French Montana

Here is a detailed profile of French Montana (Karim Kharbouch), covering his life, career, influence, and some memorable quotes:

French Montana – Life, Career, and Notable Quotes

Explore the life and journey of French Montana (born November 9, 1984) — Moroccan-American rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Learn about his early life, musical rise, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

French Montana (real name Karim Kharbouch) is a Moroccan-American artist whose story is one of ambition, resilience, and cultural crossover. From immigrating as a teenager to New York, to carving out a space in the highly competitive hip-hop world, he navigated challenges and rose to global recognition. He is best known for hits like “Pop That” and “Unforgettable,” as well as founding his own label and engaging in philanthropic work.

Early Life and Background

• Birth & origin: French Montana was born November 9, 1984, in Casablanca, Morocco.

• Immigration: At age 13, he moved with his family to the South Bronx, New York City.

• Language & adaptation: He initially spoke Moroccan Arabic (Darija) and French, and learned English after arriving in the U.S.

• Early struggles: His family faced financial hardship; his mother relied on welfare at times.

• Nickname origin: The stage name “French” stems from his French-speaking Moroccan heritage; “Montana” is an homage reference (some accounts point to the Scarface character) in hip-hop culture.

Career & Achievements

Early Career: Underground, Mixtapes & Street DVDs

• In his teens, he worked as a battle rapper under the name Young French.

• In 2002, he co-created the Cocaine City DVD series (street-style DVD mix of interviews, freestyles, etc.) as a platform to build exposure.

• Over the years, he released numerous mixtapes, building a grassroots following in New York and beyond.

Breakthrough & Label Deals

• Around 2010, his mixtape “Coke Boys” and his track “Choppa Choppa Down” began drawing attention, especially in Southern markets.

• In 2012, he signed a joint venture with Bad Boy Records, Maybach Music Group (MMG), and Interscope Records.

• His debut studio album Excuse My French was released in 2013 and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

• Some of his most commercially successful singles include “Pop That” (featuring Drake, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross) and “Unforgettable” (feat. Swae Lee).

• “Unforgettable” achieved diamond certification in the U.S., making Montana the first African-born artist to have a diamond-certified song.

Business & Label Leadership

• He founded Coke Boys Records (originally a rebranding of Cocaine City Records) in 2008.

• Through Coke Boys, he signed and collaborated with artists including Lil Durk, Velous, and Harry Fraud among others.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

• French Montana has engaged in philanthropic projects, particularly in Uganda. He filmed the “Unforgettable” video there and helped raise funds for education and healthcare.

• He has donated to hospital projects and healthcare initiatives, and was named a Global Citizen Ambassador.

Recent Work & Personal Developments

• In 2019, he released a double album titled Montana.

• In 2021, he released They Got Amnesia through Epic.

• He became a U.S. citizen in 2018.

• In August 2025, it was announced he was engaged to Sheikha Mahra Al Maktoum, a Dubai princess.

Legacy & Influence

• French Montana is recognized as a bridge between North African / Arab heritage and U.S. hip-hop culture.

• He is one of the most streamed African-born artists.

• His success helped open more visibility for artists of African origins in mainstream U.S. rap.

• His philanthropic work adds a social dimension to his public persona, aligning musical success with giving back.

• As a label executive, he cultivates new talent and maintains influence beyond his own releases.

Personality & Style

• Montana often blends bravado with vulnerability, reflecting on his struggles, heritage, and the immigrant experience.

• He speaks openly about balancing family life with the demands of the music industry.

• He values authenticity in music: “I don’t want to sound like Ross; I don’t want to sound like Puff. I want to make my own music.”

• He also is known for fashion, style, and blending cultural imagery in his aesthetics.

Famous Quotes by French Montana

Here are several notable quotes and lines from French Montana that reveal his mindset, struggles, and self-expression:

“I don’t want to sound like Ross; I don’t want to sound like Puff. I want to make my own music.” “Is it important to have a crew behind me? No, it’s important to have me behind them.” “I speak from the heart. Certain people follow lyricists … I’m more of a rapper that speaks how I feel. I just tell it how it is.” “I was born in Morocco and lived there until I was 13; I’m really proud of my heritage.” “At the end of the day, you got to learn from people that been through what you been through; they help you learn from your mistakes.” “I’ve tried every kind of bottled water, but Poland Spring is my go-to. I always have room-temperature bottles of it on side of stage for post-performance.” “Money is the most important thing because there might be a time when you have no label behind you and you have to carry yourself. Money is the only thing that can shield you.”

These quotes reflect his focus on independence, authenticity, and survival in the music business.

Lessons from French Montana

From French Montana’s life and career, we can draw several lessons:

1. Embrace your roots while adapting to new lands.
   He carried his Moroccan heritage into his identity yet adapted to the Bronx and hip-hop culture.

2. Build from the ground up.
   Starting with street DVDs and mixtapes, he leveraged grassroots work before entering mainstream circuits.

3. Own your narrative.
   He often asserts control over how he is perceived—musically, culturally, and personally.

4. Diversify your role.
   Beyond being a rapper, he became a label executive and philanthropist.

5. Persistence in face of adversity.
   His migration, language struggle, and financial challenges didn’t deter him; he continued creating and striving.