Michael Jones, better known by his stage name Wax, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and comedian.[1] He became a YouTube star after uploading several videos of himself rapping and singing. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Wax is best known for his single "Rosana", which was released in 2012 and again in Europe in 2013. There it reached number one in Austria and top ten places in several other European countries.
From 2000-2005, Jones was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the six piece band MacGregor. The band toured throughout the United States in the Midwest, the South, and New England, receiving a lot of local buzz in D.C. and Maryland.[5] The group released two albums before entering a "super-extended" hiatus.[6] They split because members had obtained other jobs or engaged in serious relationships. During this time, Wax also released his first solo EP, Biatch!
YouTube
In mid-2007, Jones and his twin brother, Herbal T, started posting videos of themselves rapping on YouTube.[7] In early 2008, Wax made a name for himself after performing his song ("New Crack") over a Stephen Marley track called "Traffic Jam" while driving. The YouTube video has received over 2.2 million views.[1] He also began to collaborate with other well known musicians on YouTube, such as Dumbfoundead and Prince Ea.[8] After he cracked YouTube's Top 100 Musician list, his subscription base tripled and averaged about nearly 1,000 new subscribers each day.[3] His videos have collectively garnered over 80 million views on his YouTube channel.[9] The famous YouTuber Ray William Johnson then asked him to make an outro song titled "Stalkin Ya Mom". The two later collaborated on a song called "Orphan Tears". For Your Favorite Martian's comeback on June 10, 2022, they collaborated again on "Orphan Tears Part. 2". On December 15, 2014, he appeared in the Epic Rap Battles of History episode Steven Spielberg Vs. Alfred Hitchcock playing Quentin Tarantino. He later returned to ERB in 2019 in the episode Freddy Krueger vs Wolverine in which he portrayed Freddy Krueger.
Independent venture
Wax and Herbal T released their first album together, Grizzly Season, under AGP Records in 2006.
In 2008, an East Coast producer named EOM (Elements of Music) and Wax collaborated on a song called "The Adventures of Larry and Tina," written by Wax and produced by EOM. Eventually, they recorded and released a full album together, Liquid Courage, at the end of 2008.[10] In 2010 Wax released Clockwise, a collaborative effort with Dumbfoundead and EOM.[11]
On November 13, 2012, Wax announced a new album entitled "Continue..." that was released January 15, 2013.[12]
On May 27, 2015, Wax announced that his next studio album would be called "Livin' Foul," and include an extended version of a previously unreleased song, "No Smoking in the House." The album was released on October 23, 2015.
Def Jam Recordings
In March 2011, Wax announced that he was signed to Def Jam Recordings by Max Gousse when he released a joint venture mixtape called Scrublife hosted by DJ Skee and Dale Firebird.[13] EOM, The Fyre Department, Finatik N Zac and Jim Jonsin are featured guest boardworks for the mixtape.[14] His lead single is a song called Dispensary Girl[4] and the music video debuted on Entertainment Weekly a day before Scrublife released. Wax's debut LP with Def Jam Recordings was hinted to be released in October 2011,[15] but on August 24, 2012, Wax announced on his YouTube channel that he had parted from Def Jam Recordings due to creative differences.
Podcast
In August 2012, Wax began doing a weekly podcast where he discusses a wide variety of issues. The podcast has a few segments on a consistent basis such as "Call Someone and Fuck With Them", "Recommendations from Wax", "Wax's True Hollywood Stories", and "Fan Questions". The Podcast has had many guests such as Wax's Twin Brother Herbal T, Producer EOM, comedian Todd Rexx and more. The average length of the podcast is about an hour, and is generally released every few weeks. As of May 31, 2017, Wax has released 141 podcasts.[16]
The Cookout Chronicles (September 2, 2016; Scrublife)
B.A.A.A. (September 16, 2019; Scrublife)
Collaboration albums
Beat Camp Tactics (with MacGregor), May 13, 2002
Scatterbrain (with MacGregor), December 18, 2003, AGP Records
Grizzly Season (with Herbal T), December 13, 2006, AGP Records
Clockwise (with Dumbfoundead), May 31, 2010, Knocksteady
Things Are Changin (with Eric Krasno), June 28, 2024, Feel Music Group
Live albums
Wax Unplugged (Live from Los Angeles) (February 14, 2013; Scrublife)
EPs
Biatch! (2003)
Back In Business (2017) with Lack of Afro and Herbal T
Mixtapes
Scrublife (March 15, 2011; Scrublife) – hosted by DJ Skee and Wax's fictional character Dale Firebird, the mixtape was released as a free digital download on DJ Booth.
Eviction Notice (November 28, 2011; Scrublife) – released as a free digital download on DJ Booth.[18]
^Jones, Michael (28 April 2011). "TSM Radio Show .278; Wax". TSM Radio (Interview). Interviewed by Stu Stone. Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
