The Breakfast Club - French Montana Interview

Episode Date: June 24, 2022

French Montana speaks with them about quitting alcohol, starting verzuz, upcoming documentary, new album and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey y'all, Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history.

Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was Claudette Goldman.

Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral. We're talking musica, los premios, el chisme, and all things trending in my cultura. I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers. Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us,

and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only Nuestra Gente can sprinkle. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, 1974. George Foreman was champion of the world. Ali was smart and he was handsome. The story behind The Rumble in the Jungle is like a Hollywood movie.

But that is only half the story. There's also James Brown, Bill Withers, B.B. King, Miriam Akiba. All the biggest black artists on the planet. Together in Africa. It was a big deal. Listen to Rumble, Miriam Akiba, all the biggest black artists on the planet. Together in Africa. It was a big deal. Listen to Rumble, Ali, Foreman, and the Soul of 74 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone.

This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8th, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Feels like it's been like a decade since you've been up here. For real. Oh, God. It's been a long time. What's been going on with you, French? Ain't nothing, man. Working, working, staying out the way.

Acting, music. Yeah, yeah. Just finished this project. Getting ready to drop today. You know, so that's about it. Just staying out the way. So you back into, because you gave up liquor. You gave up that life.

Yeah. Are you still gave it up? I'm still drunk and high. From before? Yeah, I'm still drunk and high probably. Something went loose. I had to. My body couldn't take no more. I did it until I couldn't take no more.

I just took a little break trying to get some real money. Do you feel better you. So do you feel better now that? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel a million times better. You know, I feel, I feel the, you know, I feel the accomplishments. I feel the losses. I feel everything, you know, at a hundred percent. Back then, you know, you just, anything happened, you know, we celebrate every day. You just take a shot, you go to the next celebration. Yeah. Especially like in LA.A. and New York, it's like every day somebody's celebrating something. Every day, you know,

like, yo, come through here. You know, I just dropped my cologne. Come through here. I just dropped my water. You know what I'm saying? So it was back to back. So you haven't slipped up at all? Nah.

That's good. That's amazing. Yeah. Testament to willpower. I saw you were celebrating your album release with our mayor Eric Adams oh yeah

shout out to the mayor Eric Adams I think I'm the first one in New York to ever have the mayor come to the album listening party I would have to second that

I think so too I haven't heard of such a thing but he also hasn't been mayor that long either but any mayor what you mean he's the mayor of New York City right now

shout out to Eric you know what I'm saying he's you know he's a cool dude, man. And he's trying to make a difference. You know what I'm saying? And, you know, just for everything that he's been doing so far

and just having, like, the right people, you know what I'm saying, and supporting the right people that influence the youth, I think that's very important. Did you talk to him about not using lyrics to indict people yeah definitely definitely brought that up he said he i mean he said he's gonna make everything you know i mean he's one of us you know i'm saying he's one of us so he's definitely trying to you know trying to trying to help the kids he just want to make sure that

the kids are not going to do the same thing again now uh are you still signed a bad boy no no no no longer signed to Bad Boy. I mean, I'm sure your contract was up. I think I'm the first one to complete a contract. With Bad Boy. With Puff. He's the first one to do a lot. Shout out to Puff, man.

Shout out to Puff. He was definitely a mentor. He's still a big brother. Love him to death. Now, I know I saw, I think it was in the Blue Chill song, you said that you patched up that beef with diddy and drake um i think i think it was it was something going on i like i didn't really know exactly the details of it but i know um i had a birthday party that iggy azalea threw for me on a boat and um when i got there drake was there waiting for me

and and puff had came in his own little boat and that was the first time they met after they was going to the AP. That's the altercation, yeah. Yeah, but I was already talking to Puff before that. I was like,

whatever y'all got going on, y'all need to dead that. You know what I'm saying? They're both like my best friends. So I'm like, y'all need to dead that. So I'm glad that

they didn't even know that each other was coming to the party. When they came, they just spent the whole night talking to each other and I was like, see, you know what I mean?

I think that's better anyway because when you're planning to meet somebody, you come with a bunch of people. But if it's just a night out, you might come with one or two and then you could actually have a conversation

without people around you. Yeah, I didn't tell Drake Puff was going to be there and I didn't tell Puff Drake was going to be there. So I waited until they got there and there was good friends before that.

