French Montana

French Montana Headshot

Rapper

Birth Date: November 9, 1984

Age: 39 years old

Birth Place: Casablanca, Morocco

Morocco-born rapper French Montana is known for topping both the charts and the tabloids with his hit singles and palling around with the Kardashian clan. The media-savvy star-known for his sleepy drawl and blunt rap style-was a radio constant who spun his personal story of leaving Morocco into the modern American dream. In 2012, the Bronx-representing rapper broke out with his Top 40 hit "Pop That," featuring Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and Drake and popularized the phrase "fanute." The music video amassed over 44 million views and established Montana as the next big rapper out of New York City.

Born Karim Kharbouch in Rabat, Morocco on November 9, 1984, Montana was raised on a family estate outside Casablanca, where he lived until 1996 when he left Morocco with his parents and younger brother Zack for South Bronx in New York City. While fluent in French and Arabic, Montana spoke only a small bit of English when he arrived at the age of 13, but he quickly picked up on the language and the Bronx culture though his infatuation with hip-hop. Despite having left Morocco for greater opportunities, the Bronx was not the land of milk and honey as expected. Just two years after immigrating to the states, Karim's father returned to Morocco and left his family behind. His mother soon gave birth to another son, and Karim became the breadwinner while his family struggled to make ends meet on welfare. The self-proclaimed "Coke Boy" never shied from his roots and like many of his ilk, profited off his hard-knock life. But Montana didn't transition from hustling to the music industry unscathed and has the scars from a bullet-wound to prove it. Montana broke into the industry during the early 2000s when street DVDs were king and became grassroots video royalty with his Cocaine City series. Between 2002 and 2011, he produced 14 DVDs under the name Young French that featured interviews with major artists and were interspersed with his own music. The series served as his gateway and business card into the rap world, connecting him to big name artists. Eventually, his decade of mixtape and street DVD grinding finally led to a record deal with Akon's Konvict Muzik label in 2009. Fed up with numerous album delays, Montana left the label two years later and faced an intense bidding war between several labels including Def Jam, Warner Bros. and Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music. Eventually, Montana sided with Sean "Diddy" Combs and signed a joint venture recording deal with Maybach Music Group and Bad Boy Records in 2011. Before signing with Diddy, Montana had a few radio hits with "Shot Caller" in 2011 and other mixtape hits, but his first studio album, Excuse My French, brought him into the upper echelon of hip-hop. 2012 was the defining year for Montana, who was featured on XXL Magazine's Freshman Class cover and went on to drop his debut album in 2013. Since then, the rapper popped off singles and collaborations at an astonishing pace, including his appearance on Chris Brown's Billboard-topping hit "Loyal," and the single off his sophomore album, "Don't Panic," which featured his girlfriend at the time, reality star Khloe Kardashian. Despite their short-lived relationship, the two both benefited from the subsequent publicity; it led to Montana's guest appearance on the hit reality show "Keeping up with the Kardashians" (E! 2007-) in the summer of 2014.

Credits

MTV Video Music Awards

Self
Awards
2023

2022 Hip Hop Awards

Music Performer
Show
2022

French Montana Feat. Moneybagg Yo: FWMGAB (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2022

That's My JamStream

Guest
Game Show
2021

Punk'dStream

Guest
Series
2021

CJ FEAT.French Montana, Rowdy Rebel: Whoopty NYC

Music Performer
Show
2021

Juicebox: Fun in the Sun!

Music Performer
Show
2021

French Montana: FWMGAB

Music Performer
Show
2021

French Montana: I Don't Really Care

Music Performer
Show
2021

French Montana and Fivio Foreign: Panicking

Music Performer
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2021

French Montana & Lil Tjay: Bag Season

Music Performer
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2021

French Montana & Doja Cat Feat. Saweetie: Handstand

Music Performer
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2021

French Montana: Double G

Music Performer
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2020

Angel Feat. French Montana & DaVido: Blessings Remix

Music Performer
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2020

Juicebox: Bust a Move! Vol.II

Music Performer
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2020

Juicebox: Bust a Move! Vol.III

Music Performer
Show
2020

French Montana Feat. Tory Lanez: Cold

Music Performer
Show
2020

Billboard: Women in Music 2020

Music Performer
Show
2019

French Montana Feat. Swae Lee & Chris Brown: Out Of Your Mind

Music Performer
Show
2019

French Montana Feat Juicy J, Logic & A$AP ROCKY: Twisted

Music Performer
Show
2019

iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 1

Music Performer
Show
2019

The 2019 Global Citizen Festival: A Concert to End Extreme Poverty

Music Performer
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2019

Tyla Yaweh Feat French Montana: Salute

Music Performer
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2019

MONSTA X Feat French Montana: WHO DO U LOVE?

