History
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Karim Kharbouch, professionally known as French Montana, is a prominent Moroccan-American rapper. Born on November 9, 1984, he spent his formative years in Morocco before immigrating to the United States with his family at the age of 13. He began laying the foundation for his musical career in 2002, building a grassroots audience by releasing a steady stream of independent material and street DVDs.
Breakthrough and Major Label Signing
French Montana officially dropped his debut mixtape in 2007, steadily growing a dedicated underground following. His major commercial breakthrough arrived in 2010 with the hit single "Choppa Choppa Down." The track's regional success caught the attention of industry heavyweights, leading to a landmark joint-venture record deal in 2012. He officially signed with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records and Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group (MMG), positioning himself for mainstream success.
Commercial Success and Studio Albums
In May 2013, French Montana released his debut studio album, Excuse My French. Driven by the massive commercial performance of its lead single, "Pop That"—a club anthem featuring hip-hop icons Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne—the project established him as a fixture in mainstream rap. He continued his upward trajectory with his sophomore effort, Jungle Rules, released in July 2017. The album was a major triumph, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200 chart and cementing his status as a consistent hitmaker in the music industry.
Discography
