Moroccan-born rapper French Montana has earned a nomination at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, competing for Best Collaboration alongside some of the biggest names in global music.
French Montana and American rapper Max B were nominated for their track “Ever Since U Left Me,” released in January as part of their joint project Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos.
The nomination puts the pair in a field that includes collaborations involving Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice, as well as Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter, Shakira and Burna Boy, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, and Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye.
Released on Jan. 23, “Ever Since U Left Me” served as a lead track from Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos, continuing the long-running Coke Wave collaboration between French Montana and Max B. The song draws heavily on the New York hip-hop sound associated with the pair.
For French Montana, the nomination adds another international accolade to a career that has taken the Casablanca-born artist from Morocco to the upper ranks of the American hip-hop industry.
Born Karim Kharbouch in Casablanca, French Montana moved with his family to the United States as a teenager and built his career in New York. He later became known internationally through hits and collaborations with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and pop.
Major stars compete at the 2026 VMAs
French Montana’s nomination comes in a crowded edition of the MTV VMAs featuring leading artists from across pop, hip-hop and other international music genres.
Madonna leads the 2026 nominations with 11, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations.
Madonna and Swift are also among the contenders in major categories including Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, alongside artists including Grande, Bruno Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen.
The nominations also feature artists from an increasingly international field. Shakira and Nigerian star Burna Boy are competing in Best Collaboration with “Dai Dai,” while BTS, BLACKPINK and LISA are among the acts represented in the K-pop categories.
This year’s nominations also include 26 artists receiving their first-ever VMA nod.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are scheduled for Sept. 27 in Los Angeles, with public voting in several categories remaining open until Sept. 25.
