New York rapper French Montana isn’t slowing down – at all. The hip-hop heavyweight has released his self-directed new “Salam Alaykum” music video.
Big Facts
On Monday, Montana came through with the unexpected visual gem. The release comes ahead of French’s appearance on streaming platform Quibi’s “PUNK’D” tomorrow and a new single set to drop Friday.
‘Salam Alaykum’ can be found on French’s blockbuster double-side album, MONTANA [Epic Records], which was certified gold within 24 hours of its release. Some artists blur genres, but French Montana blurs borders. His inimitable fusion of classic East Coast rhymes, wavy pop swagger, and international ambition elevated him to the forefront of the game on a global scale. In addition to becoming the very first rap ambassador of Global Citizen, he staunchly supported humanitarian efforts, spanning DACA, the viral Mama Hope #UNFORGETTABLE Dance Challenge, which raised over $500,000-plus, and his Pan-African health and education movement into Morocco with Care Morocco. 2018 also saw him become a U.S. Citizen after emigrating to the South Bronx from Morocco at just 13-years-old.
High-Key Details
Montana went online last week to remember shooting his “Unforgettable” music video. French shared throwback footage of himself going to Africa with collaborator Swae Lee to film the visual.
“❤️ JUST IN TODAY – 8 MILLION RECORDS ??❤️❤️????SOLD ! ALMOST DIAMOND ! NOTHING MADE ME HAPPIER THAN SEEING THESE KIDS’ FACES AFTER I GOT THEM THE 12 VISAS TO COME TO THE LAND WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE, I KNOW THAT FEELING ❤️, AND BUILT A HOSPITAL FOR 56 VILLAGES, HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYBODY!! IT WAS MORE THAN A SONG IT WAS A LIFE CHANGING EVENT THAT HELPED MILLIONS, THANK YOU TO ALL THE FANS BECAUSE ON THIS DAY 3 YEARS AGO IT CAME OUT AND MY BROTHER @swaelee THE YOUNG GOAT AKA BLANKET JACKSON” -French Montana’s Instagram
Wait, There’s More
According to reports, French spent a grip for his epic record. The rap star spent close to half a million dollars for the “Unforgettable” song clearance.
Montana revealed that he had to pay “$300,000 USD out of [his] own pocket” in addition to the same amount paid by his label Epic Records to clear the song’s sample, as the label was not interested in neither funding for the clearance or filming the music video. But Montana was determined to shoot “Unforgettable” in Uganda to reminisce those “unforgettable” moments when little Montana lived in poverty and could be happy with nothing. (HYPEBEAST)
Before You Go
In 2017, French shared some details on shooting the must-see music video. Montana credited seeing kids online for having him head to Uganda for the visual’s production.
“I listen to a lot of African music. I was on the computer going through it, and I ran across these kids. I was a fan and I felt like I saw me in them, ’cause I grew up in Africa when I was their age. I was doing the same thing they were doing. In my head, I was playing “Unforgettable.” They were just dancing and I fell in love with it and said, “I gotta find these kids.” It was something new, it was a breath of fresh air. With having gone through living in poverty and being happy with nothing, they channel that through their dance moves and their energy. Them having no TVs and just learning how to dance, it just makes them have their own moves and their own swagger.” (Billboard)