Well here we are! Weeks into 2019 and delivering post number 400 to you. This is somewhat of a special occasion and it calls for a special feature. I think Weekly Music Commentary has delivered once again. This week our featured artist is world-renowned rapper, singer, songwriter French Montana.
Several months ago I was watching a Netflix movie called “The After Party”. It was about two high school friends – one an aspiring rapper, and the other an aspiring agent. The aspiring agent was extremely driven to make his friend a star at any cost. The movie is very funny and I encourage all reading this post to view it when you can. The film was filled with cameos and appearances of many hip hop stars. One of them was French Montana. Near the end of the film a video of the aspiring rapper made it to many decision-makers in the hip hop music industry. The first was French Montana who made a call to the young aspiring agent. Thinking the phone call was a prank, he hung up. Montana called back and the young agent asked if this was Karim Kharbouch speaking to him. I thought is was funny but interesting. At this point in his career, French Montana is so famous today that he is easily recognized by his birth name.
There are many other facts about the life and career of French Montana of which fans are well aware. However, I tend to also write posts for those who are not fans. Therefore, this post might be an introduction to French Montana for many readers. Let’s get started.
Karim Kharbouch was born on November 9, 1984, in Casablanca, Morocco. He grew up at the family estate outside Casablanca where he lived for the first 13 years of his life. In 1996, Kharbouch left Morocco with his parents and younger brother for New York City, where they settled in the South Bronx. Kharbouch spoke only his native languages of Moroccan Darija and French when he first arrived, and learned English in the streets and in the Bronx high schools of Lehman and Roosevelt. After struggling for two years, his father decided they would move back to Casablanca, but his mother opted to stay back with their children citing lack of opportunities back home. His mother was pregnant with his youngest brother at the time, who was born in the United States shortly after his father departed for Morocco. With three children, his mother was dependent on welfare for financial support. Kharbouch eventually found himself the primary breadwinner for the family.
French Montana began his career as a battle rapper in his teens under the name Young French. In 2002, French and close friend Cams created a series of street DVDs called Cocaine City, drawing inspiration from the Smack DVD series popular at the time. Initially as Young French, he used the DVDs as a means of showcasing his talent as an underground artist, including in it his own original music, freestyles, and collaborations with other artists.  What started out as a medium for developing an audience, quickly grew into one of the top-selling street DVDs. The series ran for eight years between 2002-2010, totaling 14 volumes, and multiple spinoff films. Based out of the Bronx, French ran the series with the help of childhood friends including Brock, Droop Pop and Cheeze, who went on to become the first rappers that formed the Coke Boys.
That eight year period, as well as the next two, would be the busiest for French Montana. It seemed like he worked with every possible rap, hip hop and R & B artist possible. One of the big collaborations involved one of South Florida’s superstars Rick Ross. French, who admits having been a fan of Ross’ music, was invited to come “at like three in the morning” where he listened to his upcoming MMG collaborative album Self Made Vol. 1. The two recorded a track for the album, while Ross hopped on the remix to “Choppa Choppa Down”.
With French juggling between Atlanta and New York, his song “Shot Caller” off of the Casino Life record would gain traction on New York radio beginning mid-2011. During an on-air interview with Fat Joe on DJ Green Lantern’s “Invasion Radio” in October 2011, French would call in to praise close friend and fellow-Bronx rapper Fat Joe, revealing his role in helping to get “Shot Caller” on the airwaves. Fat Joe, whom he refers to as “big brother”, praised French’s work ethic and revealed that French had been receiving offers from several major labels.
Having received offers from several labels, including Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Kanye’s GOOD Music; on December 6 on BET, French Montana publicly announced signing with Bad Boy Records, an imprint of Interscope Records. In a subsequent interview with Billboard magazine, French revealed that had he not signed with Bad Boy that MMG would be his next choice. However, on January 4, 2012, while in the studio with Rick Ross, the two announced French’s new signing to a joint-venture between Bad Boy Records and Maybach Music Group, making him a part of both labels. Both Ross and Diddy would be executive producing his dĂ©but studio album.
Interestingly, with almost seventeen years in the music industry, French Montana has only recorded two studio albums, Excuse My French and Jungle Rules. Nevertheless the list of collaborations and features is endless.
However, we want to look ahead to find what’s in store for French Montana in 2019. He has already erupted on the music scene in a huge way. Today, he has become an icon. He’s already featured on rapper Future’s single NASA which dropped at the start of the new year. I’m sure there will be more features for him in 2019. Watch for some movie roles for the rapper. Whatever happens, 2019 should be a happy new year for French Montana.