Bronx rapper French Montana has been tapped by Diddy to join his Bad Boy Records empire. The veteran hip-hop impresario made the announcement on BET's '106 & Park' Thursday (Dec. 8).

The 27-year-old rhymer walked onto the video countdown show set wearing a fur vest and four glittering chains dangling from his neck. When host Rosci asked Diddy why he chose to recruit Montana to his imprint, which also finds Machine Gun Kelly as a recent signee, he went into a detailed explanation.

"It's obvious," Diddy stated. "His work ethic, his song-making, the effect he has on the youngins. If you ever been to one of his shows, every time he drops a record. Also, it's important, I'm from New York, you know what I'm saying. I rep New York to the fullest. And for real, for real, can't nothing move in this city without us being a part of it."

French Montana, touted as a street rapper known for his tracks 'Choppa Choppa Down' and 'Shot Caller,' as well as collaborations with Fat Joe on 'Welcome to the Darkside' and Waka Flocka Flame on 'Hell on Earth 2K11,' had offers from labels like Maybach Music Group, among other imprints, but chose Bad Boy because of its hometown legacy.

"Man, I really feel real, real, real good, how New York feel right now, you know," he explained. "That's why I kept it here in New York. I ain't wanna go nowhere else. Why would I take my talent to South Beach."

As for Diddy getting the rhymer to sign on the dotted line, Montana said his honesty is what drew him to make the final decision. "He told me a couple things and never really like, lied to be about nothin', like really just kept his word about everything he tried to do," he said.

After the big news, the visuals for 'Shot Caller,' which features cameos from N.O.R.E., Busta Rhymes, DJ Camilo, Diddy and Fat Joe, were also debuted on '106 & Park.'


Watch French Montana's 'Shot Caller'


Watch 'The Life and Career of Sean Diddy Combs'

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