French Montana
| French Montana | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Karim Kharbouch[1] |
| Born | November 9, 1984 Rabat, Morocco[1] |
| Origin | Bronx, New York City, United States |
| Genres | East Coast hip hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap |
| Occupations | Rapper |
| Years active | 2002 - present |
| Labels | Bad Boy, Interscope, Cocaine City Records |
| Associated acts | Max B, Chinx Drugz, Akon, Diddy, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, Jadakiss, Tony Yayo, G4SHI, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, Juicy J, Drake, Fat Joe, Uncle Murda |
Karim Kharbouch (born November 9, 1984), better known by his stage name French Montana, is an American rapper and singer of Moroccan[2][3] and Somali[2][4] descent. He is the founder of Cocaine City Records.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
French Montana was born as Karim Kharbouch in 1984 in Rabat, Morocco.[1][4] From an early age, he was consumed by basketball and rapping, describing them as his two favorite childhood hobbies.[5]
In 1996, at the age of 13, French emigrated with his mother and younger brother to the Bronx in New York City.[6]
His stage name is a conflation of French (from the French protectorate of Morocco) and Montana (from the fictitious Tony Montana in the 1983 movie Scarface).[3]
In 2003-2004, French was shot in the head as he was exiting a recording studio. He was rushed to the hospital and survived. Describing the incident as a possible assassination attempt, the artist was subsequently involved in a murder trial in which he was found not guilty. Rumors began to swirl that he had received settlement money from the case, which he then used to start his rap career. However, French later dismissed these claims as false in an interview.[7]
[edit] Music career
[edit] Cocaine City
In 2001, French Montana created the Cocaine City DVD imprint as a means of showcasing his talent as an underground artist and a new voice from the New York streets. To gain a broader fan base, French incorporated interviews with major artists, as well as some up and comers. What started out as simply a medium for developing an audience quickly grew into one of the top-selling "street DVDs".[6]
The international success of the DVD series helped to propel French's rap career to an entirely new level. By creating and producing Cocaine City, French Montana evolved from an aspiring rapper in the streets of the Bronx, to the newest rapper to sign with platinum-selling recording artist Akon's record label, Konvict Muzik. By early 2009, French had flooded the streets with various mixtapes, including "Live from Africa", "Laundry Man" with Evil Empire, and "In Demand" with DJ Lazy K.[3] His frequent collaborations with Harlem-bred rapper Max B have also helped keep a steady buzz, and helped fuel the success of the duo’s latest project, the mixtape/DVD combo "Coke Wave."[3]
[edit] 2009-2010
In 2009, French signed a deal with Akon's Konvict Muzik record label, but later left the label in 2011 due to album delays.[8] Montana was subsequently reportedly close to signing a deal with Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group (MMG).[9] There were also reports that he would join Kanye West's GOOD Music label.[10]
[edit] Bad Boy Records
In December 2011, Montana signed a record deal with P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records[11] and Interscope Records.[12] According to French, of the many major labels that were courting him, the Maybach Music Group would have been his second choice had he not signed with Bad Boy.[13] Montana still maintains strong ties with MMG, and Rick Ross is slated to executive produce his debut album.[14]
[edit] Influences
According to French, the rappers Tupac, Snoop, Biggie and Wu-Tang were among the hip hop artists that he listened to while growing up. He also considers himself a general music lover.[15]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Excuse My French (TBA)
[edit] Mixtapes
- French Revolution Vol. 1 (Hosted by Cutmaster C) (2007)[16]
- Live From Africa (Hosted by Cocaine City) (2008)[17]
- Coke Wave (with Max B; Hosted by DJ Whoo Kid) (2008)[18]
- Coke Wave 2 (with Max B; Hosted by Evil Empire) (2009)[19]
- The Laundry Man (Hosted by Evil Empire & Big Mike) (2009)[20]
- Mac Wit Da Cheese (Hosted by Big Mike) (2009)[21]
- The Laundry Man 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire) (2009)[22]
- Cocaine Konvicts: Gangsta Grillz (Hosted by DJ Drama) (2009)[23]
- Mac & Cheese 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire, Self & Big Mike) (2010)[24]
- Coke Boys (with Coke Boys; Hosted by DJ Lust, DJ Drama & DJ Diggz) (2010)[25]
- Mister 16 (Casino Life) (Hosted by DJ Holiday) (2011)[26]
- Coke Boys 2 (with Coke Boys) (Hosted by Evil Empire) (2011)[27]
- Coke Boys Run NY (with Chinx Drugz; Hosted by ItsBizkit, Trapemasters Inc & Evil Empire) (2011)[28]
- Lock Out (with Waka Flocka Flame; Presented by DJ Drama & DJ Green Lantern) (2011)[29]
- Cocaine Mafia (with Juicy J and Project Pat; Hosted by Evil Empire) (2011)[30]
- Mac & Cheese 3 (Hosted by Evil Empire, Self & Big Mike) (TBA)
