French Montana Credits Taylor Swift for Inspiring 126-Track 'Mac & Cheese 5' Mixtape
French Montana has recently addressed the backlash surrounding his decision to release multiple versions of his latest mixtape, Mac & Cheese 5, containing a whopping total of 126 tracks.
In a recent interview with TMZ, French Montana explained the rationale behind dropping six different versions of each track on his new tape. Fans now have the option to listen to every song in explicit, clean, sped-up, slowed-down, instrumental, or acapella versions.
Contrary to speculations on social media, French clarified that his intention was not to manipulate streaming numbers but rather to draw inspiration from pop sensation Taylor Swift. He pointed out that Swift had released various versions of her studio albums, resulting in a significant increase in sales, a strategy he hopes to replicate with his music.
Tayor Swift dropped eight versions of her album, I'm just learning the hustle from them. I dropped five versions...My fans always love my beats so I dropped the instrumental. I dropped acapella for all the DJs that like blending, and I dropped the clean version.”
- French Montana
French Montana Praises Taylor Swift's 'Hustle' for Inspiring His 126-Track Mixtape:
Acknowledging the influence of other artists who have adopted similar tactics, French emphasized the importance of catering to different audience preferences. He cited the popularity of TikTok as a reason for releasing a sped-up version and acknowledged the demand for chopped and screwed tracks.
Mac & Cheese 5 boasts an impressive lineup of guest features, including Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, Meek Mill, JID, and more. French expressed his hope that the project would inspire his peers to release more mixtapes, citing a desire to revive the nostalgic mixtape culture in hip-hop.
I feel like I needed to get everything out the way then go back to the mixtape vibes.French explained in an interview with the Breakfast Club:”
- French Montana
I always try to go where the puck is going, not where the puck is at. I feel like the game needs mixtapes.”
- French Montana
With Mac & Cheese 5, French Montana aims to lead the resurgence of mixtape culture in the rap scene, channeling the energy of iconic mixtapes from artists like Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa. By offering multiple versions of his songs, he hopes to cater to diverse listener preferences while staying true to his musical roots.