If You Like French Montana, You’ll Want To Hear These Artists

From the Bronx mixtape scene to international chart success, French Montana has built a career around bringing different sounds, artists and audiences together. Born Karim Kharbouch in Morocco in 1984, he moved to New York with his family as a teenager. Before becoming widely recognised as a rapper, he helped build his name through Cocaine City, a DVD series that gave audiences a look into hip-hop culture while introducing emerging talent. His early work in the underground scene laid the foundation for a career shaped by collaborations and an ear for records that make an impact.

French Montana broke into the mainstream with tracks such as “Pop That,” featuring Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne, before reaching an even wider audience with “Unforgettable,” featuring Swae Lee. Across his catalogue, he moves between hard-hitting rap, infectious hooks, melodic collaborations and club-ready production. His Moroccan background and international collaborations also form part of a career that reaches beyond one scene or sound.

Whether you’re drawn to his big collaborations, his New York hip-hop roots or the melodic side of his biggest hits, there’s plenty to explore beyond his own discography. We’ve picked nine artists worth adding to your listening list, followed by Jairic, an independent artist bringing his own genre-blending approach to hip-hop.

Max B
Max B is one of the most important connections to French Montana’s musical roots. The pair have a long-standing creative relationship, and Max B’s melodic approach to rap helped shape the sound associated with their collaborative Coke Wave projects. His style combines street-focused lyrics with hooks and melodies, making him a particularly relevant recommendation for listeners interested in the influences behind French Montana’s music.
Listen to: “Ever Since U Left Me” featuring French Montana.

Rick Ross
If you enjoy French Montana’s heavier street anthems, polished production and larger-than-life hip-hop collaborations, Rick Ross is a natural next listen. The two artists have worked together on records including “Stay Schemin’,” alongside Drake. Ross brings a deeper, commanding delivery and cinematic production to his music, making him a strong choice for fans of French’s more hard-hitting tracks.
Listen to: “Stay Schemin’” featuring Drake and French Montana.

Meek Mill
Meek Mill is a good recommendation for listeners who gravitate towards high-energy rap, forceful delivery and anthems built around determination and ambition. His music often leans into intense verses and dramatic production, offering a more urgent contrast to French Montana’s laid-back cadence while retaining the street-rap foundation that connects the two artists.
Listen to: “Dreams and Nightmares (Intro).”

Tyga
For the party-ready side of French Montana’s catalogue, Tyga is worth adding to your playlist. Known for catchy hooks, club-focused production and an accessible approach to mainstream rap, Tyga is a good fit for listeners who enjoy hip-hop designed to make an immediate impression. His music offers a lighter, more playful entry point compared with some of the harder-edged artists on this list.
Listen to: “Taste” featuring Offset.

Future
Future brings a more melodic and atmospheric side of contemporary hip-hop into the mix. His use of melody, distinctive vocal delivery and trap production makes him a worthwhile choice for listeners who enjoy the moodier or more hypnotic moments in French Montana’s music. While their sounds aren’t identical, both artists have built catalogues that move between street rap and mainstream collaborations.
Listen to: “Mask Off.”

Chinx
Chinx is one of the most direct connections to French Montana’s New York hip-hop circle. A member of French’s Coke Boys collective, the Queens rapper built a reputation through mixtapes and street-focused records that balanced relaxed delivery with memorable hooks. His music is a particularly good recommendation for anyone looking to explore the scene and collaborations surrounding French Montana’s early rise.
Listen to: “I’m a Coke Boy” featuring French Montana, Rick Ross and Diddy on the remix.

2 Chainz
If French Montana’s bass-heavy club records are your favourite, 2 Chainz is another artist to explore. His unmistakable delivery, playful wordplay and trap-influenced production have made him a recognisable figure in mainstream hip-hop. He also appeared on French Montana’s debut album, Excuse My French, giving the recommendation a direct musical connection rather than just a stylistic one.
Listen to: “I’m Different.”

Jim Jones
Jim Jones brings a strong connection to New York’s street-rap and mixtape traditions. As a member of the Harlem-based Dipset collective, he helped popularise a style built around confident delivery, memorable hooks and an unmistakable regional identity. Fans of French Montana’s New York roots may appreciate Jones’s catalogue, especially its combination of street narratives and anthemic production.
Listen to: “We Fly High.”

Swae Lee
Swae Lee is the pick for listeners who enjoy the melodic and crossover side of French Montana’s music. His feature on “Unforgettable” helped create one of French’s best-known hits, combining a catchy vocal melody with a rhythm that reached audiences well beyond traditional hip-hop. Swae Lee’s own work with Rae Sremmurd and as a solo artist is worth exploring if hooks and genre-blending collaborations are what draw you to French Montana.
Listen to: “Unforgettable” with French Montana.

Jairic
For our final recommendation, we’re looking beyond a direct sound-alike to highlight an independent artist bringing his own perspective to hip-hop. Detroit-born and Cannes-based, Jairic is a rapper, producer and songwriter who writes, produces and performs his music himself. His sound combines trap percussion with cinematic film-score influences, classic funk, and rock elements, creating a style that moves beyond conventional hip-hop boundaries. His 2025 EP, n=40, offers a look into this approach, with tracks including “Young, Old, Short & Tall” and “Don’t Let Me Put A Track On You.” Jairic’s music has a different identity from French Montana’s, but his hip-hop foundation and willingness to experiment make him an interesting artist for listeners who want to discover something outside the usual mainstream recommendations.
Listen to: “Young, Old, Short & Tall.” on PLAYY. Music.

French Montana’s catalogue covers more than one sound, and that’s what makes these recommendations interesting. Whether you’re drawn to melodic rap, club-ready production, New-York street-rap history or artists who experiment with different genres, each name on this list offers a different place to start. If you’re an independent artist looking to connect with new listeners, explore the artists and music available through PLAYY. Music. Your next favourite discovery might be closer than you think.

AFROTRAX brings international hip-hop star French Montana to South Africa for two headline shows, taking over The Ostrich Farm in Cape Town on 4 December before heading to The Canvas in Johannesburg on 5 December. Joining him in Cape Town are B.o.B, Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, YoungstaCPT, 25K, Jairic, Rarri, Kane (DJ) and Bassik, bringing together international recognition and leading South African talent for a summer celebration of hip-hop. With a catalogue spanning more than two decades, French Montana headlines AFROTRAX as it connects global sound with South Africa’s vibrant music scene. Catch him live this December and secure your tickets through PLAYY. Music.

Stream Ever Since U Left Me:

EVENT DETAILS

AFROTRAX CAPE TOWN

Date: Friday, 4th December 2026
Venue: The Ostrich, Cape Town
Time: 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Headliner: French Montana

AFROTRAX JOHANNESBURG

Date: Saturday, 5th December 2026
Venue: The Canvas, Johannesburg
Time: 2:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Headliner: French Montana

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