Montana of 300

Montana of 300
Birth name Walter Anthony Bradford
Also known as Montana
Born (1989-03-03) March 3, 1989
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active 2009–present
Labels
Associated acts
  • Talley of 300
  • J Real
  • $avage
  • No Fatigue
  • Jalyn Sanders
  • Kevin Gates
Website montana300.com

Walter Anthony Bradford (born March 3, 1989),[1][2] better known professionally as Montana of 300 (or simply Montana), is an American rapper and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. His debut studio album, Fire in the Church, which was released in May 2016, peaked at number 95 on the Billboard 200. His rap style is best known for its extensive use of metaphors and complex lyrics set to versatile trap, R&B, and drill beats, while also making remixes to hit songs that, like his originals, often include religious subtext.

Early life

Walter Anthony Bradford was born on March 3, 1989 in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Peoria, Illinois. He has seven brothers and three sisters.[3] He started rapping at age 15, and grew up listening to artists such as Tupac, DMX, Lil Wayne and Jay Z.[4][5] Both his parents suffered from serious substance abuse issues, the father from alcohol and the mother from crack cocaine. After witnessing his parents' struggles, Montana ceased using narcotics, not wanting to "fry his brain."[6]

In 2008, Montana, his friend from high school, Montelle Talley (known professionally as "Talley of 300"), as well as several others joined together to form the rap group "300". The name for the group was based on the movie of the same name, in which a group of 300 Spartans overcome more than 300,000 Persian Soldiers to hold on to their territory. Montana was particularly inspired by the line, "No Surrender, No Retreat, Only the hard, only the strong, Against all odds".[7] Although the group has disbanded, Montana and Talley still keep the "300" moniker in their stage-names and 300's music is still accessible on YouTube and Myspace.[8]

Career

Soon, Montana decided to do his own remixes of popular rap songs. As an increasingly larger audience began to listen to his music, his popularity grew, and some of his remixes, including "Chiraq" and "Panda" have gained millions of views on YouTube.[9]

In 2014, Montana released his first mixtape entitled, Cursed with a Blessing. The tape, which included popular songs such as "Ice Cream Truck" produced by Jay Storm, "Holy Ghost" produced by Daquan and "Fuck Her Brains Out" produced by Dami Tha Prince, was positively received by critics, who lauded his lyricism and powerful messages.[10]

In September 2015, Montana made a cameo appearance in the popular television show, Empire.[11] In December 2015, Montana and Talley of 300 released a collaborative mixtape entitled Gunz and Roses. Staples of this tape included "FGE Cypher" and "Mf's Mad".

On May 27, 2016, Montana released his debut studio album, entitled Fire in the Church. The 18-track release, which only included features from his Fly Guy Entertainment labelmates and Kevin Gates, was lauded by XXL magazine for its "heat-seeking bars and thought-provoking metaphors".[12] The album peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200.

On February 11, 2017, Montana released a compilation album with his Fly Guy labelmates, entitled No Surrender No Retreat. [13]

On May 20, 2017, Montana released his 2nd solo studio album Don't Doubt the God. [14]

Personal life

Montana has two sons.[15]

On May 17, 2017, Montana revealed to fans via his Facebook and Instagram account that he was in jail in an undisclosed location.[16] He did not give a reason for his arrest, but told fans to purchase his forthcoming album "Don't Doubt the God," which was released on May 20, 2017. He was eventually released July 1, 2017.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[17]		 US
R&B/HH
[18]		 US
Rap
[19]		 US
Ind.
[20]
Fire in the Church[21] 95 7 4 11
Don't Doubt the God — — — 22
Pray For the Devil — — — —

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Details
Cursed With a Blessing[22]
  • Released: December 1, 2014
  • Label: Fly Guy Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download
Gunz n Roses[23]
(with Talley of 300)
  • Released: December 2, 2015
  • Label: TSO Records
  • Format: Digital download

