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Underdog of Connecticut

Documenting the life and times of DJ Mad Max.

“My drive and people doubting me are my biggest motivators. Fear is not trying and failing.” - Maxwell Coughlan

What does Connecticut mean to you?

“Connecticut means everything to me, it’s my home, where I was born and bred. I grew up in South Norwalk on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in Townhouse Gardens. South Norwalk shaped who I am today because of the authenticity. My community made me protective of other cultures and stand up against racism/injustice. It’s very challenging to be successful from my hood because of the obstacles many face such as the temptations of the street life, drug addiction, and not taking our education seriously or expressing our talents because of peer pressure. The crabs in a bucket mentality is huge and means people don’t want to see someone with potential make it out. When I look back on the past, it’s sad when you find out someone you knew went to jail or overdosed at a young age because you’re like damn they didn’t make it out.

“As a child, I attended private Catholic schools and my peers constantly looked down on me because of my environment. Many would say “you live in the hood” or “wigger.” Comments like that would hurt, but after a while I blocked them out because South Norwalk was home, and that’s all I knew. I grew up on Hip-Hop and R&B culture, throwback Mitchell & Ness jerseys, baggy clothes, and fresh sneakers. Personally, I couldn’t relate to Vineyard Vines, Docksiders, or the music my peers enjoyed. God truly blessed me with a strong support system from my mother. She pushed me from birth, which helped me receive an academic scholarship to St. John’s University in Queens, New York. If you don’t have a supportive family, then you really have to grind and bet on yourself.

“I feel like Connecticut doesn’t get much love because it’s a small state and the culture is untapped. Connecticut has quite a few success stories like: Chris Webby, Cassie, John Mayer, Calvin Murphy, Justin Long, and Meg Ryan. The biggest issue with my home state is the void of entertainment opportunities for creatives to thrive financially, plus many natives don’t support homegrown talent. The lack of support forces the dreamers to relocate to achieve their dreams.”

How do you plan to give back to Norwalk?

“My goal is to give back to people who are suffering from cancer and other illnesses. Donate money to cancer research at the Whittingham Cancer Center of Norwalk Hospital and educate individuals on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Even at a young age, you’re at risk which is unfortunate. Aside from healthcare, I would like to establish clothing drives as well as hosting seminars on becoming independent and dreaming beyond difficult circumstances.”

What city would you be from in Connecticut outside of Norwalk?

“If I had to choose another city besides Norwalk, it would be Hartford. Hartford has an extensive entertainment scene compared to other cities in Connecticut and provides greater opportunities for artists and journalists. They have notable venues such as: The Xfinity Theatre, The Webster, and Infinity Music Hall. The diverse population is a great draw plus the city is one of the most affordable areas in the state.”

How will you contribute your talents to “Hollywood?”

“I will be a breath of fresh air for Hollywood. My talent as an actor/entertainer stems from being original and paying homage to the legends.”

What was it like gaining a role on Power?

“It was amazing. I learned a lot about how a major television production is organized and operated. It was strict and time efficiency is key. I was featured in a club scene where a fight broke out between rapper Yung Bleu and another person. It was a dope preview of what will eventually become my future in television/film production.”

Dream role in a movie?

“This is tough for me because I feel like a role has to match the actor’s personality. I always wanted to have a lead role similar to Tony Montana in “Scarface” or Nino Brown from “New Jack City.” I would love to do something in makeup similar to Johnny Depp’s role in “Dark Shadows.” My agent believes I would make a great undercover cop as well. In the future, I could see myself starring in a potential biopic like Eminem’s “8 Mile” to showcase my life’s journey to success. I am open to many different roles, but those are a few roles that come to mind.”

Predict the future of the motion picture industry?

“I think you’re going to see more independent filmmakers thrive because of the lack of creativity from major production studios and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. I say it all the time, there’s no more classics! It’s rare for me to enjoy more than one film that comes out each year. The remakes are played out and there’s an absence of authenticity. Entertainers don’t receive what they are truly worth because executives at the top make the majority of the box office profits. The strike exposed that. I always valued going to the movie theaters when I was a kid and still do. Due to social media, I feel like the youth could care less about going to the theaters when they don’t have the attention span or can just watch the film on Peacock from their couch. It may be hard to receive the fruits of your labor right away when you’re an independent filmmaker, but if your material can get praised at film festivals and picked up by streaming services you will become successful.”

What draws you to the Western United States?

