Maxim

Renowned for his intense live performances, MC and lyricist Maxim is surprisingly the only member of the Prodigy to enjoy solo success. Born Keith Palmer in Peterborough, England, he started rapping at the age of 14, inspired by his MC brother Hitman. After forming the short-lived Maxim and Shaik Yan Groove, he moved to London, where he was invited to join rave act the Prodigy. The band had tremendous success both in the U.K. and U.S., particularly with third album The Fat of the Land. Maxim provided the lyrics for Top 20 hits "Poison" and "Breathe," but during the band's hiatus in the late '90s, he began writing songs for his own solo project. His first single, "Carmen Queasy," which featured Skunk Anansie's Skin on vocals, reached number 33 in the U.K. charts. His debut album, Hell's Kitchen, which featured contributions from Sneaker Pimps and Gravediggaz, was released in 2000, but he took five years to release the follow-up, Fallen Angel. Notably absent from the Prodigy's 2004 comeback album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, he eventually appeared on and toured in support of their 2009 return to form, Invaders Must Die. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi