It’s a good time to be releasing stoner music with California, Nevada, Maine, Alaska and Massachusetts joining Colorado, Washington and Oregon in legalizing recreational marijuana as January 1, 2018 and even more states joining the medical marijuana revolution. Maxx the Muffin Man, an 18-year-old hip hop artist out , not surprisingly, Portland, Oregon is definitely doing his part for the cause with a new mixtape he just released called Every Summer Since.
Maxx says he made the tape, which is an infusion jazzy, Wu Tang-like beats, funk and chill synths that support his lyrics, to help anyone who’s going through a hard time. The lyrics most the songs, however, definitely seem weed-driven. The first single “Puff is Enough,” for example doesn’t pull any punches in terms its message. It’s straight-up stoner rap. The title track is deeper and more biographical, however, as Maxx discusses how he found his muse. Other tracks are more party-oriented such as “Adderall and Cigarettes,” but there always seems to be a twist to each song so it’s a good listen in a more contemplative state as well.
Maxx made sure to give credit to each producer on the tracks his mixtape, and some the names might be recognizable to EDM fans. What’s most interesting, however, is the way he puts his lyrics together. Some parts the album might even be called spoken word rather than rap, because Maxx uses such plain language and what sounds like his normal spoken voice timbre. The way he does his verses is also unconventional, as sometimes they dete from the beats and create strange syncopations. Again, the tracks on Every Summer Since lend themselves to the contemplative ear as well as the dancefloor.
After this debut, Maxx is promising more material to be released, but there’s a lot to get through in the meantime on Every Summer Since. Whether you’re in a recreational state or not, this stoner hip hop definitely gives listeners something to think about.
Every Summer Since is out now and can be streamed on . Maxx’s earlier EP is available on as well.