{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = MC4 | type = mixtape | artist = French Montana | cover = MC4CoverArt.jpg | alt = | released = November 5, 2016 | recorded = 2013–2016 | venue = | studio = | genre = Hip hop | length = 58:28 | label = {{hlist|Coke Boys|Bad Boy|Maybach|Epic}} | producer = {{hlist|Ben Billions|Bizzy|CritaCal|Cubeatz|DannyBoyStyles|Detail|DJ Khaled|DJ Khalil|Earl and E|Harry Fraud|iLLA|LJ Milan|Maaly Raw|Masar|Murda Beatz|Rick Steel|Sauce Lord Rich|Sidney Swift|The Alchemist|The ANMLS|The Mekanics|The Superiors}} | prev_title = Wave Gods | prev_year = 2016 | next_title = Jungle Rules | next_year = 2017 | misc = {{Singles | name = MC4 | type = mixtape | single1 = Figure It Out | single1date = May 6, 2016 | single2 = Lockjaw | single2date = May 27, 2016 | single3 = No Shopping | single3date = July 16, 2016 | single4 = Said N Done | single4date = August 5, 2016 | single5 = XPlicit | single5date = September 2, 2016 | single6 = Have Mercy | single6date = September 2, 2016 | single7 = 2 Times | single7date = September 2, 2016 | single8 = Brick Road | single8date = September 27, 2016 | single9 = Paid For | single9date = October 12, 2016 }} }} '''''MC4''''' (abbreviation for '''''Mac & Cheese 4''''') is the twenty-first mixtape by American rapper French Montana. ''MC4'' was originally intended to be released as his second studio album. It was released on November 5, 2016, by Coke Boys Records, Bad Boy Records, Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. However, the album's release was canceled after Target unofficially released the album on CD on its original release date of August 19, 2016, two months before the album was set to release, which was later leaked online in its entirety.<ref name="Scrapped">{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2016/10/french-montana-interview-cancel-mc4-donald-trump-max-b|title=French Montana ain't worried about scrapping 'MC4'|work=Complex|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> Subsequently, the album was heavily bootlegged. It was French Montana's last project released by Maybach Music Group before leaving the label.
MC4 is the fourth installment in the ''Mac & Cheese'' series, and was intended to be the first of the series to be released as an album. On November 5, 2016, Montana unexpectedly released the album as a mixtape instead and premiered it on Canadian rapper Drake's Beats 1 radio show, OVO Sound, later that night.
The mixtape features guest appearances from Kanye West, Miguel, Drake, Jeezy, ASAP Rocky, Kodak Black, Nas and Chinx. The album's production was handled by Harry Fraud, Murda Beatz, Detail, DJ Khalil, DannyBoyStyles and The Alchemist, among others.
==Release and promotion== On November 9, 2013, French Montana unveiled the original cover art for "Mac & Cheese 4" but had not specified whether it would be an album or a mixtape.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/french-montana-reveals-cover-art-for-mac-and-cheese-4-news.8080.html?image=3&gallery=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105074908/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/french-montana-reveals-cover-art-for-mac-and-cheese-4-news.8080.html?image=3&gallery=0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |title= French Montana Reveals Cover Art For ''Mac & Cheese 4'' |publisher=HotNewHipHop |date=November 10, 2013}}</ref> The rapper had recently released his debut album ''Excuse My French'' earlier that year. On January 8, 2014, in an interview with ''Rolling Stone'', he announced that MC4 would be his sophomore album dropping sometime later in the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/french-montana-working-with-kanye-macklemore-and-rick-ross-20140108 |title= French Montana Working With Kanye, Macklemore and Rick Ross |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=January 8, 2014}}</ref> On June 29, 2014, in an interview with MTV News at the 2014 BET Awards, French revealed that his second album would be dropping in November, and would include appearances from the likes of Kanye West, will.i.am and then-fellow Coke Boys members Lil Durk and Chinx.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1857663/kanye-west-french-montana-recording-together/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706161810/http://www.mtv.com/news/1857663/kanye-west-french-montana-recording-together/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 6, 2014 |title=Kanye West And French Montana Have Recorded 5 Tracks Together |publisher=MTV.com|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref>
On December 8, 2014, French announced that he and longtime record producer Harry Fraud would be releasing a collaborative EP titled ''Mac & Cheese: The Appetizer'', on December 16, 2014, to serve as a prequel to the upcoming album.<ref name="Appetizer">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2020401/french-montana-appetizer/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219073544/http://www.mtv.com/news/2020401/french-montana-appetizer/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 19, 2015 |title=French Montana Is Serving Up An Appetizer Before His Next Album |publisher=MTV.com|date=December 8, 2014}}</ref> Following delays, on December 19, French released ''Mac & Cheese: The Appetizer'', consisting of seven tracks, with Harry Fraud<ref name="Appetizer"/> On May 8, 2015, French released his twentieth mixtape, ''Casino Life 2''. On October 26, 2015, French and Fetty Wap released their collaborative mixtape, ''Coke Zoo''. French announced that his second album was pushed back for to an unspecified release sometime in 2016. On February 19, 2016, French released his twenty first mixtape, ''Wave Gods''.
