French Montana

<p>Karim Kharbouch was born on November 9, 1984, in Casablanca, Morocco. Growing up speaking Moroccan Arabic and French, he immigrated with his parents to the South Bronx, New York, in 1996 at age thirteen without speaking English. When his father returned to Morocco, Karim stepped up as the teenage provider for his mother and younger brothers.</p><p>Adopted the moniker 'French Montana' (combining French heritage with Tony Montana), he pioneered the New York street mixtape culture through his <em>Cocaine City</em> DVD series (2002–2010), showcasing raw underground rap talent. He scored mainstream breakthroughs with hits like 'Shot Caller' and 'Pop That' (featuring Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne), releasing his debut studio album <em>Excuse My French</em> in 2013.</p><p>In 2017, Montana achieved global superstardom with <strong>'Unforgettable'</strong> (featuring Swae Lee), amassing over 2 billion Spotify streams. In 2023, the record was certified Diamond by the RIAA, making him the first African-born musician to earn an RIAA Diamond single. Filming the video in Uganda, Montana was so moved by the community that he donated $100,000 to construct the Suubi Health Center, expanding maternal and child healthcare to over 300,000 rural residents.</p>