Music Performer
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2019

Desus & Mero

Guest
Show
2019

French Montana

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2019

JLo & Cardi B

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2019

Jennifer Lopez Feat. French Montana: Medicine

Music Performer
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2019

French Montana Feat. Blueface & Lil Tjay: Slide

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2019

Met Best Dressed

Music Performer
Show
2019

MC MAX MIX

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2019

Drake's Besties

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Show
2019

French Montana Feat. City Girls: Wiggle It

Music Performer
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2019

Greatest Rappers 2

Music Performer
Show
2019

French Montana Feat. Gunna: Suicide Doors

Music Performer
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2019

French Montana feat. Post Malone, Cardi B & Rvssian: Writing on the Wall

Music Performer
Show
2019

A Decade of Hits Vol.II

Music Performer
Show
2019

Vibe: Hip-Hop Spring Break

Music Performer
Show
2019

French Montana Feat. Drake: No Stylist

Music Performer
Show
2018

Liam Payne Part. French Montana: First Time

Music Performer
Show
2018

Too $hort Feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, French Montana and Joyner Lucas: Ain't My Girlfriend

Music Performer
Show
2018

REVOLT Concert Series Presents: French Montana

Actor
Show
2018

Tinashe Feat Ty Dolla $ign & French Montana: Me So Bad

Music Performer
Show
2018

Era Istrefi Feat. French Montana: No I Love Yous

Music Performer
Show
2018

Alma Feat. French Montana: Phases (Acoustic)

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Show
2018

French Montana: Famous

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Show
2018

Def Jam Legends

Music Performer
Show
2018

21st Century Women

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Show
2018

March Pregame

Music Performer
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2018

Sean Paul's Picks

Music Performer
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2018

Diplo, French Montana & Lil Pump Feat. Zhavia Ward: Welcome to the Party (From Deadpool 2)

Music Performer
Show
2018

Soccer Pregame

Music Performer
Show
2018

Summer Twerk

Music Performer
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2018

BB Hot 100 Fest

Music Performer
Show
2018

Becky G Feat. French Montana & Farruko: Zooted

Music Performer
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2018

The After Party

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2018

French Montana Feat. Adam Levine: Famous (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2018

WorkIt TwerkIt

Music Performer
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2018

GASHI Feat. French Montana & DJ Snake: Creep On Me

Music Performer
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2018

Liam Payne Feat. French Montana: First Time

Music Performer
Show
2018

New Music Masters

Music Performer
Show
2018

Pop of New

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Show
2018

Bad Boy Hip-Hop

Music Performer
Show
2018

French Montana Feat. Drake: No Stylist

Music Performer
Show
2018

Sigala, Ella Eyre & Meghan Trainor Feat. French Montana: Just Got Paid

Music Performer
Show
2018

10 Hip-Hop Videos to Get You Hyped for Summer

Music Performer
Show
2018

My LIT NYE

Music Performer
Show
2018

Chromeo Feat. French Montana, Stefflon Don: Don't Sleep

Music Performer
Show
2018

HHRBBreakouts'19

Music Performer
Show
2018

The After Party

Self
Movie
2018

Maluma Feat. French Montana: GPS

Music Performer
Show
2017

David Guetta & Afrojack Feat. Charli XCX & French Montana: Dirty Sexy Money

Music Performer
Show
2017

RMC 2017 Performers

Actor
Show
2017

Teen Choice 2017

Music Performer
Show
2017

Sound Bites

Actor
Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Music Performer
Talk
2017

Fat Joe & Remy Ma Feat. French Montana & Infared: All the Way Up

Music Performer
Show
2017

French Montana Feat. A$AP Rocky: Said N Done

Music Performer
Show
2017

French Montana Feat. Swae Lee: Unforgettable

Music Performer
Show
2017

Red Cafe Feat. Wiz Khalifa & French Montana: God Wanted Us To Be Lit

Music Performer
Show
2017

French Montana Feat. The Weeknd & Max B: A Lie

Music Performer
Show
2017

French Montana Feat. Chinx: Whiskey Eyes

Music Performer
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2017

A$AP Ferg Feat. Busta Rhymes, A$AP Rocky, Dave East, French Montana, Rick Ross & Snoop Dogg: East Coast REMIX