===Unofficial release and original album leak=== The album was set to be released on August 19, 2016, however, French tweeted a couple days before the original release that the album was pushed back for "sample clearance issues".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/french-montana-mc4-release-date-delayed-7476158/|title=French Montana Pushes Back 'MC4' Release Date|magazine=Billboard }}</ref> However, the album was leaked in its entirety on August 19, 2016, on its original release date and two months before its new release date, due to Target unofficially releasing the album on CD despite the push back, which some people managed to get a hold of the album and release it on the internet as a leak, which was heavily bootlegged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/08/target-selling-french-montanas-mc4-pushback/|title=Target Caught Selling French Montana's 'MC4' Album Despite Pushback - XXL|date=19 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/52400-target-puts-french-montanas-mc4-out-for-sale-despite-album-delay-news|title=Target Puts French Montana's "MC4" Out For Sale Despite Album Delay|website=HNHH |date=20 August 2016 }}</ref> Later on August 24, 2016, the CEO of French's main label, Epic Records, L.A. Reid, later stated that French's statement that he posted on Twitter was false, and the album was delayed because of the lack of hype for it, and Reid wanted to add hype by pushing it back.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/08/la-reid-french-montana-mc4-album-pushed-back/|title=L.A. Reid Reveals Why French Montana's 'MC4' Album Was Really Pushed Back - XXL|date=24 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://djbooth.net/news/entry/2016-08-24-french-montana-mc4-delayed|title=French Montana Lied, "MC4" Wasn't Pushed Back Due to Sample Clearance - DJBooth Article|date=24 August 2016 }}</ref>
===Original cancellation and revival as a mixtape=== French cancelled the project on October 6, 2016 because of the unofficial Target release, the album's leak and some "sample clearance issues" on tracks like "I'm Heated" and "2 Times". However, he also mentioned that a couple of the songs on the album will appear on his next mixtape.<ref name="Scrapped"/> Despite the cancellation, the album has re-appeared on the iTunes Store for purchase as previously scheduled, but was again removed hours later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mc4/id1165305945|title=Mc4 by French Montana on Apple Music - iTunes|website=iTunes }}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/10/french-montana-mc4-itunes/|title=French Montana's 'MC4' Album Released on iTunes|date=14 October 2016 }}</ref> However, on November 5, 2016, Montana unexpectedly released the album as a mixtape instead and premiered it on Drake's Beats 1 radio show, OVO Sound radio later that night.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/48107-french-montana-mc4-new-mixtape|title=French Montana - MC4 - Download & Listen [New Mixtape]|work=hotnewhiphop.com|date=5 November 2016 |access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref>
==Track listing== Credits adapted from Tidal and BMI.<ref name="Tidal"> * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/66683662|title=Ready/Intro / French Montana|date=4 November 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/66683676|title=Play Yaself / French Montana|date=4 November 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/63027887|title=No Shopping / French Montana|date=16 July 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/64472272|title=2 Times / French Montana|date=2 September 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/66683782|title=Everytime / French Montana|date=4 November 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/63594870|title=Said N Done / French Montana|date=5 August 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/66683784|title=I'm Heated / French Montana|date=4 November 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/61260118|title=Lockjaw / French Montana|date=27 May 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/66683786|title=Check Come / French Montana|date=4 November 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/65398615|title=Brick Road / French Montana|date=27 September 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/63882292|title=Xplicit / French Montana|date=2 September 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/60137540|title=Figure it Out / French Montana|date=2 May 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/64472326|title=Have Mercy / French Montana|date=2 September 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}} * {{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/66683796|title=Chinx & Max/Paid For / French Montana|date=4 November 2016 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/StartPage.aspx|title=BMI {{!}} Repertoire Search|publisher=BMI|access-date=May 15, 2020|at=Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search".}}</ref>
