A Moroccan-American rapper who built an indie empire with his Cocaine City imprint, French Montana rose from the New York mixtape underground in the 2000s to emerge as a pop-savvy hip-hop artist in the 2010s. Starting with his 2013 debut album Excuse My French, he became known for his high-profile collaborations and a handful of chart hits including "Unforgettable" from his platinum-certified 2017 sophomore release Jungle Rules. 2019's double-LP Montana was another showcase for big-name guests that featured hit singles "No Stylist" and "Writing on the Wall."

Born Karim Kharbouch in Morocco, he immigrated to the U.S. while in his teens. He set up shop in the Bronx and began releasing his Cocaine City series of DVDs in 2002, mixing interviews with established hip-hop artists and unsigned talent