So when they got there, they just sat down and they just, you know, spoke the whole night. And I'm like, you see? That was best friends before that. So when they got there, they just sat down and just spoke the whole night. And I'm like, you see, that was best friends to start with. I see you squashed a lot of your beefs that you've had throughout the last couple of years. I thought it was with Jim and Cam and 50. So why did you think you had to do that now? Was you just over it or what made you say, you know what, let's just let it go?

You know, it's just like when you're beefing, you feel handicapped. You can't handle nothing. You can't move here. You can't do this. It's like you feel like you're stuck to a little space. You know what I'm saying? I want to expand. I done beefed my whole career since you know me 15 years ago.

Right, right, true. Since you know me, I've been beefing. Whatever these kids is doing, whatever's going on, I done did it. I done ran circles around it. I done did it 10 times. You know what I'm saying? So I know what beef can bring you, but then I know what talent and what, you know, longevity can bring you and what showing love can bring you. You know what I'm saying?

So I know both. But it doesn't mean that, you know, you're going to let anybody, you know, say whatever they want. But it's just, you know, going to let anybody say whatever they want. But it's just you'd rather pick the money and pick the love. You've got to grow up, too. Did you ever get a chance to talk to Thug? Because I know you and Thug were going back and forth at one time. Yeah, definitely.

Me and Thug got no problem. That's why I stood out, too. Yeah, definitely. Free wire sale, free gun affair. Yeah. And you also survived the Kardashian curse. You talk about that. Not too many people survived that Kardashian curse and thrived.

I was basically saying that there is no curse. That's why I'm still doing my thing. I think that's what I was saying in the song. I was like, there is no curse, so I'm doing my thing. And Travis doing his thing. I just feel like, and shout out to them, I just feel like, you know, and shout out to them. I just feel like when you go out with them or have a relationship with them or anybody at their caliber, I feel like that, you know, the media start picking up

on your relationship life and forget about your, you know, your talent life, you know what I'm saying, your music life, your acting life, whatever it is. It overshadows everything. Yeah, it overshadows everything. You become this reality star where that's not really the goal, you know what I'm saying? Your music life, your acting life, whatever it is. It overshadows everything. Yeah, it overshadows everything. You become this reality star where that's not really the goal. You know what I'm saying? It could be playing basketball.

It could do whatever it is. It takes away from your game, and they be like, yo, this guy is now this, this, because he go out with this, this. You know what I'm saying? So that label just changed. It did used to be funny to see you on the Kardashians. I'm not going to lie. Because Frenchies is always French.

You never change. It used to be mad funny, like, yo, French you on the Kardashians. I'm not going to lie. Because French is always French. You never change. It used to be mad funny. Like, yo, French is on the Kardashians right now. Are you still top five, Sniper? Yeah, I might be top two. You haven't slowed down yet? He's not number two. When's French going to settle down?

Man, honestly, I just feel like I can't give whoever it is the time they want because I'm just so focused on doing what I'm doing. You know what I'm saying? And I know some of them be like, nah, you know, you need somebody to ride with you and be there with you until they're right there with you. And you be like, yo, I got to go on these 30-day, you know what I'm saying, shows and this and that.

After club. It's like, it's hard. And you want to give somebody your all when you go out with them. And I don't feel like I'm in that space right now. You think you ever been in love? Yeah. I've been in love before. Have you had your heart broken? Yeah, of course.

Of course. Plenty of times. Plenty of times. Because you know, you gotta go through that early because if you go through that late, you know what I'm saying, you don't want to be going through no heartbreaks after you're 30. You ain't gonna know how to handle it. Nah, I feel like you the heartbreaker.

I can't see you. Nah. Nah, I really don't. I really don't. They know, I mean, they know what it is. You know what I'm saying? Usually just be, you know, a little tap kiss and I'll keep going.

Now, you usually play with music and sounds on your albums. Whether it was one of the first to do the Afrobeat sounding records or one of the ones to do the drill sounding records before, I heard other New York artists. With Drake and Beyonce and a bunch of people changing the direction a little bit with house sound and music, are you dibbling and dabbling with that as well?

I think that was something that me and Max B started. You know what I'm saying? Me and Max B was doing it from back in the day since Coke Wave. You know what I'm saying? As soon as Max heard Drake's album, he was like, yeah, that's my swag. You know what I'm saying? I think that sound from – we used to grab Britney Spears' song and redo them and do a whole bunch of stuff.