- Coke Boys 3 (TBA)
[edit] Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
US Rap |
|||||||||||
| "Choppa Choppa Down"[32] (featuring Waka Flocka Flame) |
2011 | — | — | — | Coke Boys & Excuse My French | ||||||||
| "Shot Caller" (featuring Charlie Rock) |
2012 | 124 | 39 | 23 | Mister 16 (Casino Life) & Excuse My French | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
[edit] Videography
[edit] 2011
- "Choppa Choppa Down"
- "Choppa Choppa Down (Remix)"
- "Shot Caller"
- "We Mobb"
- "Stay Schemin'"
[edit] 2012
- "Weed and Drinks"
- "Shot Caller (Remix)"
[edit] References
- ^ a b c French Montana is a “Shot Caller”
- ^ a b French Montana recruits Jadakiss for a “New York Minute”
- ^ a b c d Mendez, Marisa (April 7, 2009). "Reviews: Top 5 Dead or Alive: French Montana". http://allhiphop.com/stories/reviewsmusic/archive/2009/04/07/21329333.aspx. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ a b Three 6 Mafia, French Montana Record New Album in 3 Days
- ^ Stupid Dope interview with French Montana
- ^ a b Mendez, Marisa (August 11, 2009). "French Montana: Akon's Bullet". http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2009/08/11/21889445.aspx. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ French Montana Talks Record Deal, Ross & Akon
- ^ [1]
- ^ French Montana to Maybach Music?
- ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17330/title.pusha-t-talks-good-music-compilation-french-montana-possibly-signing-to-good-music
- ^ French Montana Officially Announces Record Deal with Diddy’s Bad Boy Label
- ^ Interscope - French Montana
- ^ French Montana Speaks On Signing To Bad Boy, Says Maybach Music Was His Second Choice
- ^ French Montana and Rick Ross Celebrate With Champagne From 1996
- ^ French Montana: Talks Indie Grind, Diddy's Business Sense & Max B
- ^ "French Montana - French Revolution Vol. 1 (Hosted by Cutmaster C)". Mixbird. http://mixbird.com/mixtapes/listen/french_montana-french_revolution_vol_1. Retrieved 2007.
- ^ "French Montana - Live From Africa (Hosted by Cocaine City)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-Live-From-Africa-mixtape.14331.html. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
- ^ "Max B & French Montana - Coke Wave (Hosted by DJ Whoo Kid)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/Max-B-Coke-Wave-mixtape.33214.html. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ "Max B & French Montana - Coke Wave 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/Max-B-French-Montana-Coke-Wave-2-mixtape.75590.html. Retrieved 2009.
- ^ "French Montana - The Laundry Man (Hosted by Evil Empire and Big Mike". LiveMixtapes. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-The-Laundry-Man-mixtape.35513.html. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^ "French Montana - Mac Wit Da Cheese (Hosted by Big Mike)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-Mac-Wit-Da-Cheese-mixtape.42556.html. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ "French Montana - The Laundry 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-The-Laundry-Man-2-mixtape.53345.html. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- ^ "French Montana - Cocaine Konvicts: Gangsta Grillz (Hosted by DJ Drama)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-Cocaine-Konvicts-Gangsta-Grillz-mixtape.68365.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
- ^ "French Montana - Mac & Cheese 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire, Self & Big Mike". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-Mac-Cheese-2-mixtape.118129.html. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- ^ "French Montana & Coke Boys - Coke Boys (Hosted by DJ Lust, DJ Drama & DJ Diggz)". Datpiff. http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/12312/french_montana_coke_boys.html. Retrieved 2010.
- ^ "French Montana - Mr. 16: Casino Life". ThisIs50. http://www.thisis50.com/forum/topics/new-mixtape-french-montana?xg_source=activity. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ^ "French Montana & Coke Boys - Coke Boys 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-Coke-Boys-Coke-Boys-2-mixtape.260651.html. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
- ^ "French Montana & Chinx Drugz - Coke Boys Run NY (Hosted by ItsBizkit, Trapemasters Inc. & Evil Empire)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-Chinx-Drugz-Coke-Boys-Run-NY-mixtape.263357.html. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
- ^ "DJ Drama & DJ Green Lantern Presents Waka Flocka Flame & French Montana - Lock Out". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/Waka-Flocka-French-Montana-Lock-Out-mixtape.290211.html. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
- ^ "French Montana, Juicy J & Project Pat - Cocaine Mafia (Hosted by Evil Empire)". Datpiff. http://www.datpiff.com/French-Montana-Cocaine-Mafia-mixtape.293498.html. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/FrenchMontanaOfficial/posts/10151122613040591
- ^ "French Montana - Choppa Choppa Down". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/choppa-choppa-down-feat.-waka/id419985188. Retrieved Feb 11, 2011.
