You can count on one hand how many albums Maxwell has released in his faithful music tenure, which is now in its fourth decade. Think back to April 2, 1996. The irony of a 23-year-old Maxwell releasing Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite, his glorious debut album, on the birthday of one of his biggest influences Marvin Gaye is purely by coincidence.
“He made records that felt like moves to me,” Maxwell told Rated R&B in a spring 2021 interview about how his idol inspired his canonical first album. “I wanted to give myself a chance to conceptualize something in that way as a debut.”
In 1996, Black urban music was in a transition. Neo-soul was up next. It was a great music lane that minimized the hip-hop feel in favor of deliberately adding organic complexity to its production and providing new takes on classic soul.
Maxwell was perhaps one of the best to be spawned from this admirable and much-needed change in course, alternating the part of both upstanding love ambassador and couth sensualist.
In retrospect, Maxwell has never been what you’d call a trend chaser. As he matured, so did his sweet voice, intimate and sensitive lyrical content, and grown-man swag.
With solid albums such as Embrya and Now, the self-produced legend remained concrete when invoking deep yearns about the power and possibilities of love. But, of course, he’s at his best when he covers lyrical ground that led to steamy lovemaking sessions.
Aged like fine wine, Maxwell is still in his prime, even following three deserved Grammy wins, two of which were awarded during his BLACKsummers’night era.
Nevertheless, he graciously adds new chapters to his storied hardback. He accepted the legend award at the 2021 Soul Train Awards and tied recently with Charlie Wilson and Kem for the most adult R&B No.1s among male artists with “Off.” He also performed at this year’s Billboard Music Awards.
In honor of his anticipated blacksummers’NIGHT album, Rated R&B revisits 10 of his most underrated songs.
“Playing Possum” — BLACKsummers’NIGHT (2009)
Producers: Maxwell and Hod David
Writers: Maxwell and Hod David
A supreme selection from his library of breakup songs, Maxwell mournfully sings across a water-thin guitar about inspiring a languid romance and its protagonist. But, no matter the extent of his implores and laments, it is no use, as what was once there is no more.
“Silently” — Now (2001)
Producer: Maxwell
Writers: Maxwell and Hod David
Maxwell came strong with this one, as he cakes through the verses, often in a presto tempo, to explain to an old lady friend that sometimes the body, mind, and soul can verbalize what the mouth just can’t say. That’s deep.
“Submerge: Til We Become the Sun” — Embrya (1998)
Producer: Maxwell
Writer: Maxwell
Everything about the writing surrounding bedroom ballads doesn’t have to be so cut-and-dried. But Maxwell has mastered this art of songwriting, and this saturation of lovemaking couldn’t fit the profile better. And the way he sings the word demeaning will send chills down your spine.
“Sumthin’ Sumthin’” – Mellosmoothe [cut] — Love Jones soundtrack
Producer: Maxwell
Writers: Maxwell and Leon Ware
From day one, Maxwell’s slow, rose-tinted jams have attracted lovers everywhere to his silk, durable web of world-class sentiments. Though he issued this well-mannered masterpiece as a single in late 1996, his decelerated version featured on the Love Jones soundtrack gained the ears of so many, including those of Mary J. Blige.
“W/As My Girl” — Now (2001)
Producer: Maxwell
Writers: Maxwell and Hob David
Maxwell lays it hot and heavy on this guitar-charged tune where transparency from a stiff lover isn’t on the docket. And don’t mix up its title, as it is not the same track from the pair of songs he checked in for the Best Man soundtrack.
“Shame” — Standalone Single (2018)
Producers: Maxwell and Hod David
Writers: Maxwell, Hod David and Travis Sayles
Stellar mid-tempos bring balance to the lovely quiet-storm numbers lodged in Maxwell’s catalog. This free-standing tune from 2018 fits the description, speaking to a peppery lover who finds it difficult not to be consumed by his online interaction as a superstar.
“Let’s Not Play The Game” — Best Man soundtrack
Producers: Maxwell
Writers: Maxwell and Hal David
Maxwell contributed two songs to the soundtrack of this Black cult classic, one of which was this jewel driven by an electric and acoustic guitar. He croons in shock over a swindler who toyed with his affections for their personal profit.
“Know These Things: Shouldn’t You” — Embrya (1998)
Producer: Maxwell
Writers: Maxwell and Stuart Matthewman
Talk about having an attractive shamus in your midst. Singing in a perplexing falsetto, Maxwell emotes over a suspenseful arrangement about a level of emotional attunement a rare lover boasts for things he thought were hidden.
“Dancewithme” — Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite (1996)
Producers: Maxwell and Hod David
Writers: Maxwell and Hod David
Maxwell is a savant of murmured pleading and it could not be more present on this top-shelf cut from his debut. Parts of this sensuous beckon to cut a rug with a foxy, vivacious woman is swept up in tidbits of industrial funk.
“Listen Hear” — blackSUMMERS’night (2013)
Producers: Maxwell and Stuart Matthewman
Writers: Maxwell and Stuart Matthewman
Maxwell asks his lover to lend a good ear to this genuine convincer. He knows that he can do much more to suspend any doubt in his woman’s mind, and that’s why he renders a compelling story that clarifies his shortcomings and adds promise to their long future.