I think it's a Jersey, D.C. vibe. It's just a wavy vibe. I think Drake could do whatever he wants. You know what I'm saying? He could do whatever because he's playing this so he could drop probably a rap album right after. He always do it. He did that with the controller and all that

at that one point when he just tested the music. You know what I'm saying? But yeah, I think it's definitely something different. When we spoke to you, I think a while ago, we was praying for good news. You said Max might be released soon. Yeah, well, he in the camps now, so that's a step down. But you know, Bergen County, when they give you 75 years,

they don't want to fuck, they're letting you ride out. Gotcha. Yeah, so he's fighting for Max B. Have you ever healed fully from Max and Chinks? I heard one of the songs now, it was like you still feel it to this day. Have you healed fully from any of that? Because you got to think about it. Me, Max B, Chinks, even Zach, my brother,

we all were just the same crew making music. So you go through it, Max B is 75 years, Chinks die, my little brother gets deported. It's like I'm the only one making music, you know, so you go through it. Max Beaker, 75 years. Chinks die. My little brother gets deported. It's like I'm the only one making music. So, like, it wasn't feeling the same. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, definitely, I mean, I don't feel like I don't feel like I get my time

to heal from the thing. I don't think I give myself the time. What makes you still want to do music going through all of that? Because music is something that I do to do music going through all of that because music music is something that i do to get away from my job which is music so i so i gotta make music about making music it's like you know that's where i find you know my sanity that's that's like you know that's my therapy so you know it's like that's that's what keep me you know going and

that's what gave me longevity, the love for music. I think it could take that away from me. I don't know what else I would be doing. Blue Chills seems like a very therapeutic song for you. Yeah. So when you wrote that, what was going on with you at that time? Man, Shout to Harry, Fraud. It's just everything came back full circle,

and everything was going back to that sound. to that sound i feel like you know i feel like i went i went down south to atlanta i heard nothing but atlanta music i went to la i heard nothing but music that had the g funk sound in it then i came back to new york and it was i was sounding like i was in london and i was like nah like that's me being one of the pillars in New York I'm like yo let me try and bring that wavy sound back with Harry Fraud and when I went in the studio it just you know I just spoke how I felt at the time

everything that I went through everything that happened for the past couple years and I put my pain to the music Do you ever miss that 20 year old or 22 year old French Montana from the Bronx where you wasn't a huge star, you could still move around, and you could enjoy life a little better?

Do you ever miss that? No, because I would have been shot or killed. You know what I'm saying? You know, I would have been shot and killed. Rest in peace Pop Smoke, rest in peace Nipsey. You know, for sure. You know what I'm saying? And, you know, we praying for little TJ.

It's like I would have been shocked because I felt like everybody loved me. I felt like everybody loved me. I wasn't moving on defense. I was moving on offense. I was, you know, I thought everybody was happy I made it. And it wasn't that. It was the other way around. You know, and your greatest threat comes from the inside.

You know what I'm saying? And I'm glad that, you know, I moved to L.A. for a little bit. You know what I'm saying? I'm glad I did certain things because that could have protected me from something. You know, but, yeah, I'm glad I learned the game and just, you know, now when I move, even though I got no problem with nobody, I move and I got a problem with somebody. Me having beef with people kind of helped me. You know what I'm saying? Because I was always on point.

I was going to ask that. You know, I was talking to Jim, and Jim says, you know, probably one of the toughest jobs to him is being a rapper because you're always on target. Like you're a target. It's like everybody knows where you're going to be, right? If you're on a club promoter's flyer, if you're at a party, if you're performing, if you're at a concert, whatever going to be, right? If you're on a club promoter's flyer, if you're at a party, if you're performing, if you're at a

concert, whatever it may be. Do you feel that way and how do you make sure that you're not that target? What do you tell some of these younger artists out there? I know this said I saw 21 Savage said that Jay-Z said get a chef, get

a lawyer and get something else. I think you spend all your money on security. I think that's the number one thing. You know what I'm saying? I think that security, I mean, when they caught Pop Smoke, he didn't have no security with him. You know what I mean? And I think all the young artists just need to know you need security.

You need, like, you need, like, one of those. You're going to take a bullet. You know what I'm saying? And honestly, and I don't mean your homeboys neither, because when you have your homeboys with you and you're thinking that's security, that's not. That's just the case waiting to happen. You know what I'm saying?

