Maxim

Palmer was born in Peterborough to Jamaican parents. He enjoyed writing poetry and verse and began MC-ing around the age of 14. He gained inspiration from his ten years older MC brother, Hitman, who introduced him into the Peterborough Reggae Soundsystem Scene. At the age of seventeen he had his first gig in Basingstoke. Ian Sherman, a fellow musician from Nottingham teamed up with Maxim and they formed Maxim and Sheik YanGroove. After recording some tracks together without attracting much attention, Maxim left and went on a three-month travel throughout Europe and North Africa. Upon returning to England he moved to London to get involved in the music and reggae scene. His prior stage name, "Maxim Reality", was a reference to his interest in lyrics based on real issues