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Top 10 French Montana Songs list presents the best French Montana Songs including “Unforgettable,” “All the Way Up” and many more. Born near Casablanca, Morocco, Karim Kharbouch grew up as an avid fan of rap music and soccer. When he was thirteen years old, he and his family moved to New York City, USA. At the time, the only languages Kharbouch knew were Arabic and French. He learned English through school and on the streets, staying behind with his mother and siblings after his father opted to move back to Morocco. The family lived in poverty, relying on financial assistance from the government until Kharbouch made his breakthrough in 2010 with his first hit single, “Choppa Choppa Down.”
Young French
As a teenager, Karim Kharbouch competed as a battle rapper, adopting the name of Young French as his persona. Starting in 2002, he and his friend created a DVD series known as Cocaine City. With earnings he made from this, he helped his mother and younger brothers make ends meet. Initially, this project as a means to earn an audience led Kharbouch and his friends to develop the company known as Coke Boys. From 2002 until 2010 he and his friends made several DVDs and became popular figureheads in the Bronx, the part of New York City Kharlbouch he and his family lived in at the time.
Not even a gunshot wound to the head Kharbouch received in 2003 was enough to keep the young man down. During the investigation of this incident, it was learned he was set up by someone in his social circle that left one of the two gunmen who approached him dead. The matter has since become an open and shut case, allowing the up-and-coming artist to continue with his career as a rapper.
French Montana
Starting in 2007, now as French Montana, Karim Kharbouch began to release mixtapes, starting with French Revoluton Vol. 1. Since then, he proceeded to record and release twenty-three additional mixtapes. By 2012, he was signed up with Bad Boy Records, well on his way to releasing his first studio album, Excuse My French. After it was released in 2013, it became a certified gold seller by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His follow up album, Jungle Rules, was released during the summer of 2017 and remains as his best-selling album to date. Since its release, it has become certified platinum by the RIAA, as well as Music Canada. In Denmark and Sweden, the album became certified gold. His third album, Montana, was also successful, becoming certified gold with RIAA and Music Canada after it was released in 2019.
Scandalous
Although French Montana’s fourth studio album, They Got Amnesia, is another recorded masterpiece by the talented recording artist, the timing of its 2021 release came after the media burst forth scandalous headlines and stories which served as a hiccup to Karim Karbouch’s career. In 2020, the first of three women came forth with serious accusations of sexually-related crimes issued against Karbouch which investigations so far hasn’t been in Karbouch’s favor. It didn’t help when 2021 saw two additional women come forth with similar claims. Unfortunately for Karbouch, until these legal matters are resolved, the mixed reactions from the fans will play an impact on where his career as French Montana goes from here.
Top 10 French Montana Songs
#10 – No Shopping (featuring Drake)
On the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, “No Shopping” was a number twelve hit. On the US Billboard Hot 100 it peaked as high as number thirty-six. It also earned a platinum certification by the RIAA and was a number twenty-five hit in Canada. While the 2016 track from the mixtape of MC4 suggests “No Shopping,” that apparently didn’t stop buyers from buying up and downloading copies the first chance they got.
As friends and colleagues, the chemistry between Drake and French Montana has seen these two collaborate many times over with one fan-favorite song after another. The music video was shot in the Dominican Republic and the playful vibe in this song, as well as in much of his material, is what makes French Montana one of the most appealing stars in the music industry, especially in hip-hop. As musical artists, it seems French Montana has the uncanny ability to bring the best out of some of the best rap stars in the business, including Drake.
#9 – Stay Schemin’ (featuring Rick Ross and Drake)
“Stay Schemin'” was a hit single stemming from Rick Ross’s 2012 mixtape, Rich Forever. As a trio, French Montana, Rick Ross, and Drake performed a song critics acclaimed saw Drake at his best as he bantered back against the fellow rapper, Common, as a response to a rap song he used to diss Drake. As for French Montana, the “fanute” meme officially began here as his lyrical input sparked various responses from music critics and fans as this seemed to be the most unforgettable moment of the entire song, even though vocally it was Drake’s melodic genius that ultimately served as the knockout punch which made “Stay Schemin'” so popular.
#8 – Writing on the Wall (featuring Post Malone, Cardi B, and Rvssian)
In 2019, “Writing on the Wall” peaked at number thirty-three on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at number fourteen hit on the US Billboard Rhythmic chart. On the US Billboard Hot 100 it peaked as high as number fifty-six. The popularity of this song was worldwide, charting within the top forty among the nations of Canada, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, and the UK. It also became certified gold by Music Canada and the RIAA, as well as becoming part of the soundtrack to 2019’s video game, Need for Speed: Heat. From the album, Montana, “Writing on the Wall” was a speedy hip-hop wonder which featured the collaboration of French Montana, Post Malone, Cardi B, and Rvssian perform together as a finely tuned musical machine loaded with poppin’ harmony and rhythmic beat.
