Maxwell Melvins

Senior Advisor (he/him)

Maxwell Melvins served 33 years of a life sentence in New Jersey, during which he formed the Grammy-nominated Hip-Hop ensemble Lifers Group in the early ‘90s. In addition, while incarcerated, Maxwell started a phone hotline from prison for at-risk youth struggling with mental health. His goals are to change how Black men are represented visually in American art and media, as well as misconceptions about creativity in prison.

Since being released on parole in 2011, Maxwell has been struggling with his physical and mental health. He is a tireless advocate for justice-impacted communities and has shared his own struggles with mental health and healing through music at venues such as The Met Breuer, TedX, and Harvard University.

Melvins connected with Fury Young and Die Jim Crow in 2017, when Young found him online and asked if he would participate in a video interview about his work with Lifers Group. This three-part interview series, which featured never-before discussed aspects of Melvins’ life and — though not credited as such — executive producing Lifers Group, went on to establish Melvins as a key member of FR and our multimedia output.

As our founding Senior Advisor, Melvins’ provides veteran wisdom and guidance on FR’s programming and communications. He is also a key brand ambassador, whether speaking on the label’s behalf or hosting events. In 2023, Melvins made his return to music with the powerful single “Drapetomania,” off of Lifers Groove’s debut EP Groove Therapy.