{{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 58:28
| title1 = Ready (Intro) | writer1 = {{hlist|Karim Kharbouch|Leigh Elliott|Ahmad Balshe|Jason Quenneville|Danny Schofield|Abel Tesfaye|Gordon Sumner}} | extra1 = {{hlist|Lee Major|Foreign Teck{{ref|b|[b]}}}} | length1 = 4:38
| title2 = Play Yaself | writer2 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Rory Quigley|Peter Morén|John Eriksson|Björn Yttling}} | extra2 = Harry Fraud | length2 = 4:28
| title3 = No Shopping | note3 = featuring Drake | writer3 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Shane Lindstrom|Tim Gomringer|Kevin Gomringer|Aubrey Graham}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Murda Beatz|Cubeatz{{ref|a|[a]}}}} | length3 = 3:47
| title4 = 2 Times | writer4 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Jamaal Henry|Mary Brockert|Allen McGrier}} | extra4 = {{hlist|Maaly Raw|CritaCal}} | length4 = 3:46
| title5 = Everytime | note5 = featuring Jeezy | writer5 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Earl Hood|Eric Goudy II|Larry Norton|Jay Jenkins}} | extra5 = Earl & E | length5 = 2:30
| title6 = Said N Done | note6 = featuring ASAP Rocky | writer6 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Hood|Goudy II|Rakim Mayers|Mary Cross|Johnnie Frierson}} | extra6 = Earl & E | length6 = 3:05
| title7 = I'm Heated | writer7 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Sidney Swift|Mark Morales|Damon Wimbley}} | extra7 = Swift | length7 = 3:36
| title8 = Lockjaw | note8 = featuring Kodak Black | writer8 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Benjamin Diehl|Khaled Khaled|Assil Youssef|Dieuson Octave}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Ben Billions|Yo Asel}} | length8 = 3:42
| title9 = Check Come | writer9 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Fisher|Swift|Joe Campion}} | extra9 = {{hlist|Detail|Swift|Campion}} | length9 = 5:37
| title10 = Brick Road | writer10 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Quigley|Fred Lowinger|Russ Mitkowski|Judson Nielsen}} | extra10 = Harry Fraud | length10 = 2:51
| title11 = Xplicit | note11 = featuring Miguel | writer11 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Schofield|Miguel Pimentel|Diehl|Brandon Hollemon|Balshe}} | extra11 = {{hlist|DannyBoyStyles|Ben Billions}} | length11 = 3:40
| title12 = Figure It Out | note12 = featuring Kanye West and Nas | writer12 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Kanye West|Nasir Jones|Khalil Abdul-Rahman|Erik Alcock}} | extra12 = {{hlist|DJ Khalil|Rick Steel}} | length12 = 4:01
| title13 = Have Mercy | note13 = featuring Beanie Sigel, Jadakiss and Styles P | writer13 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Dwight Grant|Jason Phillips|David Styles|Ray Fraser|Khaled|Junior Brown|Roderick Harvey|Earl Lynch|Danny McKen|George Scarlett|Wendy Stewart|Headley Bennett|Huford Brown|Lloyd Ferguson|Robert Lyn|Roy Donat|Leroy Sibbles|Fitzroy Simpson|Mary Brockert|Allen McGrier}} | extra13 = {{hlist|Illa|DJ Khaled}} | length13 = 6:47
| title14 = Chinx & Max / Paid For | note14 = featuring Max B and Chinx | writer14 = {{hlist|Kharbouch|Alcock|Lorne Milan|Sidney Reynolds|Javon Reynolds|Charly Wingate|Lionel Pickens}} | extra14 = {{hlist|Part 1 produced by The Superiors|LJ Milan|Rick Steel<br>Part 2 produced by Harry Fraud|The Alchemist|Masar{{ref|b|[b]}}}} | length14 = 9:06 }}
'''Notes''' * {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer * "Xplicit" is stylized as "XPlicit"
'''Sample credits''' * "Ready (Intro)" contains a sample from "Belong to the World", written by Abel Tesfaye, Danny Schofield, Ahmad Balshe, and Jason Quenneville, and performed by The Weeknd. * "Check Come" contains samples from the viral video "Pranking My African Dad" made by British Nigerian YouTube personality Eman Kellam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/11/05/french-montana-pranking-my-african-dad|title=French Montana Features "Pranking My African Dad" Video On MC4|work=thefader.com|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{French Montana}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2016 mixtape albums Category:French Montana mixtape albums Category:Sequel albums Category:Albums produced by Murda Beatz Category:Albums produced by Detail (record producer) Category:Albums produced by Harry Fraud Category:Albums produced by DJ Khalil Category:Albums produced by the Alchemist (musician) Category:Albums produced by Cubeatz Category:Maybach Music Group mixtape albums Category:Bad Boy Records mixtape albums Category:Epic Records mixtape albums