French Montana, Slide | Track Review

French Montana, assisted by Blueface and Lil TJay, assemble a respectable banger with “Slide,” yet fail to be innovative or transcendent in the process.

French Montana has returned ladies and gentlemen! The Moroccan-American rapper has produced a few notable hits throughout his career (“Pop That” and “Unforgettable” among them), though artistically continues to lack a truly distinct style.  While his new single “Slide” doesn’t erect that distinct persona either, it is an interesting song to say the least, featuring contributions from Blueface and Lil TJay.

Following an intro performed by Blueface and French Montana, Lil TJay performs the pre-chorus, in a melodic, pop-rap style: “Won’t you bust it for a real nigga / Slim thick lil butt, but it feel bigger  / I know you just a lil problem, I can deal with ya / I know you just a lil problem, I can deal with ya.” Hmm, okay. French Montana follows, performing the chorus, which ultimately contains little substance:

“All night gettin’ shmizzed, all night gettin’ high

Hell to the yeah to the mothafuckin’ Y

Bitch slide (Bitch, slide)

Slide (Bitch slide)

Bitch, slide (Bitch, slide)

Bitch, slide (Bitch, slide)…”

Lil TJay and French Montana join forces for the first verse. It’s definitely odd, but there is a notable contrast in sound between the two. Lil TJay is more melodic on the first half of the verse (“Mama, don’t be scared, you can let me inside”), while Montana is edgier on the second half (“Had to tell the ho bitch I don’t love her”). Later, Lil TJay performs the majority of the second verse himself, encompassing sex, drugs, and etc. There’s a bridge performed by Montana post-second verse, featuring a contrasting backdrop (samples Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa”) – it’s completely different from anything else:

“What’s up with this Coke wave? What’s up with the crew

Is that nigga still in jail

What the nigga do?”

Following the bridge, and reiterations of the pre-chorus, and chorus, Blueface, in all his uniqueness, performs the third verse: “Two dicks on me, a cock and a big Glock / Reach for my piece like openin’ your eyes in Bird Box / Gunshots / Start a track meet / 40 clack like some sandals when it’s ‘slide’ feet.”

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, “Slide” is enjoyable enough but certainly non-innovative. The production is respectable, but not game-changing.  The rhymes are chocked-full of clichés heard in rap time and time again. The form is definitely odd with a few twists and turns but it ultimately lays better the second listen. French Montana may have a hit on his hands, albeit ‘old hat’ as they say.

French Montana • Slide (Ft. Blueface & Lil TJay) [Single] • Epic • Release: 4.16.19

Photo Credit: Epic