Music Performer
Show
2017

Stefflon Don Feat. French Montana: Hurtin' Me

Music Performer
Show
2017

Prettymuch Feat. French Montana: No More

Music Performer
Show
2017

Jason Derulo Feat. French Montana: Tip Toe

Music Performer
Show
2017

Alma Feat. French Montana: Phases

Music Performer
Show
2017

Keyshia Cole Feat. Remy Ma & French Montana: You

Music Performer
Show
2017

All Def Roast Snoop Dogg Smoke Out

Actor
Show
2016

Desus & MeroStream

Guest
Talk
2016

Remy Ma, Fat Joe: All The Way Up

Music Performer
Show
2016

French Montana Feat. Kanye West and Nas: Figure It Out

Music Performer
Show
2016

Puff Daddy & The Family Feat. French Montana & Zoey Dollaz: Blow A Check (Bad Boy Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2016

French Montana Feat. Chinx & N.O.R.E.: Off the Rip

Music Performer
Show
2016

French Montana Feat. Kodak Black: Lockjaw

Music Performer
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2016

Candice Boyd Feat. French Montana: Damn Good Time

Music Performer
Show
2016

French Montana Feat. Drake: No Shopping

Music Performer
Show
2016

Fat Joe, Remy Ma & French Montana Feat. RySoValid: Cookin

Music Performer
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2016

French Montana Feat. Miguel: Xplicit

Music Performer
Show
2016

Fat Joe & Remy Ma Feat. French Montana and Ry So Valid: Cookin'

Music Performer
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2016

French Montana Feat. Drake: No Shopping

Music Performer
Show
2016

French Montana Feat. Kodak Black: Lockjaw

Music Performer
Show
2016

Jeezy Feat. French Montana: Going Crazy

Music Performer
Show
2016

Puff Daddy Feat. Zoey Dollaz & French Montana: Blow a Check (Bad Boy Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2016

French Montana Feat. Kanye West & Nas: Figure it Out

Music Performer
Show
2016

French Montana Feat. Miguel: XPlicit (Explicit)

Music Performer
Show
2016

Jeezy Feat. French Montana: Going Crazy (Explicit)

Music Performer
Show
2016

The Perfect MatchStream

Self
Movie
2016
22%

The Daily Show with Trevor NoahStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Omarion Feat. French Montana & Kid Ink: I'm Up

Music Performer
Show
2015

Skee TV

Guest
Show
2015

EmpireStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
84%

French Montana Feat. Chris Brown & Migos: Moses

Music Performer
Show
2015

Belly Feat. French Montana: Dealer Plated

Music Performer
Show
2015

Chinx Feat. French Montana: F Are You Anyway

Music Performer
Show
2015

French Montana Feat. Lil Wayne & Rick Ross: Lose It

Music Performer
Show
2015

Puff Daddy & The Family Feat. French Montana: Blow A Check (Bad Boy Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2015

French Montana Feat. Rick Ross & Lil Wayne: Lose It

Music Performer
Show
2015

Just Ivy Feat. French Montana: Adderall

Music Performer
Show
2015

Charisse Mills Feat. French Montana: Champagne

Music Performer
Show
2015

Fabolous Feat French Montana: Ball Drop

Music Performer
Show
2014

NCIS: New OrleansStream

Guest Star
French Montana
Series
2014

Hollywood Today Live

Guest
Show
2014

Rick Ross Feat French Montana & Puff Daddy: Nobody

Music Performer
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Music Performer
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Music Performer
Talk
2014

French Montana Feat. Jeremih: Bad B....

Music Performer
Show
2014

Jennifer Lopez Feat. French Montana: I Luh Ya Papi

Music Performer
Show
2014

O.T. Genasis Feat. Busta Rhymes & French Montana: Touchdown (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2014

Fat Joe Feat. French Montana, Rick Ross, & Tiara Thomas: Another Day

Music Performer
Show
2014

French Montana: Don't Panic

Music Performer
Show
2014

Rick Ross Feat. French Montana: What a Shame

Music Performer
Show
2014

French Montana Feat. Jeremih: Bad B.

