Jim Jones is not leaving much room for speculation about where he stands with his former ByrdGang collaborator Max B.
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During the August 27 episode of Hot 97’s “Mornings with Mero,” Jones was asked whether he would consider working with Max following the Harlem rapper’s return home from prison. Cohost Miabelle introduced the possibility by telling Jones, “We did see that Max B said that he is open to working with you again.”Jones immediately rejected the idea of a Max B reunion.
“Never. Let’s get that out of here, quick,” he replied.
Miabelle followed up by asking, “So you’re not open to it?”
“Dub, pack him up,” Jones said.
When Miabelle asked whether he wanted to “elaborate,” Jones doubled down instead.
“Nah, I don’t need to elaborate on anything. I don’t have no speech impediments. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say.”
The response comes after Max publicly took a much different approach to their history. During a recent appearance on “The Jason Lee Show,” Max said his current priorities are business, collaboration, and staying away from unnecessary conflict following his release from prison.
“I’m [in] the place where … if it makes money, it makes sense,” Max told Lee. “If it don’t make money, it’s gossip. It’s internet juicy gossip.”
Max also suggested that he does not want their long-running issues to become another rap feud that continues indefinitely.
Sometimes you can lead the s**t like Tupac and Biggie, where muthaf**kas been beefing for 15-20 years, East Coast [versus] West Coast,” he continued. “If I can bridge the gap, I’m not with the beef. I’m on parole, I’m not trying to beef with nobody. My job out here is to make good product. I link with as many artists as I can.”
The Max B reunion conversation carries extra weight because Jones and Max were once important collaborators in New York’s mid-2000s rap scene. Max joined Jones’ ByrdGang circle after returning home from an earlier prison sentence and contributed heavily to music connected to the collective. Their working relationship eventually collapsed amid disagreements over compensation, contracts, and Max’s position within ByrdGang.
By 2008, the business dispute had developed into a public feud. Max separated from ByrdGang and released diss records targeting Jones and other people connected to the camp. Years later, Max described the situation as the result of clashing egos, disrespect, and decisions made when both men were younger.
Attempts to cool the tension have surfaced repeatedly. In 2021, French Montana said he had been trying to help Jones and Max resolve their differences. Jones, however, had previously made it clear that he was not interested in working with Max again.
The possibility gained new attention as Max prepared to return home. Max said in a 2025 “Drink Champs“ appearance that he wanted to move forward from the conflict. He was released from prison on November 9, 2025, after spending more than 15 years incarcerated.
Still, the history did not disappear. Later that month, Max performed “We Sip Grand Cru,” a record containing a direct reference to Jones, during a New York event.
Now, nearly two decades after their ByrdGang relationship unraveled, the two Harlem rappers appear to remain on opposite sides of the reconciliation question. Max is publicly signaling that music and money could make collaboration worthwhile. Jones’ latest answer suggests a Max B reunion is still firmly off the table.