#7 – Slide (featuring Blueface and Lil Tjay)
From the album, Montana, “Slide” was a hit single that peaked as high as number twenty on the US Billboard Rhythmic chart and at number thirty-three on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2019. On the US Billboard Hot 100 it charted at number ninety. Meanwhile, the popularity of “Slide” in New Zealand saw it peak as high as number thirteen on its official singles chart.
This heavy-hooking hip-hop number saw the trio of French Montana, Blueface, and Lil Tjay seem to outperform themselves as they approach “Slide” with a mobster frame of mind. At least this was the case in the music video, which brilliantly portrayed the overall theme of the song as an R&B-style stance to not mess with the wrong people for the wrong reasons. “Slide” became one of many singles for French Montana to earn a gold certification from Music Canada, as well as the RIAA.
#6 – Welcome to the Party (featuring Diplo, Lil Pump, and Zhavia Ward)
“Welcome to the Party” was lyrically themed by French Montana, Diplo, Lil Pump, and Zhavia Ward as a boastful number about his personal achievements as a successful rap star. It was actually a song featured on the movie and soundtrack of 2018’s Deadpool 2, serving up as a somewhat comedic spin to the unorthodox superhero film. On the US Billboard Rhythmic chart it was a number twenty-three hit and peaked as high as number thirty-seven on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. On the US Billboard Hot 100 it charted as high as number seventy-eight and was at least a top forty hit among the nations of Czech Republic,
#5 – No Stylist (featuring Drake)
From the 2018 EP, No Stylist, the title track featured Drake and French Montana performing together in this hip-hop number, which quickly became a fan favorite to earn it a platinum certification with the RIAA and double platinum with Music Canada. It also became silver in the UK. “No Stylist” peaked as high as number eleven on the US Billboard Rhythmic chart, at number twenty-two on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number forty-seven on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In the UK, it peaked as high as number five. “No Stylist” was, at the very least, a top forty hit among the nations of Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. This playful tongue-in-cheek rap song also served up as friendly rap-battle banter against Kanye West and the Adidas sneaker series, Yeezy. Overall, “No Stylist” was about embracing luxury and simply enjoying the fruits of one’s labor regardless of one’s personal taste.
#4 – Lockjaw (featuring Kodak Black)
In 2016, “Lockjaw’ was a single that became a double RIAA-certified platinum hit for French Montana. Featured on his third studio album, Montana, as well as on his mixtape, MC4, this song peaked as high as number twenty-three on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart and at number seventy-three on the US Billboard Hot 100. It has also become a favorite on the WWE 2K17 video game as its popularity won over enough wrestling fans who couldn’t seem to get enough of this song either.
What “Lockjaw” represented as a song was not necessarily about the talent of French Montana and Kodak Black as recording artists. It was about embracing the beauty of two remarkably gifted rapping artists doing what they do best and having fun with it. It is evident in the performance of this song from start to finish as both men were fantastic with their contrasting styles, working together as one, making “Lockjaw” a genuine jaw-dropping hip-hop classic.
#3 – Pop That (featuring Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne)
From French Montana’s debut album, Excuse My French, “Pop That” became his first top ten single on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as it peaked at number two. It was also a number thirty-six hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became certified platinum by Music Canada and double platinum by the RIAA. With the BET Hip Hop Awards, it also won Best Club Banger.
Collaborating with other rap artists is nothing new for French Montana as this seems to be his niche. He, along with Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne each popped in their vocal talent into this sexually suggestive song that was considered rough-edged, but among the fans and music critics who loved it, in a good way.
#2 – All the Way Up (featuring Fat Joe, Rema Ma, and Infared)
“All the Way Up” was an award-winning single that featured the collaborated performances of French Montana, Rema Ma, and Infrared as they contributed to Fat Joe’s big hit from the album, Plata O Plomo. After its 2016 release, “All the Way Up” climbed as high as number four on the US Billboard Rhythmic chart and at number nine on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was also a number twenty-seven hit on the US Billboard Hot 100.
This song earned the BET Hip Hop Award win for Best Collabo, Duo or Group in 2016 and was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 2017 that win went to Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne, and 2 Chainz instead for “No Problem” instead. In sales, “All the Way Up” became triple platinum with the RIAA, as well as single platinum in France. It was certified gold in Denmark and Italy, and silver in the UK.
#1 – Unforgettable (featuring Swae Lee)
To date, “Unforgettable” remains as French Montana’s highest-charted single to date as the leading vocalist. With the sultry vocal installment by Swae Lee as a featured artist in this catchy rap number, it was an instrumental favorite that earned the album, Jungle Rules, the level of recognition it received at a global level. On the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and the US Billboard Rhythmic chart, it was a number one hit.
On the US Billboard Hot 100 it peaked as high as number three and was at least a top ten hit among the nations of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. It was also a multi-platinum seller among the nations of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, New Zeland, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. This hip-hop dance number had its music video shot in the country of Uganda and received well over one billion views on the official YouTube channel alone.
Top 10 French Montana Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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