Karim Kharbouch, professionally known as French Montana, is a Moroccan-American rapper born in Casablanca, Morocco on November 9, 1984. At the age of 13, he immigrated to the South Bronx in New York City with his family. Initially speaking only his native languages of Arabic and French, he learned English on the streets of the Bronx. After his father returned to Morocco, his mother raised him and his two younger brothers on welfare.
Career Beginnings
French Montana began his career in the early 2000s, creating and releasing a series of street DVDs called "Cocaine City". This venture, which included interviews with established and up-and-coming hip-hop artists, helped him gain recognition in the underground scene. He started releasing his own mixtapes in 2007, with his breakthrough single, "Choppa Choppa Down," arriving in 2010. His 2011 single, "Shot Caller," gained significant radio airplay and further boosted his profile.
Major Label Success
In 2012, French Montana signed a joint-venture record deal with Bad Boy Records and Maybach Music Group. His debut studio album, "Excuse My French," was released in 2013 and debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured the platinum-selling single "Pop That," with Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne. His second album, "Jungle Rules" (2017), was even more successful, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200. It was propelled by the global hit "Unforgettable" featuring Swae Lee, which became his first top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified Diamond by the RIAA.
Later Career and Other Ventures
Montana has since released several more projects, including the albums "Montana" (2019) and "They Got Amnesia" (2021), as well as collaborative mixtapes like "Coke Boys," "Mac & Cheese," and "Montega" with producer Harry Fraud. He is the founder of Coke Boys Records, formerly known as Cocaine City Records. French Montana is recognized as the most streamed African-born artist. In 2024, he released a documentary titled "For Khadija," dedicated to his mother and chronicling his family's immigrant journey.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
French Montana became a U.S. citizen in June 2018. He has one son, Kruz, from his previous marriage to Deen Kharbouch, which ended in 2014. He is also known for his philanthropic work, including funding healthcare projects in Uganda. He helped raise funds to build the Suubi Hospital, which serves over 300,000 people, and was named a Global Citizen Ambassador for his efforts.