“That’s where the entertainment scene is thriving in my opinion. Las Vegas has a huge nightlife entertainment scene and helps artists build successful careers. It’s an affordable city to start out and grow. On the other hand, Los Angeles has been calling my name for years now. I’ve been enthralled by the west coast vibe since a kid. Hosting, acting, and other forms of entertainment opportunities are like non other in Los Angeles. I believe California is the place where I will live out my dreams.”

A word from Neno

"Bro I wish you nothing but the best you're a super talented person and I know you will be super successful in anything you put your energy into. God bless you.”

Define your definition of independence?

“My definition of independence is building your own foundation and having the creative freedom that will supply your desired lifestyle.”

Goals for 2024?

“Continuing to build a loyal team is a major goal this year. I’ve done everything myself and now that I’m working into the industry more, it’s time to put together a solid team that can help broker strategic business deals and partnerships. I’ve thought about getting a manager, but it has to be a trustworthy relationship. They say teamwork makes the dream work and I’m open to it."

“I want to develop my own independent film as well as a reality show. Even though music and sports are my main passions, film was my first love. I wanted to be a writer and director since childhood. I remember writing short stories in my journal that my mother bought me for Christmas in the third grade. I wrote to many legends in the industry asking for advice since the age of 10. Wes Craven, Francis Ford Coppola, and John Carpenter are a few people in the media industry that responded and it meant the world to me! As I got older, I changed as most people do and became more enthralled with music, which led to my beginnings of DJing and my current path now. Since I started acting, it’s sparked my love and creativity for film/television again. It would be dope to collaborate with independent actors and filmmakers because I believe that is where the industry is heading now. There are talented people out there not getting an opportunity due to nepotism and social media clout. That has to stop. While the industry isn’t talent-based like it once was, you can’t give up on your dreams. You have to create your own opportunities, and if I can be the one to give talented people their shot, that would be an honor.”

Thank You

“I would like to give a big thanks to everyone that has supported my journey so far, it’s only up from here!”

Photography captured October 2023

Developed by Mad Max Productions

View thereelmax’s Linktree. Listen to their music on YouTube, Spotify here.

“9 5 . n o r t h”

Article by Young Cornbread featuring Max Moody

Photography by Quentin-Lavon

Meet Max Moody, a 25 year-old musician/creative producer from Concord, Massachusetts.

Max Moody and Young Cornbread in Brooklyn, November 2023.

Carolina

Welcome to Brooklyn, New York the most populous borough in New York City. With 2,590,516 inhabitants, King’s County accounts for more than 30 percent of New York City’s population. Brooklyn truly embodies the motto “The City That Never Sleeps” and provides a wide array of ethnic cultures, making the borough very appealing to individuals from across the globe. Hip-Hop royalty like The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, MC Lyte, Pop Smoke, Lil’ Kim, and Joey Bada$$ all hail from Brooklyn.

For the first location, Max Moody and Young Cornbread visited the iconic “Carolina Country Store” in the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant. Born in Cary, North Carolina but raised in Massachusetts, the 25 year-old uses his art form as a creative means to express a very personal perspective.

The release of Moody’s highly anticipated album “Dancing to my Pain” in May 2023, showcases his dynamic range of captivating sonics that leave the listener in complete awe. The 14-track project is filled with layered production all from Moody’s creation. “One Year Ago” introduces the full body of work and Max describes the track as “one of the most important songs he’s ever made.” Conceptually, the album derives from a painful breakup Moody experienced, thus making way for much of the project’s inspiration. The listener can truly resonate with the musician’s self-awareness and raw emotion, which provides the most impactful type of artistry.

A standout track off “Dancing to my Pain” is “idk if imma make it” featuring the creative producer’s older brother Ainsley. Moody serenades over the chorus “God gave me this talent that’s a blessing” signifying the importance of utilizing our gifts from the “Most High.” Ainsley (rapper/producer) slides on the track with ease, cultivating a lyrical flow to polish Moody’s fine-tuned production.

Max Moody at Central Park

After visiting Brooklyn, Max Moody and Young Cornbread traveled to Central Park to explore the bustling streets of Manhattan. The 25 year-old musician explained how the park’s atmosphere was something beyond previous experiences visiting New York. Walking through the park, Moody noticed the diversity of people all while soaking in the views of the nature preserve. Moments like this provide clarity and well-needed reflection, something that’s important for a creative of Max Moody’s caliber.

Many regard Central Park as the most renowned park in the world, because of its rich history and prime location. Annually, Central Park attracts more 25 million tourists and will always represent the true New York culture.

