In the most recent episode of Apt. 5H, Maino talks to DJ Self and Bianca Torres about what really went down in his unaired interview with Suge Knight, inspiring the incarcerated youth at Riker’s Island, his new EP MainoVation and more.
Watch as Maino shares details about his call with Suge and why it the interview was never aired. He also talks about going back to Riker’s Island in order to talk to the incarcerated youth about changing their lives, how he began cohosting with Angela Yee on Way Up With Angela Yee and much more.
Hi, haters; Maino closes 2024 with a motivational new EP, cleverly titled MainoVation. Known for his vigorous hustler’s mentality, his latest effort delivers encouraging affirmations, familiar street tales centered around introducing a new perspective on life. “MainoVation is the inspiration and motivation I provide from my perspective,” says the rap star.
Fellow Brooklyn rap star Fabolous joins Maino on the EP. The highlight is their collaboration on “This Life 4Ever.” The two kicked off 2024 with several tracks on Maino’s first of three albums this year, K.O.B. 4. Before MainoVation, he released This Life Forever, featuring the hit songs “How I’m Living” with Fivio Foreign and “Poetry” featuring Young Thug. A music video for “Poetry,” featuring one of Young Thug’s last guest features before being arrested in 2022, was released in February 2024.
The new album follows Maino receiving his own day and key to Brooklyn in 2024. The rap star’s biggest achievement yet. Acknowledged for his community activism, influence, and more. “Hip-hop is more than a genre – it’s a way of healing, growing, and giving back to the neighborhoods that made us,” said 20th Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso last February. “All over Brooklyn and beyond, Maino is recognized as an inspiration because he proves the power of hip-hop to bring us together through good times and bad. Maino Day will serve as a celebration of his legacy and a reminder to Brooklynites to never give up and never forget to spread love.”
Maino is a prominent figure in the hip-hop community. He has achieved a net worth of $1 million by 2024, as reported by CelebrityNetWorth. Known for his gritty lyrics and authentic portrayal of street life, Maino’s journey from the streets of Brooklyn to the music charts is a narrative of resilience and determination. His music often reflects his personal experiences and challenges. This also resonated with a wide audience and secured his place in the landscape of urban music.
Maino’s breakout came in 2009 with the hit single “Hi Hater.” It became an anthem of defiance against critics. This track propelled his debut album, If Tomorrow Comes…, into the spotlight. It established him as a voice of perseverance in rap. Over the years, his career has been marked by successful singles and collaborations with other artists. These have also enhanced his reputation and expanded his fan base.
Career Highlights & Musical Achievements
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 08: Maino attends The Heavy Hitters Holiday Party at. Counter & Bodega on December 08, 2021, also in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Throughout his career, Maino has consistently released music that speaks to both his personal struggles and his observations of life in urban America. His albums, including The Day After Tomorrow and K.O.B. (King of Brooklyn), showcase his skill in crafting compelling narratives that engage listeners. His ability to blend storytelling with hard-hitting beats has garnered him acclaim, with his music reaching a wide range of audiences. Additionally, Maino’s influence extends beyond his solo work. He is also known for his collaborations with other artists in the hip-hop community. These collaborations have diversified his musical repertoire and strengthened his connections within the industry, contributing to his ongoing relevance and success.
Expanding His Brand & Entrepreneurial Ventures
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 28: Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg and Maino attend NBC’s “American Song Contest” Week 2 Red Carpet at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 28, 2022 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)
In addition to his music career, Maino has ventured into other areas, including acting and entrepreneurship. His appearances in films and television series have allowed him to expand his brand beyond the music industry, reaching new audiences and exploring different aspects of his talents. This diversification has been a strategic move, helping to stabilize his income and build his net worth.
His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his involvement in various business ventures, including clothing lines and music production companies. These endeavors reflect his understanding of the importance of brand expansion and financial independence in the competitive entertainment industry.
Community Engagement & Advocacy
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 26: Jamie Foxx and Maino attend Jamie Foxx In-Store Shopping Event at Prive Revaux on January 26, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
Maino is recognized for his music and business acumen and his commitment to giving back to his community. He has been involved in numerous outreach programs and initiatives to support underprivileged youth in urban areas. His work in community service is a testament to his dedication to making a positive impact beyond the music and entertainment sectors.
His advocacy for social justice and his efforts to address issues affecting his community have also been integral to his public persona. Maino uses his platform to speak out against injustice and to promote change. This further establishing his role as a leader and influencer in his community.
