S. Samuel
As Bad Boy Records' French Montana continued to build his buzz by killing it at last night's Hot 97 Summer Jam concert, SOHH reached out to his long-time friend and collaborator producer Jerry Wonda to get his take on the rapper's rise to stardom.
Despite having worked with Grammy-winning artists like Mary J. Blige and Diddy, Wonda said Montana’s studio ethic is unlike any performer’s he has ever seen.
“Man, you know what, I’ve worked with a lot artists in my day, going back to 1996. I’ve been really getting in and working with a lot of different artists. That dude is so hungry, man, he cut up about seven songs in one day,” Wonda told SOHH referring to French Montana. “Actually, it was one afternoon, not even one day. Cats show up at night, like around nine o’clock and stay until five o’clock in the morning. He got seven songs done, man. Seven songs. He’s no joke. People think he blew up overnight but at the end of the day, he’s put in a lot of overtime. [laughs] He’s put everything into it, man.” (SOHH)
Asked if he is slated to contribute to Montana’s upcoming Excuse My French debut, Wonda said only time will tell.
“I’ve got to tell you, everybody loves that dude because he’s got a great energy and his talent is just right,’ Wonda added. “If he feels something, he’ll tell you. If he doesn’t, then he doesn’t. … [Working on his Bad Boy debut?] I don’t even know, man. I can’t even talk about things that I don’t know. I’d love to but I can’t answer that. I really don’t know.” (SOHH)
French Montana and a slew of other rap stars invaded Sunday night’s Summer Jam concert.
Much of the place continued to worship at the altar of the other Maybach Music guy, one Ricky Ross, wielding the microphone and that sculpted beard of his for unmistakable presence. “I think I’m Big Meech, Larry Hoover! … Hawh!” He followed that up with his monster hit “Hustlin’,” accompanied by his Maybach associates, saving most-wanted track “Stay Schemin'” for last. Of course, French Montana’s already here, but no sight of Drake, that other guy on the song … and Young Money friend to the absent Nicki Minaj. (Star-Ledger)
Recently, Montana talked about bringing New York hip-hop back to the forefront.
“It’s been so long for a New York artist to really [have an impact] that it seems like there’s been a dark cloud over New York and the East Coast,” Montana said in an interview. “It’s a blessing that me and other East Coast artists are finally getting our shine again. Artists like Meek Mill (who is from Philadelphia), myself…everybody. We just need more support, that’s all. A song like ‘Shot Caller’ is East Coast…it even has the Lords of the Underground sample from “Funky Child.” But it’s important that we make sure we also make music for everybody else like I did with “Choppa Choppa Down.” (VIBE)
Check out French Montana’s Summer Jam 2012 set below:
