Harlem rapper Max B, born Charly Wingate, walked out of Northern State Prison in Newark, New Jersey, on November 9, 2025, after serving roughly 16 years behind bars. He is 47 years old.

Max B was originally handed a 75-year prison term in 2009 in connection with a deadly robbery at a New Jersey hotel. In 2016, his sentence was reduced to 20 years after he pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, a change that ultimately paved the way for his release.

His stepbrother, Kelvin Leerdam, received a much longer punishment: jurors concluded Leerdam fired the fatal shot, and he was sentenced to life plus 35 years.

Family and friends greeted Max B after his release. Longtime collaborator French Montana posted a celebratory video on Instagram marking the rapper’s homecoming — a moment that coincided with Montana’s own birthday.

Late last year, Max B hinted that his release was imminent during a phone appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, where he confirmed an official release date and expressed eagerness to return to music. He said he planned to pursue projects broadly but made clear he wanted to work with top-tier, A-list artists.

Earlier in 2025, Young Thug shared a clip of a phone conversation with Max B recorded while Max was still incarcerated, in which the rapper said he was focused on working and anticipated a return to the scene “on the home stretch.”

Below is the Instagram post French Montana shared celebrating Max B’s release.

View this post on Instagram


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