French Montana (born November 9, 1984) is a Somali-American rapper, singer and founder of Cocaine City Records.

Also Know as: Young French, Macaroni With The Cheese, French Montana, Frenchie

Background
Karim Kharbouch, better known by his stage name French Montana, was born in Rabat, Morocco.[1][4] French emigrated with his mother and little brother in 1996, when he was 13, to the Bronx in New York City.[1]

His artist name is a conflation of French (from the French protectorate of Morocco) and Montana (from the fictitious Tony Montana in the 1983 movie Scarface).[3]

Montana is a friend of Max B.[3]

Cocaine City Records
In 2002, French Montana created the Cocaine City DVD imprint as a means of showcasing his talent as an underground artist and a new voice from the New York streets. To gain a broader fan base, French incorporated interviews with major artists, as well as some up and comers. What started out as simply a medium for developing an audience quickly grew into one of the top-selling "street DVDs".[1]

The international success of the DVD series helped to propel French's rap career to an entirely new level. By creating and producing Cocaine City, French Montana evolved from an aspiring rapper in the streets of the Bronx, to the newest musician to sign with platinum-selling recording artist Akon’s record label, Konvict Music. By early 2009, French had flooded the streets with various mixtapes, including "Live from Africa", "Laundry Man" with Evil Empire, and "In Demand" with DJ Lazy K.[3] His frequent collaborations with Harlem-bred rapper Max B have also helped keep a steady buzz, and helped fuel the success of the duo’s latest project, the mixtape/DVD combo "Coke Wave."[3]

2009-Present

In 2009, French Montana signed a deal with Akon's Konvict Muzik record label, but left the label in 2011 due to album delays.[5] He is reportedly close to signing a deal with Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group.[6]

Montana is currently signed to Debra Antney's Mizay Entertainment Management.[7]

French Montana is now signed to Sean 'Diddy' Combs Bad Boy Records since May 2011.

Studio albums

TBA: Excuse My French

Collaboration albums

2011: Lock Out (with Waka Flocka Flame)

Mixtapes

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 (Hosted by DJ Drama)
2010: Mac & Cheese 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire, Self & Big Mike)
2010: Coke Boys (with Coke Boys)(Hosted by DJ Diggz, DJ Drama & DJ Lust)
2011: Mr. 16: Casino Life (Hosted by DJ Holiday)
2011: Coke Boys 2(with Coke Boys)(Hosted by Evil Empire)

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