Music Performer
Show
2014

Wash Feat. French Montana: Can't Trust Thots

Music Performer
Show
2014

The Neighbourhood Feat. French Montana: icanteven

Music Performer
Show
2014

Wash Feat. French Montana: Can't Trust Thots

Music Performer
Show
2014

Mack Wilds Feat. Busta Rhymes, French Montana, and Mobb Deep: Henny (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2014

Mack Wilds Feat. French Montana, Mobb Deep & Busta Rhymes: Henny (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2014

Rick Ross Feat: French Montana, Diddy: Nobody

Music Performer
Show
2014

Ashanti Feat. French Montana: Early in the Morning

Music Performer
Show
2014

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

The Real

Music Performer
Talk
2013

Uncle Murda Feat. French Montana: Money Work

Music Performer
Show
2013

Chinx Feat. French Montana: Feelings

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana Feat. Nicki Minaj: Freaks

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana Feat. Drake, Lil Wayne, & Rick Ross: Pop That

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana: Ain't Worried About Nothin

Music Performer
Show
2013

A$AP Ferg Feat. A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Trinidad James: Work (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana Feat. The Weeknd: Gifted

Music Performer
Show
2013

Big Sean Feat. French Montana: Mula

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana: I Told Em

Music Performer
Show
2013

Ne-Yo Feat. French Montana: Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2013

2 Pistols Feat. French Montana: Know That

Music Performer
Show
2013

A$AP Ferg Feat. A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Trinidad James & Schoolboy Q: Work (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana Feat. Diddy, Red Café, MGK & King Los: Ocho Cinco

Music Performer
Show
2013

Scotty Rebel Feat. French Montana: Bang

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana Feat. Lil Wayne, Birdman: Trap House

Music Performer
Show
2013

N.O.R.E.Feat. Pusha T, 2 Chainz, French Montana: TADOW

Music Performer
Show
2013

DJ Spinking Feat. Jeremih, French Montana: Body Operator

Music Performer
Show
2013

Joe Budden Feat. Wiz Khalifa, French Montana: NBA

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana: Chronicles Top 5

Music Performer
Show
2013

will.i.am Feat. Wiz Khalifa, French Montana, Miley Cyrus: Feelin' Myself

Music Performer
Show
2013

Kirko Bangz Feat. French Montana, G-Haze, YG: Shirt by Versace

Music Performer
Show
2013

Mally Mall Feat. Tyga, Sean Kingston, French Montana: Wake Up In It

Music Performer
Show
2013

French Montana Feat. Diddy, MGK, & Red Cafe: Ocho Cinco

Music Performer
Show
2012

Jonn Hart Feat. French Montana: Who Booty (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2012

French Montana Feat. Charlie Rock: Shot Caller

Music Performer
Show
2012

French Montana: Everything's A Go

Music Performer
Show
2012

Wale Feat. French Montana: Back 2 Ballin'

Music Performer
Show
2012

Wale & Meek Mill Feat. French Montana and Rico Love: Actin' Up

Music Performer
Show
2012

Akon Feat. French Montana: Hurt Somebody

Music Performer
Show
2012

French Montana Feat. Charlie Rock, Diddy, & Rick Ross: Shot Caller (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2012

Fat Joe Feat. Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, and French Montana: Yellow Tape

Music Performer
Show
2012

DJ Khaled Feat. Rick Ross, French Montana, Jadakiss and Meek Mill: I Did It for My Dawgz

Music Performer
Show
2012

French Montana Feat. Diddy, Rick Ross & Charlie Rock: Shot Caller (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2012

French Montana Feat. Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne: Pop That

Music Performer
Show
2012

Red Café Feat. Diddy, French Montana & 2 Chainz: Let It Go (Clean Version)

Music Performer
Show
2012

Red Café Feat. Diddy, French Montana & 2 Chainz: Let It Go

Music Performer
Show
2012

Sco Dough Feat. French Montana: Money Don't Stop (On Top)

Music Performer
Show
2012

Kirko Bangz Feat. French Montana: Walk On Green

Music Performer
Show
2012

Birdman Feat. French Montana & Gudda Gudda: Shout Out

Music Performer
Show
2011

Red Cafe Feat. 2 Chainz, French Montana, Diddy: Let It Go (Dope Boy)

Music Performer
Show
2011

DJ Suss-One Feat. Lloyd Banks, Jadakiss, French Montana: Champion

Music Performer
Show
2011

French Montana Feat. Waka Flocka Flame: Choppa Choppa Down

Music Performer
Show
2010

MTV World Stage

Self
Show
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The Wendy Williams Show

Music Performer
Talk
2008

Keeping Up with the KardashiansStream

Guest Star
Reality
2007

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Music Performer
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Music Performer
Talk
2003

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Extra

Guest
News
1994

Good Morning America

Music Performer
News
1975