French Montana Opens Up On Rapper Max B Inspiring Him, Getting Shot And Surviving It, His Name, Being A Father

Morocco-born South Bronx rapper French Montana is riding high on his success in terms of money and the response he got after he dropped his breakthrough single "Pop That." He has even signed up for big labels like Bad Boy Records, Maybach Music Group and Interscope Records and he is only growing bigger. Montana is also the founder and CEO of Cocaine City Records.

His name also features on media engagement company, Shazam's "2013 New Artists to Watch" list. Montana has collaborations with artists like Rick Ross, 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne.

The Bronx rapper's rise in the rapping scene was when he dropped "Cocaine City" DVDs with the Coke Boys that included rappers Chinx Drugz, Charlie Rock, Cheeze and Flip.

Montana opened up about various topics in his interview to USA Today. Whenever Montana is doing music he is always thinking about his inspiration Harlem rapper Max B, with whom he was frequently collaborating until he got a prison sentence. "My best friend (rapper Max B) is serving 75 years in prison. Only one of us made it. I think about all this when I make music, of all the sacrifices made. Nothing is just going to come to you, you have to make it happen."

Montana whose real name is Karim Kharbouch was born in Morocco and moved to America in 1996. "I came from a third-world country, from nothing, and became something. I just wouldn't take no for an answer."

The rapper has seen and tasted violence and survived. He was at the receiving end of a gunshot wound on his head in New York City while he was travelling and survived. "I try not to bring that memory back. I'm glad I made it through that time, but, yeah, that experience was part of the album," he said.

French also spoke about how he got his name - when he immigrated to America with his parents, he knew to speak only French and Arabic and hence the name "French" while "Montana" is from the classic movie "Scarface" starring legendary actor Al Pacino who plays Tony Montana, a drug-cartel boss.

The 28-year-old rapper has a son who is three-years-old, he explained, Kids who have everything grow up thinking that everybody owes them. I want him to grow up like me. I want him to struggle a little so he knows how to be a man. I've got to leave him in the desert, and when he gets older, he'll understand why his father left him like that."

Montana is all set to drop his debut album "Excuse My French," April 16, 2013.