French Montana showed up at HILO last night for his Excuse My French listening party decked out in gold chains and dark shades. It’s a typical look for French, but this moment was extra special. “Thank you to everybody that came out tonight. Supporting the movement since day one” he declared. He continued by acknowledging the familiar faces that watched him grind from the bottom to the top.

After several delays, the definite date of May 21 is approaching. French wanted to throw a private get-together for all his friends and media types just weeks before his album’s release. The Ciroc was flowing—with flashing ice cubes in the glasses—and everyone seemed excited to hear the album live for the first time. Looking back at French during his years of moving Cocaine City DVDs in the streets to now, it’s clear that he's found his place in the upper echelon of hip-hop.

French didn’t mind that the speakers kept blowing out or that his microphone didn’t work all the time. When everything was a go, there were several tracks on Excuse My French that caught our attention. Peppering in his signature ad-lib before his obligatory explanations, the album has an adequate amount of hard-hitting bangers. In between French's celebration, XXL jotted down a few takeaways from his Bad Boy debut.—Eric Diep (@E_Diep)

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Max B Phones In An Intro From Prison

French Montana has said in numerous interviews that he would be featuring Max B on Excuse My French. Unfortunately Wavie Crockett doesn't get an actual verse or hook, but speaks on the impressive first track, "Once In A While," which samples Kanye West and is produced by Reefa.

French, who was seated in the back of HILO among his crew, swayed his head back and forth to the intro’s harrowing beat. It plays off the idea of reflecting on his former d-boy ways—“murder,” “cocaine,” “money on my mind”—that are repeated throughout the hook. The incarcerated rapper, who is currently serving 75 years for a murder conviction, dropped his words over a prison call, completing the entire dope boy anthem aesthetic. As expected, we all soon chanted along.

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Young Chop's On An Awesome Beat

Normally, this is how a listening goes down: After some light commentary from the artist, they jump right into their album before running back to play some selections again. However, French wanted to keep the lively atmosphere going, returning to the Young Cash-featuring “Paranoia” over and over again. It’s produced by Young Chop—whose style is growing into its own entity—and absolutely knocks. Though these two have worked on songs in the past—“Hatin’ On A Youngin’,” “Devil Wants My Soul”—their chemistry here might be their best union yet.

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Despite What Bloggers Have Said, French Can Make A Song On His Own

French is privy to what the hip-hop blogs are saying about him. “[The] blogs saying he can’t make a song on his own,” he announced to no one in particular. He later pointed out that he called the producers Earl & E to send him a beat, his obvious inspiration being that he wasn’t worried about nothing. French proved the bloggers wrong with his current single, fittingly titled “Ain’t Worried About Nothin’.” The crowd already knew the hook, rapping along to it as French gave them a live performance.

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The Weeknd On “Gifted” Is Amazing

Juicy J’s “One Of Those Nights” is an indication that The Weeknd paired with any trap rapper is foolproof. Case in point: French’s “Gifted” that has Danny! stepping out of his comfort zone and producing a hypnotizing, very Weeknd-y record. With Abel commanding the hook with his falsetto, French does work on the entrancing production.

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French Had Some Friends Come Through

French hasn’t jumped on the #NoNewFriends bandwagon quite yet. Stalley, Wale, Chinx Drugz and even Eve came to his listening party to show some love. And why wouldn’t they? The endless supply of free Ciroc is always a great reason to turn up with your resident Coke Boy. Maybe, that's why French was doing this little dance before it.

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Rico Love Actually Raps

The hitmaker behind “Freaks” is featured on the deluxe version of Excuse My French for “Drink Freely.” He has a reputation as a creative force for his songwriting and producing abilities. On "Drink Freely" he offers up a few bars that aren't pure struggle nor lyrically impressive. Rico holds his own.

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