Karim Kharbouch was just 13 years old when he left his family’s estate in Casablanca, Morocco, and moved to the South Bronx, New York , with his parents and younger brother. Two years after moving to the US, the family began struggling financially and his father decided to return to Morocco shortly before his youngest brother was born. His mother stayed on with the family and young Karim soon found himself as the family’s sole breadwinner. Rap was one of his favourite hobbies growing up, but it soon evolved into much more.
As someone who came to America as an immigrant and built a career in one of its most competitive industries, what does the idea of the American Dream mean to you?
Strolling through the streets of the Bronx, where he learned English, Karim began his career as a battle rapper in his teens, setting him on the path to becoming French Montana . Three decades later, he has collaborated with Drake, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and several other heavyweights of hip-hop. Known for his catchy hooks, infectious club rhythms, stellar beats and gritty New York street rap, the artist has since gone global while staying true to his roots – and his love for Tupac. Here are excerpts from the interview. It shows me that I’ve come a long way. I think India is getting bigger and bigger with hip-hop. From the last time I was here to now, I feel like there’s more love for hip-hop. I feel like music is the only language that the whole world speaks. So every time I come here and connect with India, it just shows me that the hip-hop crowd is growing. The idea of the American Dream is being able to tell your mother she doesn’t have to work ever again. Telling your father he never has to work ever again. Being able to set the blueprint for other immigrants that think there’s no hope – really show them that if somebody like me did it, you can do it also. It’s not easy, it’s hard. But you can do it. It’s possible.
Having humble beginnings – coming from the Bronx, New York – and taking that plane for 24 hours to somewhere else in the world, to see somebody enjoying my music from a whole different side of the planet, brings a different joy to me. Because her son had made it, and how the changing face of hip-hop can be likened to the digitisation of currency, following his performance, HT Entertainment spoke to French Montana about how his Bronx roots shaped his music, the moment he told his mother she would never have to work again.
On August 22, the “Unforgettable” and “Pop That” hitmaker headlined Seagram’s Royal Stag BoomBox at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.