And you don't want that burglary on your back. What about when it comes to women? You know, as you said, you were the top two snipers. But you have to be careful with that too. Yeah, yeah, of course. Of course. I mean, we targets from every aspect, from every angle. All the women are looking for bags.

Some of them, they think that's the way to get paid. You know, some people, you know, they've been taking their whole life. You know what I'm saying? Robbers, we come from, you know, you come from there, I come from there, where, you know, people have been robbing their whole life, and, you know, if you look sweet, they're going to grab you. You know what I mean? Some people, they just push the limit.

I call them suicide bombers. They don't really care. What was your biggest mistake you'd have to say in this industry? What was the one thing you said, damn, I shouldn't have did that? My biggest mistake was not forcing Chinks to stay with me in L.A. Because he was with me in la we were supposed to go to uh we were supposed to go to um coachella i remember i was i mean i was still going out with chloe and he was and he was um and he was with me and malika was there and he was we were supposed to go together and i kept on telling him like yo let's go let's go she wants you to go like you

know just trying to put them together and I'm saying hooked him up he was like nah I gotta go home my daughter this did this and that you know he came back and that and that happened like two days right after that or like a day after that so that was my biggest mistake I should have just forced them but we was all drunk. And I let my pride and my ego say, oh, you want to stay with me? All right, fuck out of here then. You know what I'm saying?

So he came back and it was just like a sad situation. What do you think is the smartest decision you've made? The smartest decision I made was rapping. Start rapping. Pick up a mic. I think that was the smartest decision I made. Let me ask you this. So you also recently were a top of a conversation because of Basketball Wives.

Yeah. DJ Duffy is on the show. Yeah. And she had a baby. She's engaged. And she was saying that she might take some time off from being on the road. Yeah.

And you were like, all right, you can't come back then. Yeah. So let's talk about that for a second because I saw that was a big topic on social media. Yeah. I think that, you know, when you come into this game, a lot of people don't understand that it doesn't come with your own schedule. It comes with sacrifice. In order for you to be the best DJ, be the best artist,

be the best basketball players, they're on the road for most of the year. You have to be able to make certain sacrifices. If not, then you can't be in this game. You can't just come in the game and just expect to make all this money, get all this fame,

then you just want to stay home. It don't happen like that. If I'm sacrificing, you got to sacrifice. But if somebody's like, okay, I just need like, you know, especially a woman who had a baby, if I need six months, which she did have to take time off because... Yeah, yeah, yeah.

No, of course. And then I can come back. That's not... No, that time she had to take off. But she was talking about she was going to retire. Right. Yeah, she was like, you know, I want to, you know, I'm confused. I'm like, don't be confused.

Because there's people that want to be in your position. Right. Don't be confused. See, the crazy thing about that is, you know, and this is when you start, people get upset, right? The new generation feels like, I feel like a lot of times things should be given right now maternity leave is totally different right you have a baby absolutely you deserve maternity leave some fathers out there paternity leave but i think we we lose the grind right you figure like if we look at french and we've seen all the stuff that french did the sacrifices french

was was taping you know taping you know uh what was it cocaine city stuff and he did, the sacrifices. French was taping, you know, taping, you know, what was it, cocaine city stuff. And he was at the clubs, he was traveling, he grinded, didn't sleep, this, that, and the other. So now when somebody says, hey, you know, I'm going to take a couple of months off to see if I'm going to retire or not. If you take, if you take that time, if you leave me while I'm working, I got to find a replacement. I'm not going to find a replacement for a week or a month till you figure out what you want to do. I I got to find a replacement. I'm not going to find a replacement for a week or a month until you figure out what you want to do. I'm going to find a replacement to replace you. I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

Do you? Well, I just think he was honest about it, you know, because somebody could have said, do what you got to do, and then they get replaced anyway. But I also feel like you never know what could happen. He could have got somebody else, and then she could have been ready to come back, and he could have felt like, man, she was better. You know, you never know what could happen. He could have got somebody else, and then she could have been ready to come back, and he could have felt like, man, she was better. You know, you never know what could happen.

