French Montana has subtly (and not-so-subtly) flexed his characteristic lethargic rap style and lent his distinctive voice to a plethora of records throughout the course of his 15-plus-year career.
With his swag-laden bars, braggadocios hooks and his curiously masterful ability to craft a hit record, French is someone who has undeniably secured longevity in the rap game by way of utilizing the power of collaboration, relentlessly expanding his catalog and consistently delivering earworms that simultaneously dominate the clubs and gradually climb the charts.
While the Coke Boys Records founder has definitely put in the work to earn his stripes as a mainstay rapper over the past decade and change, building a career off of an onslaught of street mixtapes, smart partnerships and influential co-signs, it’s hard not to celebrate how his persistent hard work has paid off with the arrival of his proper sophomore LP, Jungle Rules.
From the Morocco-born, Bronx-bred emcee’s first official Top 10 entry into the Billboard Hot 100—with his massive Swae Lee-assisted banger, “Unforgettable,”—to his amiable ability to pull together a collaboration with the likes of his currently jailed mentor Max B and The Weeknd, French has a lot to toast to this summer—and naturally, so do his longtime supporters. With his latest studio album boasting guest features from the likes of Quavo, Young Thug, Future, Pharrell, T.I. and more, fans are already happily weighing in with their first impressions and from the looks of early reviews, it’s without question French has come a long way from hustling his Cocaine City DVDs on the gritty streets of New York City.
As French Montana continues to build his clout in the music industry and his new project, Jungle Rules, begins to receive hard-earned heavy rotation, we took a look at some of the most celebrated guest features he’s contributed over the years. Peep the list here.
Originally published on XXLMag.com.