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected details
Title Details
No Surrender No Retreat[24]
(with Fly Guy Entertainment)
  • Released: February 10, 2017
  • Label: Fly Guy Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Derrick Rose MVP Song"[25] 2011 Non-album single
"Ice Cream Truck"[26][27] 2014 Cursed With a Blessing
"Gas Mask"[28]
(with Talley of 300)		 2015 Gunz n Roses
"Nothing New"[29]
(with Talley of 300)
"You Know"[30]
(with Talley of 300)
"Mf's Mad, Pt. 2"[31]
(featuring Talley of 300)		 2016 Fire in the Church
"Land of the Dark"[32]
"Here Now"[33]
"Wts Now"[34]
"Dirty Dancin'"[35] 2017 Don't Doubt the God
List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Bad Combo"[36]
(Nasty Nem featuring Montana of 300)		 2014 Non-album single
"Black On Black Everything"[37][38]
(Talley Of 300 featuring Montana of 300)		 Thanksgiving
"Upstate RockStar"[39]
(Locx featuring Montana of 300)		 2015 Non-album singles
"Stephen Curry"[40]
(J Real featuring Montana of 300)
"Black Out"[41]
(Jax Teller featuring Montana of 300)		 Just Another Crazy Kraka
"Like Me"[42]
(Jewelz Montalvo featuring Montana of 300, Abbie and Tatiana Carrion)		 2016 Non-album singles
"Come Up"[43]
(Innocent featuring Montana of 300)		 2017

Filmography

Television series
Year Title Role Notes
2015 Empire[44] Jamming Prisoner Episode: "Without a Country"

References

  1. ↑ "Montana of 300 Arrested For Gun Possession During Traffic Stop". Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Montana of 300". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  3. ↑ "What Makes so Many People Listen to Montana of 300?". Noisey. March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Interview: Montana of 300". Fact. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Montana Of 300: 9 Albums That Changed My Life". Tidal. March 21, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Montana 300 on Growing Up in Chicago; His Name; His Mother". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Montana of 300". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  8. ↑ 300. "World of 300". Myspace.
  9. ↑ "Montana of 300 Artist Bio". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  10. ↑ Pulaski, Steve. "Cursed With a Blessing by Montana of 300 Review". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Donaldson, Erich. "Snitch B*tch: Empire’s Fake Songs Are Becoming Real Hits". Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  12. ↑ Zonyee, Dominique. "Montana of 300 Goes Deep on ‘Fire in the Church’ Album". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Montana of 300 Reveals Tracklist For ‘No Surrender, No Retreat’". Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  14. ↑ Gebremeriem, Mereb. "Exclusive! Montana of 300 on Chicago Artists & Radio DJs Hating on Him". Retrieved 1 January 2018. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  15. ↑ "Montana Of 300 Searches For A Higher Purpose In Life On “Here Now”". Vibe. April 1, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  16. ↑ KollegeKiddStaff. "Montana of 300 Tells Fans He Is In Jail". Kollege Kidd. Kollege Kidd.
  17. ↑ "Montana of 300 - Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Montana of 300 - Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Montana of 300 - Chart History: Top Rap Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Montana of 300 - Chart History: Top Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Stream Montana Of 300's Album "Fire In The Church"". HotNewHipHop. May 20, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Montana Of 300 – Cursed With A Blessing [Mixtape]". OnSMASH. December 1, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Gunz n Roses by Montana of 300 & Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  24. ↑ "No Surrender No Retreat by Various Artists". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Derrick Rose MVP Song - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Ice Cream Truck - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Watch Montana of 300's "Ice Cream Truck" Video". Complex. November 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Gas Mask - Single by Montana of 300 & Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Nothin New - Single by Montana of 300 & Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  30. ↑ "You Know - Single by Montana of 300 & Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Mf's Mad, Pt. 2 (feat. Talley Of 300) - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Land of the Dark - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Here Now - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Wts Now - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Dirty Dancin' - Single". iTunes. iTunes.
  36. ↑ "Bad Combo (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by Nasty Nem". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Black On Black Everything (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Talley of 300 ft. Montana of 300 - B.O.B.E. - shot by @ElectroFlying1". ElectroFlying1. October 24, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Upstate RockStar (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by Locx". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  40. ↑ "Stephen Curry (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by J Real". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Black out (feat. Montana Of 300) - Single by Jax Teller". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Like Me (feat. Montana of 300, Abbie & Tatiana Carrion) - Single by Jewelz Montalvo". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  43. ↑ "Come Up (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by Innocent". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  44. ↑ ""Empire" Without a Country (TV Episode 2015) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
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