One of the best qualities about Brooklyn, New York rapper Maino is his ability to effortlessly craft inspirational bangers. He has been floating in between the mainstream and underground scene for nearly his entire career. But, it has been something that does not seem to bother Maino. The MC has stabilized over a decade-long run because of that unwavering commitment. Maino’s 2023 is one of a steady release of singles and an album. One of his biggest moments was rekindling with the recently released B.G. Together they worked on a different version of “For My City.”
It was a great collaboration that had an uplifting feeling. But, we should not be surprised by that since that is what Maino does best. He provided a lot of those vibes on his record for this year, K.O.B. 4. It is the fourth entry into the series, which saw a flurry of releases in the late 2010s.
One of the best tracks to check out from the tape is the “K.O.B. Intro.” It was released over a year ago with a YouTube music video. However, we were not able to give it the proper shine. It kicks off with Maino rapping over piano keys before sirens start to go off. When you hear those you start to get hype. Shortly thereafter, the beat drops and you are met with a steady dose of kick drums and effortless flows. You will be ready to tackle anything after hearing this.
What are your initial thoughts on this song, “K.O.B. Intro,” by Maino? Is this the best song from K.O.B. 4, why or why not? If not, which song is better and why? Is this the best album within the K.O.B. series? Is this one of Maino’s best intro tracks of all time? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Maino. Finally, stay with us for all of the best song drops throughout the week.
Underground rap in New York runs deep and Maino has been in it for about 15 and half years or so. What is even crazier is that he got his start when he was in his mid 30s. Now, as he enters his 50’s era, he really does not seem to be showing any signs of slow down at all. He has decided to comeback and bring a spark to his K.O.B. series.
It started back 2014 with the second entry. Then, Maino followed it up with number three, one year later. Finally in 2017, the pilot LP would hit streaming. Maino got the rollout started for the fourth K.O.B. in early April with “Vibe with Me.”
The last taste we would receive would come on November 4 with “We Made It” (shortened to “Made It”) featuring UK rap icon Giggs. Sadly, neither of the “For My City” versions landed on the final product. However, Maino is still bringing some quality tracks here. You can stream this tape on your favorite DSPs above.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new album, K.O.B. 4, by Maino? Is this the best installment in the K.O.B.series, why or why not? Which tracks are you gravitating toward the most so far? Where would you rank Maino amongst the rest of rappers in New York’s history? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Maino. Furthermore, stay with us for all of the best album drops throughout the week.
Maino is a longtime underground rapper and personality from Brooklyn, New York. He is a pretty prolific artist at that. He has been around since the mid-2000s and has a handful of hits under his belt. While those days seem to be behind him, he is still delivering quality tracks and lyricism when he comes out with something new. Unfortunately, at least as for now, his latest single seems to only be on YouTube at the moment. Maino comes together with UK legend Giggs for the first time ever with “We Made it.”
For the Brooklyn native, this follows up his recent collaboration with recently released Cash Money rapper, B.G. He redid “For My City” titling it “New Orleans Remix.” He also has another previous single doing well for him with “Biggest Fan.” That is a team joint with M Dot Taylor and Jim Jones. For Giggs, he is coming off some solid success from his first record in three years, Zero Tolerance.
That tape got nods from 21 Savage, Dave, Diddy, Popcaan, Dave East, Jadakiss, and more. You can check out the accompanying visuals above for “We Made It.” The music video is nothing special but it definitely fits the casual but triumphant vibe of the record. Both are talking about making it to fame through all of the hardships.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new single from Maino and Giggs, “We Made It?” Is this the best single that he has put out so far this year? Who had the better performance on the record? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Maino and Giggs, as well as all of the hottest song drops.
This is what happens when two of Hip-Hop’s greats hops on your record. In light of Hip-Hop’s 50th year anniversary, M Dot Taylor has enlisted Jim Jones and Maino on his newest single and visual titled “Biggest Fan.”
Hailing from Detroit but now based in Los Angeles, M Dot Taylor is a former military veteran who’s made it his mission to inspire and motivate audiences all around the world. The rising star boasts a story of resilience and tragedy (losing both parents), using the power of music to now heal and uplift. To date, M Dot Taylor has collaborated with Hip-Hop royalty, including Ice T, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, and more.
“Biggest Fan” is produced by the legendary Zaytoven, which is exactly why the collaboration came into fruition.
M Dot Taylor states, “I wanted to work with Zaytoven, so I reached out to him and he made me a custom track with the exact vibe I requested. After he sent me the track, I wanted to go to Atlanta to let him hear what I did right away. After he heard it, we talked about some more business moves that I got coming down the pipeline in the near future, and then I tapped in with my Dipset family in NYC. I let them hear the track, and the Lobby Boyz told me to pull up to New York and let’s make it a movie. The rest was history. Shout out Jim, Maino, Zaytoven, Pone730, and my brother Will C.”
