo (prod. Wlderness)
3. Hit Mane (prod. Pe$o Diddy)
4. Big Worm (prod. Ryan ESL)
5. Smash (ft. Paul Wall) (prod. Ryan ESL)
6. G3 (prod. Tommy Kruise)
7. Comin Dine (prod. Chuck Inglish)
8. Out The Front Door (ft. KEY!) (prod. Wolfe de Mchls)
9. Smoke Break (prod. Chuck Inglish)
10. Talkin Shit (ft. D Flowers) (prod. Wlderness)
11. Shop (prod. Ryan ESL)
12. Spike Lee (ft. Rich the Kid & Playboi Carti) (prod. Chuck Inglish)
13. None of Yall (prod. Slug Christ)

Tour Dates with Danny Brown Tickets:

Oct 14   Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA
Oct 15   The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Oct 16   Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
Oct 16   Galaxy Theatre – Santa Ana, CA
Oct 17   Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
Oct 18   Sunshine Theatre – Albuquerque, NM
Oct 20   Warehouse Live – Houston, TX
Oct 21   South Side Music Hall – Dallas, TX
Oct 23   Emo’s Austin – Austin, TX
Oct 25   Republic New Orleans   New Orleans, LA
Oct 26   Exit/In   Nashville, TN
Oct 27   Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
Oct 28   The Underground – Charlotte, NC
Oct 29   Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
Oct 30   The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
Nov 01   The Fillmore Sliver Springs – Silver Spring, MD
Nov 02   Mr. Smalls Theatre – Millvale, PA
Nov 03   Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
Nov 04   Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, Canada
Nov 05   The Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH

Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Maxo Kream.

Maxo Kream Background:

Upon meeting him, gangsta rapper isn’t the impression that most would get from buzzing Houston emcee, Maxo Kream, age 25. He has a surprisingly goofy and playful demeanor, often cracking self-aware jokes and displaying a smile with showcases either his gold grin or his trademark gap in the upper row of this teeth. But, make no mistake, Maxo’s backstory is a tale consisting of crime and death that would catch the attention of the most jaded followers of gangsta/trap rap.

Inspired by his college trip to SXSW and the fact that other street cliques throughout Houston such as FDAB (founded by late rapper T.O.Y, a childhood friend and Crip associate of Maxo) and MashMode (which has now resulted in the buzzing careers of Houston rap duo, The Sauce Twinz) were transitioning into music as a form of expression, Maxo and his younger cousin Lyndon (rap moniker Lyndo C), jumped into music. Maxo Kream’s sophomore project, #Maxo187 garnered attention with its unrelenting lyricism and exceptional production. With big name features and unmatched confidence, Maxo intends to show that he can compete with any emcee in the game.