So it is still up in the air to me, but I do think that's an honest thing to say to somebody because, yes, you do still need to have a DJ on the road with you. Yeah, of course, man. When you tell them that, that's when they have to make a decision. Do I really want this? You know what I'm saying? That decision has to be made at one point in your career. Because if you don't love whatever you do you're gonna get tested you're gonna go through certain levels that we're gonna be like man do i really love this because i'm i

can't i can't take it no more and when you but i know for women in particular it's different when you have a kid and you have that connection and they're really young and then you leave and you miss your baby so much but then she missed work a lot, too. So it's a harder balance, I feel like, when it's women. Yeah, definitely. I mean, she had the time with the baby now. Like, it wasn't like she had. Yeah, she took her time. Yeah, she did.

I was going to ask you, one time the conversation was versus. Yeah. And would you do versus? Would you be willing to do a versus? I did one with Tory Lanez. I blew his socks off. That was an early verse. We was the first ones that started verses.

Because verses, and I told Swiss that. Swiss owe me a check. I swear, I hit him. I told him, yo, you got to give me a check. And he did. He sent it to my lawyer. Yeah, he really sent you a check. Yeah, he sent me paperwork.

Like, yo, you know, because the first time, they were just beat battling. Right, I remember. You know what I'm saying? I called Swizz and I called Timberland up. I'm like, yo, I need you all to judge this joint. Me and Tory Lanez, because he had the quarantine radio. And I was like, yo, but instead of me just going on your quarantine radio

and doing that, let's just do a versus. He was like, oh, nah, you don't got me. Nah, I'm like, yo, bro, you got to stop playing with me, man. Your catalog ain't even, you know what I'm saying? So we did it. We was talking back and forth. I remember. Then I had Timbaland and Swiss Beats on the thing,

and everybody was judging it. And after that, they just took it and just, like, you know, took it to the next level, you know, all up to them. But as far as me, it's whoever. I know one time, Jim, it was supposed to be you and Jim, which I think would be great because y'all had problems before y'all squashed it. I think that would be a good one. Yeah.

I think because you and Jim got records. Nah, Jim, if you're watching this, don't do it. I think that y'all both talked ish, so I think it would be really, really entertaining, really, really good. Nah, I don't think. You don't think so? Nah. Why not?

Jim got records? No, he do. All right. After balling, go against Pop That. All right? Let's just say balling and Pop That head to head. Where you going to go next? Jim got Baby Girl.

Jim got Summer in Miami. Jim got all the Dipset records. Jim got records. All got, Jim got records. Alright. Jim got records. I'm not even gonna know what I'm gonna Jim got a dip set.

But yeah, but honestly though, I think, I think, you know, when it comes to verses, you can just go

20 for 20 with anybody just because it doesn't matter what else you got. You know what I'm saying? You can just pick those 20 records

and just go against, you know, just like how Drake could go against Jay-Z, even though Jay-Z got a longer catalog. It's the top 20 records that you have. It's what you choose and what you put against whatever record. Exactly.

Now for this new album with Harry Ford, he did the whole album, right? Yeah, the whole album. I want to ask you this. Do you think that people have a certain expectation of you? Like they expect more of the party songs now nowadays because those are the ones that have always been really big as of late um well i'm you know i became the first african born artist to go diamond and i became the first male artist from the bronx from the mecca of hip

hop to go diamond you know i'm saying and i four albums, three of them platinum. So at the end of the day, for me, I accomplished everything I wanted to do. And now it's time for me to make music for me and for my core audience, the people that helped me get here, the people that started listening to me when I made Shot Caller and New York Minute and Mac and Cheese mixtapes and this and that. So I felt like me and Harry Fraud, we never gave it a full push as far as my music. So we always just did a one-offs. We did the shot callers.

We did I'm a Coke Boy. We did this. But we never did a full project. So I just wanted to get back full circle to the essence of hip hop and just like, you know what, this is what I want to make. I want to make a full rap album. Same with How Drake Just Made a Dance album. I want to make a full rap album same with hydra just made a dance album i want to make a full rap album you know what i'm

saying i came in with harry fraud and it's our first project together that's fully produced by harry far so it's something you just felt like this is what i want to do it don't matter i accomplished so many things and this is the music i feel like i want to do yeah definitely because because at the end of the day when you talk about rest, rest in peace, Fred the Godson, you know, he said, he's like, you know, when you talk about top five emcees, it don't matter what you do, where you at, what's going on. When you talk about the top five, the number one thing is going to be his bars. You know what I'm saying?

