If you’re just recently hearing the name French Montana, understand this, opposed to some, French Montana is no overnight success. He paid his dues in the game by way of street DVD’s called ‘Cocaine City’. If you are not familiar with the Cocaine City DVD’s, imagine them being equivalent to YouTube in 2002. No stranger to hustle, French Montana has released 17 mixtapes in the last 5 years; which has undoubtedly fueled his buzz and led to being romanced by several major record labels. Despite being linked to Akon, Kanye West, and Rick Ross, he eventually signed a deal with Bad Boy Records earlier this year. French Montana’s resume is a testament of how hard work pays off and to never surrender to trials when triumph can be just over the horizon.
- Karim Kharbouch, aka French Montana was born November 9, 1984 in Rabat, Morocco.
- His favorite pastimes as a kid was playing soccer and rapping.
- When French was 13, he and his family moved to The Bronx, New York City.
- French Montana attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in The Bronx.
- His influences are Tupac, the Notorius B.I.G., Snoop Dog, and Wu-Tang Clan.
- Due to his father leaving, he was forced to support his family at the age of 17.
- In 2002, French and his friend Camz started a series of Hip Hop street DVD’s called ‘Cocaine City’
- He promoted his music on Cocaine City under the name Young French.
- The Cocaine City DVD’s showcased his music along with other underground and major artists at the time.
- The 14 volume DVD series became one of the top-selling street DVD’s.
- The name French Montana came from the French protectorate of Morocco and Tony Montana in the movie Scarface.
- French Montana is part of a group called Coke Boys with Chinx Drugz, Charlie Rock, Cheeze, and Flip.
- Coke Boys are signed to French Montana’s independent label called Cocaine City Records.
- In 2007, he released his first mixtape called French Revolution Vol. 1.
- French released 2 mixtapes in 2008 called Live From Africa and Coke Wave.
- In 2009, he released 4 mixtapes: Coke Wave 2, The Laundry Man, Mac Wit Da Cheese, and Laundry Man 2.
- French met Akon through a friend who let Akon hear one of his tracks.
- Akon then flew French out to work on a promotional project.
- French reportedly signed with Akon’s label Konvict Muzik in 2009.
- He states that Akon was more of a mentor and that he was never actually signed to Konvict Muzik.
- In 2009, he also released the mixtape Cocaine Konvicts: Gangsta Grillz hosted by DJ Drama.
- In 2010, he released Mac & Cheese 2 and Coke Boys mixtapes.
- In 2011, French released 4 mixtapes called Mister 16 (Casino Life), Coke Boys Run NY, Lock Out (with Waka Flocka Flame, DJ Drama & DJ Green Lantern), and Cocaine Mafia.
- French left Konvict Musik in 2011 and was rumored to signing with Maybach Music Group and then later G.O.O.D. Music.
- In December of 2011, he signed with Bad Boy/Interscope Records.
- He is currently working on 2 mixtapes N.W.C (Niggas With Coke): Coke Boys 3 and Mac & Cheese 3
- He is set to release his first studio album called Excuse My French in 2012.
- French Montana was featured on XXL’s Freshman Class 2012.
In an interview with HipHopDX, this is what French Montana had to say about making it as a rapper: “I feel like, just because you have a regular job and Hip Hop music ain’t paying yet, you shouldn’t quit because it can kick in when you least expect it. As far as me, for the time that I was grinding, I feel like some people get it the easy way and some people get it the hard way. I was one of those people that had to work hard. I don’t mind it because I appreciate it. I ain’t gonna make the same mistakes that I would’ve made if I had got on two years in. I feel like everything played out the way it was supposed to play out. Nothing ever happens when you want it. It happens when it’s supposed to.”
Post by: Rosie J – music marketer
@StudioDiva
