Mad Max (song)

"Mad Max"
Song by Lil Durk and Future
from the album Loyal Bros 2
Released	December 16, 2022
Length	2:33
Label	Only the Family Empire
Songwriter(s)	Durk Banks Nayvadius Wilburn Gregory Sanders, Jr.
Producer(s)	HitmanAudio
Music video
"Mad Max" on YouTube

"Mad Max" is a song by American rapper Lil Durk and Future from American record label Only the Family and Durk's collaborative compilation album Loyal Bros 2 (2022). It was produced by HitmanAudio.

Critical reception

Preezy Brown of Vibe wrote favorably of "Mad Max" being one of the starting tracks of Loyal Bros 2, describing Lil Durk as "instantly setting the tone before allowing his label's artists to run rabid."^[1] In an otherwise mixed review of the album, Peter A. Berry of HipHopDX commented that "Mad Max" was one of the "times when Loyal Bros 2 soars", writing, "For 'Mad Max,' Durk plays off Future's murmuring menace, attacking pummeling 808s with threats that are so vicious and so direct that you can almost feel him sneering at you. The song title probably isn't a direct reference to the film of the same name, but the track, with its ominous chords and addictive hook, feels like a soundtrack for desert warfare."^[2]

Controversy

In December 2022, the song captured public attention for lyrics addressing rapper Young Thug's RICO-related case, in which Lil Durk admits, "I could've been part of the RICO, I called Thug and told him every nigga I shot".^[3][4]

Music video

The official music video premiered on January 19, 2023. Directed by DrewFilmedIt, it pays homage to the 2002 Jamaican film Shottas, seeing Lil Durk and Future plotting a heist in Miami.^[5] The action spans from Jamaica to there, interspersed with shots of the rappers performing in front of a massive residence.^[6] While his entourage kills the other enemies in ski masks with assault rifles, Durk fires the final shot to close the visual.^[5]

Charts

Chart performance for "Mad Max"

Chart (2022)	Peak position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[7]	36
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[8]	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9]	36

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10]	Gold	500,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Brown, Preezy (December 18, 2022). "Ab-Soul, Young Dolph, Boldy James Unleash New Music Friday Releases". Vibe. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
2. Berry, Peter A. (December 30, 2022). "Lil Durk's Only The Family 'Loyal Bros 2' Could Have Used More Brotherhood". HipHopDX. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
3. Saponara, Michael (December 22, 2022). "Lil Durk Believes Young Thug Is Being 'Left To The Wolves' In RICO Case". HipHopDX. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
4. Gonzalez, Alex (December 22, 2022). "Lil Durk Said Young Thug Is Being 'Left To The Wolves' And Called For Fans To Share Their Support". Uproxx. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
5. Saponara, Michael (January 21, 2023). "Lil Durk & Future Hit A Lick In Sinister 'Mad Max' Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
6. Powell, Jon (January 23, 2023). "Lil Durk connects with Future for "Mad Max" visual". Revolt. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
7. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 26, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
8. "Lil Durk Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
9. "Lil Durk Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
10. "American single certifications – Lil Durk – Mad Max". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 29, 2024.