So, you know, going back to the essence, I'm here to make history and leave my mark. I did everything. You know what I'm saying? Like, like there's artists that been in the game Three you know three times the length I've been in the game and still haven't won diamond Jay-z haven't win diamond Snoop haven't win diamond I'm saying but they have way more other things You know I'm saying that's that's more than what I got But as far as me leaving the legacy I want to get back to this now you feel like

Because you name all your accolades, some of your accolades, and I think people forget about a lot of the stuff that you do. Do you feel like they don't respect French as a rapper or as a lyricist because of some of the other things, because of the relationship with the Kardashian and Trina and some of

the other ones you snipe down? It's more about French's personal life and less about the lyrics. Because the fact that you wentipe down. It's more about French's personal life and less about the lyrics. Because the fact that you went diamond, that's huge. A lot of artists have never gone diamond. But we don't talk about French going diamond, which is crazy.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I feel like it's the same thing with Drake. Drake can rap better than other artists, but they don't want to give it to him because he's still smelling his flowers. You know what I'm saying? That's a nicer way to say it to him because his he still smell his flowers. You know I'm saying That's a nicer way to say it. Yeah, you still smell your flowers people ain't gonna put the light on you I still smell your flowers. It's like you know they

You know they got this drink is different though. Yeah, and I think what Drake is because Drake is busy He could put together songs. He's lyrically he could even body a lot of most rappers out Yeah But I think which gives Drake the little asterisk is when he went back in that beef and it was like oh drake don't write his own rhymes yeah i gave him a little asterisk and he never discussed it he never spoke about he never came out was like nah that's you know what it is and i think that gave him the asterisk but if that asterisk wasn't there for hip-hop he's by far one of the best yeah ever but after this album we're gonna get back to that topic

Yeah after this I won't get back to that topic. I just think you know and that's and that's and that's the lane I'm going down. I mean cuz that's bro. Like I came from them like I came from Like if Chicago Bulls and I like 96 Michael Jones playing that's where I was at in the Bronx That's the Mecca of hip-hop like big pun down the street you know the carriers one down here like you know you know everybody was right there that Joe yeah everybody slick the ruler everybody so to make it out of there the time that I was there was like you know it was Mission Impossible and and we had to battle like like literally like you would take five bands you could take your re-up money 15 grand you would

go here you go ahead go to every projects to battle so we come from hip-hop rap I had to rap to get on all my music is rap you know I'm saying when I got on but you know I had to try to you know accomplish you can't accomplish too much with just too much rap like you see Jay-Z which had them my bars down what was that line that he said I had to dim my bars down and the money came in yeah yeah so that's the same thing Jay-Z switches whole style up wouldn't got to the back then came back to the rap how much time you spend in New York nowadays would you say I got a spot here I live here oh you do yeah okay I always look at you like

friends live in l.a no no no i live here no i live here but i got a spot in l.a and a spot in vegas you know we branched out do you record differently when you're in new york like is it a different type of vibe for you um in new york yeah definitely and new york is is more is more is more of the hip-hop vibe. You know what I'm saying? It's just something about that breeze when it hits you that winter. You know what I'm saying? You just got to get it off your chest. Do you get a chance to enjoy New York with everything so crazy out here?

It seems like New York is just so wild right now. Do you get a chance to enjoy it at all? New York been wild for me the whole time I've been in New York. That's facts. It might have been wilder before. That's facts. Yeah, New York definitely was wilder before. Remember, I went through all that. So it was like, New York always been wild for me.

What about acting? So now you've been doing your acting thing. And so is that something that you feel like you want to pursue? Like, I want to be in some more feature films. What's next with that? Well, we're dropping my documentaries coming out this year. more feature films what's what's next with that um well well um we dropping the um my documentary is coming out this year as is you know about about the whole story with me coming from africa and you

know starting to rap and you know and like you know and being immigrated here and my pops leaving and my mother getting a welfare and max b and chinks dying and me having to get through all that and um you know i showed it to jay-z i showed um to drake so me and drake is executive producing it together and it's it's gonna be real dope as far as in film and in theaters this year and we're doing the larry davis series from the bronx We're doing that. So that's, but definitely films. I mean, I started with Cocaine City DVD. So the film was always a way for me to, you know, it was a platform that I always, you know,

was in love with before music. I feel like you don't tell those stories about yourself that often either. What made you decide now was the time to do it? Because people, because people just know the music and people never really got a chance to see how hard it was to make it you know because we make it look easy every day so people be like okay cool he's just rapping he he getting lucky with every all right he lucky again he lucky again but luck don't i mean what's what's an artist's career span, you think? Hmm.

