You can't talk about New York rap in the late 2000s without talking about the wavy movement. It wasn't just music. It was a whole frequency. If you were outside in the Tri-state area around 2008, you heard it everywhere—coming out of silver Maximas, blasting from barbershops, and vibrating through the floorboards of basement parties. At the center of that whirlwind stood two figures: French Montana and Max B.
They were an unlikely duo that somehow made perfect sense. Max was the hook king with a melodic slur that predated the current melodic rap era by a decade. French was the hustler with the Cocaine City DVD empire, a man who understood branding before most rappers even knew what a social media manager was.
People often forget how raw it was back then.
Max B, born Charly Wingate, had just split from Jim Jones and ByrdGang in a messy, public fallout that felt more like a civil war than a business dispute. He needed a platform. French Montana needed a musical identity beyond just being the "DVD guy." When they linked up, they didn't just make songs. They created a cult following that is still obsessed with their run nearly twenty years later.
The Birth of the Wave: How French Montana and Max B Found Their Sound
Most people think "wavy" is just a slang term. It's not. For Max B, it was a philosophy. When he teamed up with French, they started dropping mixtapes at a rate that felt impossible. We’re talking about the Coke Wave series. These weren't your polished, studio-engineered albums. They were gritty, hazy, and filled with the kind of effortless chemistry you can't fake in a booth.
French once admitted in an interview with Complex that he learned how to actually make songs from Max. Before that, he was just rapping. Max taught him about the "vibe."
Coke Wave (2009) changed the landscape.
While the rest of the industry was trying to catch up to the "ringtone rap" era or the looming dominance of Southern trap, French and Max were making music that sounded like a humid New York summer night. It was luxury mixed with the gutter. Tracks like "Security" and "Stake Out" weren't just regional hits; they were blueprints. They used soul samples in a way that felt disrespectfully smooth.
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Then everything stopped.
The legal system moved in. Max B was sentenced to 75 years in prison in 2009 on charges related to a robbery turned homicide in a New Jersey hotel. Just like that, the most promising duo in the city was severed. French was left to carry the "Coke Boys" flag alone.
The 75-Year Shadow and the Industry Shift
Honestly, a lot of rappers would have folded. If your partner and the source of your "sound" goes away for life, how do you keep going? French Montana's trajectory after Max B went behind bars is one of the most interesting case studies in hip-hop survival.
He didn't distance himself.
Instead, French turned Max B into a martyr for the "Wave." Every French Montana project for the next decade featured Max B in some capacity—whether it was a phone call from prison, an unreleased verse, or just a shoutout. This kept Max B’s name alive in the digital age, ensuring that a new generation of fans who weren't even old enough to buy a Cocaine City DVD knew who the "Silver Surfer" was.
It’s a weird dynamic.
Some critics argue French "stole" the style, but if you look at the actual history, it's more like a baton pass. French took that melodic, laid-back flow and sanitized it just enough for the mainstream. Without French, does Max B become a legendary figure, or does he fade into the "what if" category of New York rap? Without Max B, does French Montana ever get the "Shot Caller" beat from Harry Fraud and become a global superstar?
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Probably not.
The Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa Connection
The influence of French Montana and Max B actually reached the highest levels of the genre. Remember the whole "Waves" album title drama with Kanye West? In 2016, Kanye wanted to name his album Waves. Wiz Khalifa called him out, saying "Please don't take the wave. Max B is the wavy one. He created the wave."
This sparked a massive Twitter feud. It ended with Kanye actually putting Max B on the album (The Life of Pablo) via a phone skit called "Silver Surfer Intermission."
That moment was huge.
It validated everything French had been doing for years. It showed that the industry acknowledged Max B as a pioneer of the melodic, "mumble-adjacent" style that artists like Future and Young Thug were currently dominating. French was the bridge. He was the one who facilitated the connection, proving that his loyalty wasn't just for show.
Why the Coke Wave Legacy Won't Die
The nostalgia for the French Montana and Max B era is rooted in its authenticity. Today, everything is curated for TikTok. Back then, the Wave was organic. It was built on MySpace pages, street corners, and bootleg CDs.
- The Production: Harry Fraud and Dame Grease provided the sonic backdrop. They used hazy, atmospheric loops that made you feel like you were underwater. It was the antithesis of the "loud" production of the time.
- The Slang: "Wavy," "Owwwww," "Biggaveli." They created a language.
- The Work Ethic: They would record five songs a night. It wasn't about perfection; it was about capturing a moment.
French Montana's solo success—hitting the Billboard charts with "Unforgettable" and "Pop That"—often overshadows his underground roots. But for the purists, the French that matters most is the one standing next to Max B in a grainy video, rapping about nothing and everything at the same time.
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There's a specific nuance to their relationship. Max B was the "star" in terms of raw talent, but French was the "star" in terms of career longevity. French understood how to navigate the labels (Bad Boy, Maybach Music) while keeping the street credibility intact. He turned the Wave into a brand that survived Max’s incarceration.
What Really Happened With the Legal Battles?
The sentencing of Max B is still a point of contention. 75 years felt like a death sentence for a man who wasn't even at the scene of the crime (he was convicted of conspiracy). Over the years, there have been countless "Free Max B" campaigns.
French has been at the forefront of the legal push.
In 2016, there was a major breakthrough. Max B's charges were reduced after he took a plea deal for aggravated manslaughter. His sentence was dropped significantly. Since then, the rap world has been on a constant "release watch." Every year, a new rumor pops up saying Max is coming home "next month."
As of now, Max B is still incarcerated, but the projected release dates have moved closer than ever. French Montana has publicly stated multiple times that he has a whole stash of music and a massive comeback plan ready for the day Max walks out of those gates.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Artists
If you’re looking to understand the DNA of modern rap, you have to go back and listen to the Coke Wave tapes. You can't just skip to the radio hits.
- Study the Melodies: Listen to how Max B catches the rhythm. He’s not always on beat, and he’s not always in key, but he’s always "in the pocket." This is the foundation for the last 10 years of melodic trap.
- Observe the Branding: Look at how French Montana used video content (Cocaine City) to supplement his music. In 2026, we call this "content strategy." In 2007, it was just being smart.
- Understand the Samples: The "wavy" sound relied heavily on 70s and 80s R&B samples. It’s a lesson in how to flip familiar sounds into something gritty.
- Loyalty as Currency: French’s career proves that staying loyal to your roots—and your incarcerated partners—can actually build a stronger brand than chasing every new trend.
The story of French Montana and Max B is a tragedy, a triumph, and a masterclass in hip-hop culture all rolled into one. It’s about two guys from the Bronx and Harlem who decided they didn't want to sound like anyone else. And for a few years, they didn't. They sounded like the future.
To truly appreciate where French Montana is today, you have to respect the foundation he built with Biggaveli. The Wave doesn't stop; it just changes form. Whenever Max B finally walks free, the hip-hop world is going to have to reckon with the fact that the original architect of the modern sound is back. Until then, the mixtapes are the map. Use them.