“My approach didn’t change,” the 28-year-old says. “I still haven’t changed. I always feel like I’m the only one that’s going to help [me] get to where I need to go. I never changed that approach. I feel like that’s how I became the hottest rapper in New York. I don’t wait for nobody. I had to have the same approach when I first started [because] it was always the same goal.”
His longtime affiliate, Max B, was along for much of the ride in Montana’s early career. Now doing 75 years in prison after a conviction on murder, conspiracy and robbery charges, B’s hip-hop ambitions are being realized by his partner-in-rhyme. In the wake of losing Max, Montana came under the tutelage of two of hip-hop’s biggest names: Bad Boy Records CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs and superstar rapper Rick Ross. His loyalty to those two men stems from the faith they showed in his music early on.
“When I first came out, Ross took a chance and helped me out — the same thing with Puff [Combs],” he shared. “I feel like I owed them that, so [they] both executive-produced my album.”
He chose to ink a joint deal with Ross’s Maybach Music Group and Combs’ Bad Boy Records in the best interest of all involved. With his just-released debut Excuse My French, Montana felt like it was the best way to make sure everyone knew that he was committed to the two industry heavyweights that were most committed to him. “It was important for me to sign a joint venture because both of those people looked out for me when I was coming up. And in dealing with somebody like Puff and Ross, I feel like I can’t go wrong. They’ll be able to hold me down.”
