Originally from Morocco, French Montana is an American rapper. With the help of Bad Boy Records and Maybach Music, he inked a joint-venture record deal in 2012. Also, he founded Coke Boys Records, a record label.
As a result of the success of the single “Unforgettable,” his second studio album “Jungle Rules” debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 in 2017. Since he started, he’s amassed a whopping 13 billion streams across all of his many platforms.
How Was His Early Life?
Karim Kharbouch, better known as French Montana, was born in Rabat, Morocco, on November 9, 1984. A combination of his French heritage in Morocco and Tony Montana’s character in Scarface is the inspiration for the name French Montana.
Playing soccer and rapping were the two things he loved most as a kid. He was also a big fan of the sport. On the outskirts of Casablanca, on his family’s estate, he spent his formative years. The family relocated to the United States at the age of 13. Their new home was located in the South Bronx, New York City.
He could only communicate in Moroccan Darija and French at the time. When Karim was in high school, he had to learn English from other students and from the teachers.
His father came back to Casablanca after a few years. Rather than leave her children alone, his mother stayed put. At the time, his mother was pregnant with his younger sibling. Kharbouch had three children, thus the family relied on welfare, and he quickly found himself working to support them.
How He Started His Career?
Cocaine City was the name given to a series of mixtapes by French in 2002. France’s mixtape debut was released in 2007. On Akon’s Konvict Muzik record label, he had a major breakthrough in 2009. After two years, French ended his contract with Akon and signed a deal with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records instead.
The album peaked at number one in the US Rap and R&B/Hip-Hop charts, as well as number four on the Billboard 200, and number eleven in Canada, among other accolades.
Swae Lee’s song “Unforgettable” (featuring him) climbed to the top of the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart and the Billboard Hot 100; it also peaked at number three in the UK. The first song as a lead artist to enter the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100: “Unforgettable”.
He followed up his debut album with Jungle Rules, which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, the US Rap and R&B/Hip-Hop charts, as well as a number two on the Canadian album charts. Rap and R&B/Hip-Hop singles “Pop That” by Montana (with Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne) both peaked at #2 in the US.
It was Tupac Shakur, The Notorious BIG, Nas, Snoop Dogg, and the Wu-Tang Clan that French Montana listened to when he was a kid, he tells the New York Times. Adele and Amy Winehouse, Florence + the Machine, and Lana Del Rey are some of the artists he’s sampled in his music. He considers himself an overall music fan.
What Is the Reason for His Success?
After the publication of his first mixtape, “French Revolution Volume 1,” the rapper became a household name. The song “Choppa Choppa Down” was a breakout smash for him, and he continued to release new music every year.
The budding rapper was raised in Casablanca, Morocco, but migrated to the United States with his family at the age of 13 to pursue his dream of becoming a rapper.
His interest in both soccer and rap music increased during this period, but he concentrated more on basketball as a teenager. After moving to New York City in the 1990s, Montana was forced to become the primary income for his family after his father returned to Morocco.
Karim became a rapper in his teens and went by the name “Young French.” In the late ’90s, he and his companion Cams traveled around the country performing as a combat rapper. The rapper took a break from music after suffering a gunshot wound to the head in 2003.
“French Revolution Volume 1,” his debut studio album, was released after a few years. Montana collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Jae Millz, Max B, Mazaradi Fox, Tony Yayo, and Uncle Murda, for the mixtape, which was released in 2012.
Net Worth of French Montana
French Montana has a fortune of over $20 million, making him one of the wealthiest rappers in the United States. In addition to his singing career, French Montana’s wealth is partly owing to his high-priced endorsement deals with a number of well-known brands.
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French Montana paid $3.3 million for Selena Gomez‘s Calabasas, California, home in 2016, which is 8,000 square feet in size. A recording studio in the guest house was one of the numerous improvements he made to the property, which he estimates cost him roughly $400,000 to complete.
French Montana’s automobile collection includes a Rolls-Royce Ghost, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Sadillac Scalada, and an AW 8.
Is He the First Male Rapper to Go Diamond?
This is the first time an artist from The Bronx has gone platinum, says French Montana. Official data, on the other hand, suggests differently.
The Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast just had a guest appearance from French Montana. For the first time on Monday, a snippet from French’s interview was shared on the show.
“I’m the first male artist from the mecca of hip-hop to go diamond. It just happened like that,” French said. He modified his criterion a few seconds later.
“I’m the first male artist from the mecca of hip-hop, from The Bronx, and the first born-African artist to ever go diamond. So, that’s different.”
French Montana’s biggest hit to date, “Unforgettable,” starring Swae Lee, has been certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, but it has not yet been certified diamond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does He Go by the Name “French Montana”?
According to Billboard, he chose the name, French Montana. “France had tried to take over Morocco, not in my time obviously, but there are still influences there from the French culture. So when I came over here [U.S.], the name French just kind of stuck with me,” the rapper said in 2009.
What Happened to Him?
TMZ reported last year that Montana had been hospitalized for cardiac and gastric concerns. “being fatigued, dehydrated, losing myself chasing money chasing the wrong things,” the rapper said, adding that he has performed in five nations in a single week.
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