Now or Never

For the final location, Moody and Cornbread used the MTA to head to the borough of Queens. The musician first started visiting “The City That Never Sleeps” during his childhood in the early 2000s. As a kid, Max and his older siblings would stay at their grandmother’s house learning their native Guyanese culture and connecting to their ethnic roots. The musician explained that he never truly had the opportunity to experience the massiveness of New York City, which he described as overstimulating. The foundation of hard work has paved the way for his success and future endeavors. Going into 2024, Moody’s mentality is now or never, thus leaving no opportunity behind.

Much respect to Max Moody!

I would like to give a personal thanks to Max Moody and Quentin-Lavon for making this vision possible.

Links:

Support “Cornbread Media LLC”

Stream “Dancing to my Pain”

Quentin-Lavon’s Website

Edited by Cornbread Media

#cornbreadmedia #youngcornbread #maxmoody #quentinlavon #newyork

“9 5 . n o r t h”

Article by Young Cornbread featuring DJ Mad Max & Kevon Rowe

Photography by Quentin-Lavon

Meet Young Cornbread, a 26 year-old intergalactic journalist/environmentalist and aspiring museum curator from Boston, Massachusetts.

Young Cornbread and DJ Mad Max at Jam Master Jay Mural in Queens, July 2023.

Ying & Yang

Welcome to Queens, New York the largest borough in New York City. Known as “The World’s Borough” Queens boasts a population of 2,278,029 residents and harbors much diversity, hence the nickname. With New York City being the birthplace of Hip-Hop, Queens is a foundational pillar of the culture and many rappers call the borough home from Nas, 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj, LL Cool J, Roxanne Shanté, N.O.R.E., Waka Flocka Flame, and many more.

For the first stop, Young Cornbread and DJ Mad Max stopped to pay homage at the Jam Master Jay Mural in South Hollis. The legacy of Jam Master Jay proceeds his untimely passing, and his presence with the legendary Hip-Hop group Run-D.M.C. showcases their international influence that helped establish the modern-day image of a rap superstar. In February 2022, 24 year-old journalist/actor DJ Mad Max had the opportunity to interview icon Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. Throughout the hour-long interview, DJ Mad Max and DMC discussed the importance of education, the formation of Run-D.M.C., and Darryl’s future endeavors in the industry.

Young Cornbread outside his Dad’s old apartment

“Being able to come back here and know that I’ve been in a place that has such rich history in Hip-Hop and overall culture is a dope feeling to me.”

Young Cornbread first started coming to the Big Apple in the late 1990s and early 2000s to visit family. During these moments, Cornbread would get a glimpse of the vast differences between Boston and New York.

Traveling from Boston to New York via Interstate 95 (I-95) gave the intergalactic journalist an opportunity to experience the pleasure of exploration, which programmed his young mindset to achieve unthinkable heights. One moment in particular that will always stand firm with Young Cornbread during those 4-hour drives would be his exposure to one of his favorite artists of all time Kanye West. Cornbread remembers the first time he ever heard the Chicago MC’s single “Jesus Walks” from Ye’s debut studio album “The College Dropout” on New York’s legendary Hip-Hop station HOT 97. The 26 year-old recalls the on-air DJ spinning the record three times in a row and understood the track’s revolutionary impact; something Cornbread strives to do with his journalism.

Young Cornbread, DJ Mad Max, and Kevon Rowe at St. John’s University

The World Is Yours

In August 2015, Young Cornbread packed all his belongings to move to the Empire State to accomplish his dream of becoming an internationally known radio personality. This journey started in September 2013, when Cornbread joined his high school’s radio station WIQH 88.3FM in Concord, Massachusetts at 16 years-old. Through sheer determination and consistency, Young Cornbread developed his craft as a radio personality/producer and created fruitful opportunities to achieve his wildest dreams. From the countless amount of hours spent, Cornbread not only received multiple scholarships to attend St. John’s University but was awarded “Station Member of the Year” and “Outstanding Show of the Year” for the 2014-2015 annual BBQ award ceremony at WIQH.

DJ Mad Max at WSJU Radio

Once arriving at WSJU Radio, Young Cornbread felt at home having two years of radio experience and began aligning his focus to accomplish great heights in college radio. The process of adjusting from Massachusetts to New York proved to be extremely difficult for the determined journalist, as many times he felt out of place considering New York City’s sprawling population of 8,335,897 residents is more than Cornbread’s entire home state. This struggle sparked his ambition to make the most of every opportunity presented, thus, establishing a polished broadcasting presence amongst his peers at WSJU Radio. The 26 year-old journalist formed his talk programming show “Off The Wall Radio” at the beginning of the spring semester during his sophomore year. Much of Cornbread’s freshman year consisted of learning the ins and outs of college radio with help of older station members. Quentin-Lavon, a 27 year-old photographer/videographer was one of the first members at WSJU to embrace the intergalactic journalist on his journey in college radio. Quentin, a member of WSJU Radio and WRED-TV was a year of ahead of Cornbread, therefore, teaching him invaluable information about the communications field. Lavon established his beloved radio program “Student Of The Game” at St. John’s discussing music, culture, sports, and society in a engaging manner.

