It’s been a big year for French Montana as his single, “Unforgettable” made it in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. With his sophomore effort Jungle Rules out now, the Bronx rapper recently took a trip to Morrocco where he did a photo shoot that would soon grace the cover of Paper Magazine’s August 2017 issue.

Taking place a week after Jungle Rules’ release, French Montana talked about how Max B going to jail affected his music career, his views on going platinum with no features, whether or not dating a high profile celebrity elevated his career, and much more.

On Max B’s incarceration affecting his early music career:

It was like a little black cloud I had to get out of. I really felt it because, if you’re hot in the streets you’re not hot on the airwaves. I had to just keep making better music, better and better. Media, you can buy it. You can’t buy real love. The more you sharpen your knife the better you’re going to cut that tree. One war you can never lose is the music

On going platinum with no features:

Who sits there thinking about weird shit like [going platinum with no features]?” he says, incredulous. “Those people who put albums out by themselves are weirdos. Music is about having fun. If I’m chilling with A$AP 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.”

Paper Magazine’s August 2017 is available digitally and can be purchased here.