French Montana

Artist Image: French Montana
Attribution
Image Credit: Epic Records (Epic Records), CC BY-SA 4.0

Biography

French Montana (born November 9, 1984) is an American rapper and singer of Moroccan descent. He is the founder and CEO of Cocaine City Records. In 2012, he signed a joint venture recording deal with Maybach Music Group and Bad Boy Records. Montana is known for his frequent collaborations with Max B, and more recently with Rick Ross along with his group Coke Boys, which consists of rappers Chinx Drugz, Cheeze and Flip. French Montana was born Karim Kharbouch in 1984 in Rabat, Morocco, where he lived for the first 13 years of his life. Growing up, he was consumed by playing football and rapping, describing them as his two favorite childhood hobbies. In 1996, French emigrated with his parents and two younger brothers to the Bronx in New York City. His father left the family when French was 17, and so he began to provide for his mother and younger brothers. French is also often reported as being of partial Somali descent. Asked about the rumors during a phone-in interview with Nomad Radio, a UK-based Somali music station, he indicated that both of his parents were Moroccan but that he has Somali ancestry as well. Montana is Muslim (Sunni), having been raised in Morocco under the Maliki madhab, or school of thought. In an interview for Vlad TV which took place on the first day of the Islamic Holy Month Ramadan, French revealed that he participates in fasting during the month and how he was shot in the head and beat a murder charge. Studio albums Excuse My French (2013) Mixtapes2007: French Revolution Vol. 1 (Hosted by Evil Empire) 2008: Live From Africa (Hosted by Evil Empire) 2008: Coke Wave (with Max B; Hosted by DJ Whoo Kid) 2009: Coke Wave 2 (with Max B; Hosted by Evil Empire) 2009: The Laundry Man (Hosted by Evil Empire & Big Mike) 2009: Mac Wit Da Cheese (Hosted by Big Mike) 2009: The Laundry Man 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire) 2009: Cocaine Konvicts: Gangsta Grillz (Hosted by DJ Drama) 2010: Mac & Cheese 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire, Self & Big Mike) 2010: Coke Boys(Hosted by DJ Drama,DJ Diggz,DJ Lust) 2011: Mister 16 (Casino Life) (Hosted by DJ Holiday) 2011: Coke Boys 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire) 2011: Coke Boys Run NY (with Chinx Drugz; Hosted by ItsBizkit, Trapemasters Inc & Evil Empire) 2011: Lock Out (with Waka Flocka Flame; Presented by DJ Drama & DJ Green Lantern) 2011: Cocaine Mafia (with Juicy J and Project Pat; Hosted by Evil Empire) 2012: Coke Boys 3 (Hosted by Evil Empire) 2012: Mac & Cheese 3 (Hosted by Evil Empire) Other mixtapes 2009: The French Connection 2010: Cocaine & Caviar 2011: Cocaine & Caviar 2

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed
Number of Albums 141
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia French Montana on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Hip Hop

Trivia

What was the real name of French Montana?

Karim Kharbouch

...Childhood and youth French Montana (real name Karim Kharbouch ) was born on November 9, 1984, in the largest Moroccan city, Casablanca. The boy lived i...
When was French Montana born?

Casablanca

...harbouch) was born on November 9, 1984, in the largest Moroccan city, Casablanca . The boy lived in the family lands near Casablanca until 12. In 1996,...
What year did the parents and their sons move to New York?

1996

...sablanca. The boy lived in the family lands near Casablanca until 12. In 1996 , the parents and their two sons, Karim and Zack moved to New York. Altho...
What language did Kharbouch learn at school and among friends?

English

... him. French and Arabic were the boys native languages; he was learning English at school and among friends. Two years later, when Karims father faile...
What was the mother's only source of income?

social security payments

...ging period for the Kharbouch family: the mother only received social security payments , and that money was hardly enough for food and dwelling. Event...
What stage name did Karim participate in at the beginning of his career?

Young French

...f his career, Karim participated in rap battles under the stage name Young French . In 2002, the musician and his close friend nicknamed Cams started c...
What was the name of the DVD series that Cams created?

Cocaine City

... and his close friend nicknamed Cams started creating the DVD series Cocaine City : the young men interviewed both famous rappers and newbies and talke...
When did French Montana sign a record deal with Maybach Music Group?

2012

...vember 9, 1984) is an American rapper and singer of Moroccan descent. In 2012 , he signed a joint venture recording deal with Maybach Music Group and B...
Who is French Montana?

an American rapper and singer of Moroccan descent

...French Montana (born November 9, 1984) is an American rapper and singer of Moroccan descent . In 2012, he signed a joint venture recording deal with Ma...
Where was French Montana born?

Rabat, Morocco

...Cheeze and Flip. French Montana was born Karim Kharbouch in 1984 in Rabat, Morocco , where he lived for the first 13 years of his life. Growing up, he ...
How many years did French Montana live in Morocco?

13

...n Karim Kharbouch in 1984 in Rabat, Morocco, where he lived for the first 13 years of his life. Growing up, he was consumed by playing football and ra...
How old was French when his father left the family?

17

...to the Bronx in New York City. His father left the family when French was 17 , and so he began to provide for his mother and younger brothers. French i...
What country is Nomad Radio based in?

UK

...nt. Asked about the rumors during a phonein interview with Nomad Radio, a UK based Somali music station, he indicated that both of his parents were Mor...
Where was Montana raised?

Morocco

...occan but that he has Somali ancestry as well. Montana is Muslim (Sunni), having been raised in Morocco under the Maliki madhab, or school of thought....
Where did his family move to in 1996?

