Artists concerned with achieving platinum certification without the assistance of features are perhaps best described as "weirdos," at least according to French Montana. In a new interview with Paper, Montana shared his thoughts on the featureless album approach and explained why he considered it a potential setback.
"Who sits there thinking about weird shit like [going platinum with no features]?" Montana said. "Those people who put albums out by themselves are weirdos. Music is about having fun. If I'm chilling with ASAP Rocky, or chilling with Drake or the Weeknd and we record, and then I have to say, 'Look here, bro, I'm thinking about dropping this album just by myself.' Artists would stop fucking with you."
For Montana, whose most recent (and not featureless) album Jungle Rules dropped back in July, critical consensus isn't the goal. "It's what I feel, it's what the people feel," he said, noting that music itself is the only permanent aspect of the industry. "If your name is not getting bigger everyday, that's a problem. It's like, when you're hustling and making money. If you're not making more money than you made last year then something's wrong. You have to reevaluate your books."
Though Montana doesn't mention anyone by name in his remarks on featureless albums, a few recent Billboard hits come to mind. J. Cole, of course, is the most obvious example with last year's 4 Your Eyez Only. Future's self-titled album also boasted the no features distinction before he added a few bonus tracks to it with contributions from Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
Earlier this month, French Montana brought his massive hit "Unforgettable" to the Tonight Show with some help from Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee and the Triplets Ghetto kids dance troupe.