If they're lucky? Usually, honestly, three to five. Three to five. If they're lucky. Yeah, but now, like a microwave error. Now, it could be a couple months. Could be a year. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So for somebody that lasts 15 years,

you got to give them the blueprint. That's how you do it. Everybody think it's luck. That's what I had to go through. Now, I saw you also reference your baby mama tripping in the song. How is co-parenting going for you? Is it getting better? No, no, it's better. It's better, definitely.

It's better. You know, they're always going to want some money. It's better, man. Yeah, shout out to her. She's doing a great job. We've never been in the media, and I respect everything she do for my son. You know, it's hard out here you know you know raise kids but we do it well French's album is out today what would

you want you want to play off the album right now Montega um you could play the one with me Jada kiss Benny the butcher okay and you can play the one with me estg and I got a thing for every time you know first all, French has never changed his number from I don't even know how long. French's number is still the same since he was in France, I swear. And anytime I ever call him, no matter what it is, he never says no. Never.

First, I was doing my car show, and French had a Bugatti. And I was like, you know, now Bugatti's about a $1.5, $2 million car. So if you call and you ask somebody for Bugatti nine times Well speak to my people French didn't say that at all He was like yo just put on a trailer and bring it and it was not a problem. Then I'm in Africa you The DJ before me so I was supposed to play the hip-hop set and the DJ before me played the hip-hop set and we're in Africa so it's like vibes and I'm supposed to play the hip-hop sauce I was like I got to think of something to do to outdo the kid that played the hip hop set. And we're in Africa, so it's like vibes. And I'm supposed to play the hip hop set. So I was like, I got to think of something to do to outdo the kid that played the hip hop set.

So I called French and I'm like, yo, French, when I perform. True story. I said, yo, when I perform, I'm going to have the camera on the FaceTime. And I'm going to call my people from New York and bring New York to Africa. And French was one of the ones that picked up. It was French, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Jim Jones, and Fabulous fabulous y'all all picked up for me. So I was all just you know, always appreciate always Yeah, definitely bro. Always though. Is it weird for you being in the club now that you don't drink? No, I got used to it

Was the party animal his whole intention when you in the club with him is to get you drunk One night we were in Vegas. It was my birthday. It was me, you, and Kevin Hart. And he would not, I don't even know how I walked back to my room. He just kept going. And then he had me performing with him. It was the weirdest thing.

You were performing? I was performing with French on stage. Oh, my God. Kevin was there. It was crazy. Is there footage of this? I hope not. Probably.

I hope not. Goodness gracious. Probably. But back there, it was crazy. Is there footage of this? I hope not. Probably. I hope not. Goodness gracious. Probably. But back to what you saying. People don't go to your funeral for what you did for yourself. They always go to your funeral for what you did for them. And I live by that coast. So I be trying to, whenever my peoples or whatever it is, somebody I can help, I always

do that. You know what I'm saying? So when you had me from Africa, it was like five in the morning. Five in the morning, yeah. He was like, no problem. I was like, Evie, where you at? He was like, Africa. I was like, oh, no. He said, you good?

You all right? You need something? I said, yeah, I'm all right. I'm good. I'm not tired of nowhere. I just need you to FaceTime me. I just need to FaceTime me. I'm in about 30 minutes.

I need some props here. All right, well, there you have it. French Montana. Montega. Montega. Montega. I was out today. Montega.

Make sure you get it. And it's you have it. French Montana. Montega. Montega. Montega. Shout out to Harry Fry. And it's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Hey. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together.

Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. brings history to life through hip-hop. Each episode is about a different, inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know?

I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a goldmine. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to historical records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, 1974. George Foreman was champion of the world. Ali was smart and he was handsome.

The story behind The Rumble in the Jungle is like a Hollywood movie. But that is only half the world. Ali was smart and he was handsome. The story behind The Rumble in the Jungle is like a Hollywood movie. But that is only half the story. There's also James Brown, Bill Withers, B.B. King, Miriam Akiba, all the biggest black artists on the planet, together in Africa. It was a big deal. Listen to Rumble, Ali, Foreman, and

The Soul of 74 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8th, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral. We're talking música, los premios, el chisme, and all things trending in my cultura. I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers. Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us,

and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only Nuestra Gente can sprinkle. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.