French Montana describes mother’s sacrifice after emigrating from Morocco in documentary film ‘For Khadija’
LOS ANGELES (AP) — If French Montana’s dad had never abandoned him as a teenager, the rapper says he wouldn’t have grown into a popular figure who has earned three Grammy nominations.
Montana and his family left Morocco more than two decades ago in hopes of a better life in the US, but when times got tough, his father returned to their native country. Montana turned to the street life of New York City in the South Bronx for male guidance while his mother was the faithful backbone. It was his mother’s sacrifice to raise her sons as a single parent that inspired him to become a better man.
That’s the story the rapper ‘Pop That’ tells in the documentary ‘For Khadija’, a project named after his mother that recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The project is about his emergence as a successful artist and the plight of his single immigrant mother raising three sons.
“This is a story of the grind, the losses, and the sacrifices,” Montana said of the documentary, which was produced by Drake and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“That father figure went away and I had no guidance, so the streets became my father,” said Montana. “But my father himself did not have the right guidance. I think Allah removed him from my life because he had his own destiny for me. I’m sure[my dad]wanted me to do a lot of things that he sees in his eyes. But I feel like when he left, French Montana took over.
Montana’s music career includes several hits, including “Unforgettable” featuring Swae Lee. The Moroccan-born rapper earned his Grammy nominations through his songwriting efforts on Kanye West’s “All Day” and by being featured on “All the Way Up” with Fat Joe, Remy Ma and Infared. He has also actively championed global healthcare efforts in Uganda as a Global Citizen rap ambassador.
Montana feels no bitterness towards his father for leaving them during their stressful circumstances. His father wanted to return to Morocco for good after a few opportunities fell through, but his mother was against taking the family back. She believed that there were better opportunities in the United States than in Morocco.
“I … respect the move he made, than if he had stayed with us and we all suffered in New York,” he said. “I am glad he has found his peace. If he had stayed, I would never have been French Montana. Why would I be mad at him? That was the best thing he ever did for me as a man. He left me and I became a man. That’s how it should be. The right way.”
Because his mother had no work experience and spoke no English, Montana said his father thought they might only last a year or two before they, too, returned to Morocco. Instead, their time in America ended up being 25 years.
In the documentary, Montana said he and his mom shared a heartfelt moment — symbolizing how her abiding faith helped them overcome a plethora of financial obstacles while working multiple jobs and praying daily.
“When you see my mom kissing me on the forehead, it was us who made the sacrifices, we went through the trials and tribulations,” he said. “It was really making the impossible come true. It was a miracle. It was no support except for the man upstairs.
Director Mandon Lovett said he first became intrigued by Montana’s story after reading a 2012 article about him traveling to Morocco and seeing his father for the first time since the older man left New York. Lovett was captivated by Montana’s story and wanted to work with him one day.
That moment came in 2017 when Montana took a trip to Morocco to shoot a music video for his song “Famous.” Through mutual acquaintances, the director was able to enjoy and create a short sizzlereel.
After reviewing all the material, Lovett said the story was strong enough to make it a full project.
“From Morocco to New York, this story is going all over the world,” said Lovett, who said Montana’s dad has photos of all his sons in his apartment. “It’s a big, wide story. When French and I got to know each other, it took an even bigger turn that turned into a story that paid homage to his mother.
Montana said it was an easy decision to name the documentary after his mother after seeing Lovett’s final product. The rapper said no achievement in his music career was greater than seeing his mother return to Morocco and hug her sister whom she hadn’t seen in over 20 years.
“When we watched the movie, I said to myself, ‘This is bigger than me,'” he said. “When my mother hugged my aunt at the end, it came full circle. I came back to Morocco before my mother. But the real warrior here, and the real battle was she.