During this process, Young Cornbread met radio colleague DJ Mad Max and quickly formed a close friendship in 2017 when Max was a freshman at St. John’s University. The following year, Cornbread’s hard work paid off as he became the General Manager (President) of WSJU Radio for the 2018-2019 academic year along with being blessed with an opportunity to intern for radio legend/journalist Sway Calloway on “Sway in the Morning” for Shade45 at SiriusXM.

DJ Mad Max worked alongside Young Cornbread to help one another build a solid foundation for their promising careers. Mad Max quickly immersed himself within college radio by devoting an innumerable amount of hours to ensure WSJU Radio would reach a national audience. Max was truly able to find success bringing top-tier talent to WSJU like Dave East, Fat Joe, Bob Costas, and the most successful basketball coach in St. John’s history Lou Carnesecca. Through Max’s hard work and consistency, he became WSJU’s General Manager for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The 24 year-old journalist/actor propelled the station to unseen heights by bringing WSJU’s live broadcasting to the iHeart radio streaming platform in 2021. This astonishing accomplishment garnered international attention and cemented his radio program “Sports and Hip-Hop with DJ Mad Max” as the hottest show in college radio.

Young Cornbread and DJ Mad Max at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

I would like to give a personal thanks to DJ Mad Max, Kevon Rowe, and Quentin-Lavon for making this vision possible.

Links:

Support “Cornbread Media LLC”

DJ Mad Max’s Website

Support “Sports and Hip Hop with DJ Mad Max”

Quentin-Lavon’s Website

Edited by Cornbread Media

#cornbreadmedia #youngcornbread #djmadmax #quentinlavon #newyork

“Welcome to Norwalk” Part One

Article by Young Cornbread featuring DJ Mad Max

Photography by Quentin-Lavon

Meet DJ Mad Max, a 23 year-old radio personality/journalist and aspiring actor from Norwalk, Connecticut.

DJ Mad Max and Young Cornbread at American Steakhouse, August 2022.

Best-Kept Secret

Norwalk is a coastal city off Interstate 95 (I-95) which stretches from Southern United States to New England. With a population of 91, 194, Norwalk boasts a unique blend of diversity and culture.

DJ Mad Max, a native of South Norwalk explains that the area shaped many of his experiences today, giving him the necessary insight to navigate his career. If I could use one word to describe Max’s demeanor, it would be dedicated. From an early age, Max fostered a true love for the craft of acting and was inspired by many of the greats including Francis Ford Coppola, Wes Craven, and John Carpenter.

During our first stop in Norwalk, Max invited Quentin-Lavon (photographer/videographer) and myself to American Steakhouse; a landmark within the city. American Steakhouse holds a special place in Max’s heart because the restaurant provided rich childhood memories with family.

Max ordered his usual meal of barbecue ribs and began to discuss his plan about moving to Los Angeles, California to achieve his lifelong goal of becoming an actor. At the beginning of the conversation, Max stated “he’s going through the struggle for the long run, because it’s a testament.” Once I heard this phrase from Max, I could deeply resonate with his feeling of wanting to evolve, but working through the challenges our young people face in society. Divulging into this discussion, Max truly believes his calling for becoming an actor is his ticket to reaching a new found level of success.

Destined to accomplish this goal, Max strives everyday to put effort into his craft. Broadcast journalism provided a platform for Max in 2017, when joining St. John’s University WSJU Radio. From this point, Max demonstrated his love for radio by dedicating countless hours to produce quality content.

With over 500 interviews with notable individuals like Chris Webby, Anne Heche, G Herbo, Lin Shaye, Muggsy Bouges, and Fat Joe just to name a few, Max truly showcases his versatility by reaching a diverse audience. Since the birth of “Sports and Hip Hop with DJ Mad Max” in 2018, Max has also used his platform to uplift independent artists/creatives because he firmly believes in maximizing the most out of your potential.

The Y

“It was fifth grade when I first started playing basketball, but I came here to get better.”

Max reminisced on his childhood days hooping at Norwalk’s YMCA; he mentioned Coach Greg as major inspiration and influence by helping Max find his game. To this day, Coach Greg still supports Max which is a true form of leadership.