The crazy part, the video was shot during M Dot Taylor’s first visit to New York. With Will C of Street Heat spearheading the creative vision of the visual, it was only right they created authentic NY bodega, front porch in the neighborhood vibes.
M Dot Taylor adds, “What I like about Jim, Maino, and Zaytoven is they’re all attached to greatness and longevity. They keep finding ways to stay on top of the game while maintaining the respect from their peers in the industry. It’s a lot of one hit wonders out there, but those three catalogues combined is crazy.”
The takeaway? It’s okay to spoil the ones that adore you the most. Sometimes it’s not about you, it’s about paying it forward to those that ALWAYS hold you down.
Wack 100 is someone who is not afraid of confrontation. Overall, he has built a brand by confronting people and commenting on popular matters within hip-hop. For instance, he recently had something to say about Maino’s latest video about Troy Ave. Following the Taxstone trial, Maino came out and claimed to be in possession of Troy Ave’s chain from the night of the Irving Plaza shooting. Furthermore, Maino alleged that the chain was fake, which is a metaphor for Troy Ave’s character.
For the most part, Wack 100 found Maino’s comments to be interesting. This is because a few years ago, Maino made an Instagram post claiming to have been at Irving Plaza when the shooting went down. Within that Instagram post, Maino showed compassion for what took place. Moreover, he wished Troy Ave well. Needless to say, the energy back then was a lot different that the energy we saw this past week. Consequently, Wack 100 called out Maino on Instagram. This subsequently led to a vulgar-filled back and forth that culminated in an Instagram live argument.
As you can see in the post above, these two were on IG Live with China Mack as a mediator of sorts. Unfortunately for China Mack, he was not able to get these two men to settle down. For the most part, they engaged in an all-out screaming match that was laced with profanity and personal insults. Furthermore, Maino went so far as to tell Wack 100, “f*ck you, f*ck your family.” It wasn’t a very productive conversation, and we’re sure those watching were fairly entertained for the duration.
In terms of Maino and Troy Ave’s alleged chain, it remains to be seen what will happen with that. Maino had had the chain for years at this point, and we’re sure Troy Ave doesn’t care for it. Either way, this is a very bizarre situation that has caused a large web of interconnecting feuds. Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world.
A jury found Taxstone guilty last week for his role in the shooting at Irving Plaza that left Troy Ave’s bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter dead. Though Troy continued to pop bottles in celebration of Tax’s conviction, Maino doesn’t feel like the rapper is being honest about the narrative. The Lobby Boyz rapper appeared on Angela Yee’s show this morning where he discussed the trial’s outcome, revealing that he actually performed the night of the shooting. However, he stated that Taxstone wasn’t out there looking for trouble like some have claimed.
“That man was there chilling, enjoying the moment and these other dudes came in there looking for a problem,” Maino explained. He said that a few individuals came into the room, hoping to create a moment, although it didn’t end up working in their favor. “… The moment didn’t go there way. So I’m just in disagreement with the whole narrative of becoming a victim after you tried to be an aggressor,” he added, seemingly referencing Troy Ave’s role in the situation, which he got more in-depth about.
It seems like Troy Ave is partially to blame for the narrative surrounding Taxstone. Maino suggested the White Christmas rapper should take some responsibility for the incident, especially after taking the stand. “My whole thing is this though – how you out here celebrating just getting on the stand after you tried to create a situation that just didn’t go your way?” Maino asked. ”So he worked out a deal with the prosecutor to get less time for those guns that he got caught with. So that was his motivation to get on the stand and testify against Taxstone.”
“Say the whole truth,” Maino continued. Don’t make it seem like that man was there to try to assassinate you and that’s not the truth. The truth of the matter is you actually came there on that time. You walked in there in that room and tried to create a situation. You thought that maybe you was gonna get you a Worldstar moment.” Check out the full clip above and sound off with your thoughts on Maino’s take on Taxstone’s conviction.
Maino is adamant about Troy Ave twisting his version of the 2016 shooting at Irving Plaza that left one man dead and two others injured, even going as far as defending Taxstone, saying that Troy Ave thought he was going to get a Worldstar moment at the podcaster’s expense.
The Brooklyn rapper made his return to Angela Yee’s new “Way Up With Angela Yee” show and being an eyewitness, he contends that Troy Ave and his crew were the true aggressors.
The “All Of The Above” rapper said that he was with Uncle Murda, who were both scheduled to perform, before the melee broke out. Maino says that Taxstone was just enjoying the T.I, show when he trouble approached him. This was totally contrary to Troy Ave’s side of the story.
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