Bad Boy Records’ French Montana knows he struck gold with his “Unforgettable” classic. The hip-hop veteran has reflected on his game-changing single selling nearly 10 million records.

Big Facts

Montana went online this week to remember shooting the motivational song’s visual. French shared throwback footage of himself going to Africa with collaborator Swae Lee to shoot the video.

“❤️ 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

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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

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High-Key Details

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)

Wait, There’s More

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)

Before You Go

Shortly after its release, “Unforgettable” shot up the music charts. After its first 11 weeks, the song cracked into the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Peaking this week at No. 16, his “Unforgettable” marks the highest position the New York rapper has ever achieved on the singles charts. With a guest appearance by Swae Lee of hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, Montana’s hit also holds a number of high placements on Billboard’s more specialized genre charts, including the No. 6 spot on Hot Rap Songs and No. 9 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. (Billboard)

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