Playing basketball gave Max the opportunity to connect with his peers, as he felt many students at his school didn’t understand his upbringing in South Norwalk. Sharpening his game grounded him to become a natural competitor with an undying spirit to succeed. The struggles of learning the fundamentals of basketball taught the Norwalk native the importance of having patience to improve yourself. Max compared his basketball days to finding his lane in the entertainment industry. Nevertheless, the 23 year-old has paved a way to fulfill his life’s purpose through consistency and dedication.

During Max’s eighth grade year, Norwalk’s YMCA officially closed it doors for good. Over the recent years, South Norwalk has gone through the process of gentrification leaving many of the neighborhood’s historic landmarks in uncertainty.

“Welcome to Norwalk” Part Two

#cornbreadmedia #youngcornbread #djmadmax #quentinlavon #connecticut

“Welcome to Norwalk” Part Two

Article by Young Cornbread featuring DJ Mad Max

Photography by Quentin-Lavon

Meet DJ Mad Max, a 23 year-old radio personality/journalist and aspiring actor from Norwalk, Connecticut.

DJ Mad Max outside his old apartment complex

South Norwalk

Since a child, Max always dreamed of accomplishing great heights through pure determination, which makes his craft truly one of a kind. Understanding some of the harsh realities of South Norwalk prepared Max for his ultimate journey of becoming a famous actor and conducting red-carpet interviews.

Visiting the old apartment complex brought back many memories for Max, fueling his drive to keep pushing forward through tough times. Much of the fabric of South Norwalk exhibits this specific desire to always reach for the stars because there’s more to gain when you truly apply yourself.

Connecting to the roots of Norwalk is important for Max because making it from Connecticut proves many challenges, especially if you have aspirations like DJ Mad Max.

Lights, Camera, Action!

DJ Mad Max near Veterans Memorial Park and Marina

For one of the final stops throughout our visit to Norwalk, Max took Quentin and I over to Veterans Memorial Park to show us the basketball courts and views of the water. This area shows Norwalk’s coastal culture with boats frequently crossing through the Norwalk River Bridge.

The Norwalk Harbor flows into the Northern part of the Long Island Sound which is apart of Tri-state area of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

Connecticut is apart of the New England region, thus, DJ Mad Max asked if my hometown of Boston, Massachusetts had any similarities to Norwalk. There were many similarities from the diverse cultures to both cities being rich in history.

Coming from New England, Max and I could both relate to having an underdog’s mentality because opportunities aren’t as readily available for creatives to thrive in our region. Joyner Lucas, an independent artist and two-time Grammy nominee from Worcester, Massachusetts explained he had to leave New England to find more opportunities in bigger cities like New York and Los Angleles.

DJ Mad Max knows Connecticut has incredible talent, but expanding to the West Coast would enhance his career to the next level and help establish the necessary connections to flourish.

Young Cornbread at Veterans Memorial Park and Marina

When visiting South Norwalk, Max mentioned the importance Veterans Park had on his formative years, from hooping at the courts to jogging around the spacious area. Growing up nearby, this park provided Max with a well-needed space to reflect on achieving his ambitious dreams and aspirations.

Moving to Los Angeles, California to pursue a full-time acting career is one of Max’s biggest goals at the moment. With the help of his agent, he’s been working nonstop to merge into the acting industry to make himself a household name in Hollywood.

For the last stop in Norwalk, we visited the iconic Bow Tie Cinemas also know as Royale 6. Max stated this theater in particular provided him fond childhood memories because his passion for television and movies. Every child has a dream, and movies gave the Norwalk native inspiration to envision himself starring in major role for a Hollywood production.

DJ Mad Max wants continue to utilize his passion for journalism and conduct red-carpet interviews with the likes of Hollywood stars. T.K. Kirkland, a legendary comedian and entrepreneur gave high praise to 23 year-old during their most recent interview in June 2022. Kirkland mentioned that Max was an “awesome, awesome interviewer...” This complaint speaks volumes to the effort put into his craft, as Max told me that he may research upwards to eight hours for one interview.

With a strong vision and unique purpose, DJ Mad Max is manifesting to become a pioneer in the entertainment industry to educate and provide opportunities to people that come from similar backgrounds. Documenting Norwalk was an eye opening experience to say the least, and I appreciate Max’s gratitude to shine a light on his hometown.

Finishing the tour, we reflected on our journeys and what lies within our futures. Undoubtedly, DJ Mad Max will leave his mark in the entertainment industry, and his motivation for greatness can move mountains.