French Montana - They Got Amnesia

They Got Amnesia is a confession. By placing "ICU" at the top of the tracklist, French Montana isn't trying to seduce; he's documenting. This fourth studio album, released on November 19, 2021, by Epic, is constructed like a post-traumatic reconstruction, where survival becomes the raw material for production. Between the albums CB5 (2020) and Montega (2022), this record of 21 tracks with a total runtime of 1 hour and 1 minute marks a turning point: the Moroccan-American rapper exposes unprecedented vulnerability, inspired by his intensive care unit stay in November 2019. The cover itself, born from this experience, transforms illness into aesthetics, laying the groundwork for an album where every featured voice serves to temper the autobiographical shock.

ICU: The Sonic Diagnosis of Survival

The album's opening immediately establishes a clinical and introspective tone. "ICU," the first track on the list, is not merely an introduction; it sets up a sonic foundation that defines the overall direction of the project. Far from the usual fanfare of commercial rap, this song grounds the listener in the reality of a fragile body. The production, handled by French Montana himself alongside a wide roster of producers including Diddy, Hitmaka, and Cardiak, favors an artistic vision marked by this hospital experience. This approach allows the artist to build immediate trust with his audience, based on transparency rather than exhibitionism. It is here that the album's uniqueness comes into play: it does not tell a story, but presents a diagnosis.

Touch The Sky: melody as vocal shield

Five tracks in, "Touch The Sky" executes an essential melodic shift. The joint presence of John Legend and Rick Ross illustrates the intent to blend varied voices, contributing to the collaborative aspect praised by critics. This pairing places a soul singer and a rap veteran face-to-face on the same track, creating a contrast that softens the direct tone of the main rapper. John Legend's contribution adds melodic depth that acts as a vocal shield against the intensity of the autobiographical lyrics.

Stuck in The Jungle: the raw energy of generational crossovers

The central beat of the album finds its impact point on "Stuck in The Jungle". The collaboration between Pop Smoke and Lil Durk amplifies the track's energy and fits into the intergenerational dynamic highlighted by critics. Pop Smoke's posthumous voice, recorded before the project's release, coexists with Lil Durk's flow to form a powerful duo that contrasts sharply with the melodic softness of previous tracks. This injection of raw energy illustrates the dialogue between generations in the mix: the street's roughness complements the other's rhythmic precision to offer a more aggressive breath within the work. It serves as a constant reminder of the tragic context of the time, where early artist mortality is a poignant reality on the hip-hop scene, yet also proof that sonic heritage continues to resonate in recording studios.

Handstand and Striptease: The Diversification of Timbres

The sonic palette expands through "Handstand" and "Striptease." On the first track, the addition of Doja Cat and Saweetie brings a melodic dimension and a vocal contrast that contributes to the balance between direct rap and softer tone discussed in the reviews. These two female voices introduce fluidity that breaks the rhythmic rigidity of the preceding tracks. Later, "Striptease" features Ty Dolla $ign and Latto, highlighting the diversity of guest profiles, ranging from rappers to singer-producers. This mosaic of vocal timbres confirms the eclectic nature of the project: each guest brings a specific texture that avoids monotony in an album where twenty out of twenty-one tracks include featuring.

FWMGAB (Remix): The Final Rhythmic Convergence

The album's closure is entrusted to "FWMGAB (Remix) [Bonus]," where Moneybagg Yo's feature adds another layer to this series of varied collaborations. This bonus track acts as a final rhythmic convergence point, recapitulating the energy accumulated throughout the record without falling back into repetition. The choice to end on this remix rather than the original title "FWMGAB" (track 3) underscores the importance accorded to the collaborative and evolutionary dimension of the project. This structure, which begins with a clinical diagnosis and ends with a shared rhythmic explosion, reflects the reconstruction journey proposed by French Montana.

The collaboration with Rick Ross on "Touch The Sky" fits into a historical continuity between the two artists, who had already shared the studio on several tracks from Excuse My French (2013), including "Trap House," "Pop That," and "Marble Floors." This repetition testifies to enduring trust that spans the rapper's discography. Similarly, the association with Kodak Black on "Mopstick" extends a dynamic initiated as early as MONTANA (2019), where the duo had already collaborated on the tracks "Lifestyle" and "Lockjaw." These precedents reinforce the coherence of the current lineup. The production, handled by French Montana alongside Diddy, Hitmaka, and Cardiak, also relies on an extensive network including BoogzDaBeast, Butterbeats, Harry Fraud, and Tay Keith. This diversity of sonic approaches allows it to support the narrative density of the album. The album was updated on November 23, 2021, to integrate an additional appearance by Tory Lanez, thereby slightly altering the balance of the featurings initially announced during the tracklist reveal on November 8, 2021. With a score of 71/100 average on Metacritic, it benefits from generally positive critical reception that highlights its balance between vulnerability and rhythmic power. If Drake's absence on "Splash Brothers," which was removed at his request following the Astroworld incidents, deprives the album of an initially planned collaboration, the density of the other guests largely compensates for this omission. Between CB5 (2020) and Montega (2022), this 21-track project demonstrates that survival can become a major creative source, transforming personal experience into universal musical language.

Technical Specifications

- Release Date: November 19, 2021 - Record Label: Epic - Tracklist: 21 tracks (1 hour 01 minute) - Opening / Closing Track: ICU / FWMGAB (Remix) [Bonus] - Guest Appearances: John Legend, Rick Ross, Kodak Black, Pop Smoke, Lil Durk, Doja Cat, Saweetie, Fivio Foreign, Fabolous, Coi Leray, 42 Dugg, Ty Dolla $ign … - Previous Album: CB5 (2020)