New York City

...s Karim Kharbouch, enjoyed soccer and rap music. His family moved to New York City in 1996, settling in the South Bronx. After struggling in the Big A...
How many children did she raise?

three

...le his mother refused to come along with him. She stayed behind with her three children, raising them on her own while depending on welfare for financ...
What was his first album called?

Excuse My French

...ecords and Maybach Music Group. He released his debut studio album Excuse My French on May 21, 2013. In July 2017, Montana released his second studio ...
When was his debut album released?

May 21, 2013

... Music Group. He released his debut studio album Excuse My French on May 21, 2013 . In July 2017, Montana released his second studio album, Jungle Rule...
What was the name of Montana's second album?

Jungle Rules

...ay 21, 2013. In July 2017, Montana released his second studio album, Jungle Rules , which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. The album was su...
Who was the lead artist on Unforgettable?

Swae Lee

...rd 200. The album was supported by the single Unforgettable, featuring Swae Lee , which became Montana's first song as lead artist to reach the top 10 ...
What was Montana's first song as lead artist to do?

reach the top 10

...ring Swae Lee, which became Montana's first song as lead artist to reach the top 10 on the U.S. In 1996, at the age of 13, Kharbouch left Morocco with...
What was the name of the first Montana song to reach the top 10 on the U.S. charts?

Unforgettable

...er three on the Billboard 200. The album was supported by the single Unforgettable , featuring Swae Lee, which became Montana's first song as lead arti...
What two languages did Kharbouch speak when he first arrived in the Bronx?

Moroccan Darija and French

...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...
How long did he struggle to learn English?

two years

...n the Bronx high schools of Lehman and Roosevelt. After struggling for two years , his father decided they would move back to Casablanca, but his mothe...
Where did Kharbouch's mother decide to stay with their children?

lack of opportunities back home

...ut 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 ...
What was Karim Kharbouch's birth date?

November 9, 1984

...each the top 10 on the U.S. Early life Karim Kharbouch was born on November 9, 1984 , in Casablanca, Morocco. He grew up at the family estate outside C...
Who has been the subject of highly publicized accusations of rape?

Kharbouch

...was Montana's only song as lead artist to reach the top 10 on the U.S. Kharbouch has been the subject of highly publicized accusations of rape, drug f...
What two sports did Kharbouch enjoy as a child?

soccer and rap

...or the first 13 years of his life. Growing up, he was consumed with soccer and rap , describing them as his two favorite childhood hobbies, before gett...
What sport did he begin to play in his teens?

basketball

...ibing them as his two favorite childhood hobbies, before getting into basketball in his later teens. In the mid1990s, Kharbouch left Morocco with his ...
What two languages did he speak when he first arrived in the Bronx?

Moroccan Darija Arabic and French

... South Bronx. Kharbouch spoke only his native languages of Moroccan Darija Arabic and French when he first arrived, and learned English in the streets...
What was French Montana's nationality?

MoroccanAmerican

...A MoroccanAmerican rapper who built an indie empire with his Cocaine City imprint, French Montana rose from the New York mixtape underground in the 20...
What was the name of his 2021 guestheavy album?

They Got Amnesia

...ed his triedandtrue formula in 2021 for another guestheavy effort, They Got Amnesia . Born Karim Kharbouch in Morocco, he immigrated to the U.S. while ...
In what city did he set up shop?

the Bronx

...rocco, he immigrated to the U.S. while in his teens. He set up shop in the Bronx and began releasing his Cocaine City series of DVDs in 2002, mixing i...
What was the first single released for the united labels?

Pop That

... with established hiphop artists and unsigned talent. His 2012 single, Pop That , would be the first release for the united labels, while 2013 saw the ...
When did he begin releasing his Cocaine City series of DVDs?

2002

...shop in the Bronx and began releasing his Cocaine City series of DVDs in 2002 , mixing interviews with established hiphop artists and unsigned talent. ...
What year did Montana release Casino Life 2: Brown Bag Legend?

2016

...s of mixtapes, each with an increasing R&B influence, brought Montana to 2016 , when he dropped Casino Life 2: Brown Bag Legend. The mixtape included t...
What was his mixtape called?

MC4

...is discography includes the album Excuse My French (2013) and the mixtape MC4 (2016). French Montana emigrated to the United States in his early teens...
Where was French Montana raised?

South Bronx, New York

...grated to the United States in his early teens. He was raised in South Bronx, New York , along with his brothers Zack and Ayoub. CAREER Montana started...
What was the name of the mixtape that French Montana collaborated with Max B on?

Coke Wave

...artists. French Montana collaborated with rapper Max B on the mixtape, Coke Wave (2009). Other early projects include The Laundry Man (2009), Mac Wit ...
What was the name of French Montana's record label?

Coke Boys Records

...and Coke Boys (2010). French Montana founded his own record label, Coke Boys Records , in 2008. He worked with Akons Konvict Music label on a number of...
When was Coke Wave released?

2009

...French Montana collaborated with rapper Max B on the mixtape, Coke Wave ( 2009 ). Other early projects include The Laundry Man (2009), Mac Wit Da Cheese...
Where did Excuse My French rank on the US Billboard 200?

fourth

...Excuse My French earned much appreciation and popularity. It debuted at fourth position on the US Billboard 200. After four years, he released his sec...
After how many years did Karim release his second album, Jungle Rules?

four

...popularity. It debuted at fourth position on the US Billboard 200. After four years, he released his second album Jungle Rules. Born in Rabat, Morocco...
What was his first mixtape?

French Revolution Vol

...Ds of his work. A few years later, he released his first mixtape French Revolution Vol . Throughout his ensuing career, he has continued to bring out s...
What rappers has he collaborated with?

Max B and Rick Ross

...ne Mafia. He has made collaborations with popular rappers such as Max B and Rick Ross as well. He has named Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg to be among hi...