Montana Montana Montana Is Turning a Decade of West Coast Music Into a Lasting Business

Photo credit: Provided by Montana Montana Montana

With more than a decade in independent West Coast hip-hop, Montana Montana Montana has created far more than just a body of work. His catalog encompasses many years of relationships, collaborations, business decisions, and experiences that began in Bakersfield and eventually connected him with artists and networks across California and beyond.

After establishing himself through releases such as J Diggs Presents Really Not a Rapper and Put My City On, Montana continued building an independent catalog through collaborations with artists including J-Diggs, Philthy Rich, Mistah F.A.B., Joe Blow, Sleep Dank, Dubee, Da’ Unda’ Dogg, Jay Rock and Gucci Mane. Along the way, 925five Records became the foundation for a career built around ownership and independence. That history now provides the backdrop for Montana’s return to releasing music.

A West Coast Catalog Built Over Time

Montana’s connection to the Bay Area became an important part of his development, particularly through his relationship with J-Diggs and the wider Thizz Entertainment and Thizz Nation ecosystem associated with the legacy of Mac Dre. The experience gave Montana a closer look at the independent West Coast infrastructure he had admired growing up.

His 2014 debut, J Diggs Presents Really Not a Rapper, brought together a lineup that included J-Diggs, Philthy Rich, D-Lo, Messy Marv, Joe Blow, AP.9, Fed-X, San Quinn and J. Stalin. The project introduced Montana to a wider audience while establishing the #RNAR identity that would continue through subsequent releases.

A year later, Montana expanded his focus with the 21-track Put My City On, bringing together artists including Tree Choppa, Boss Hogg, Nutzo, Big Fame, Jay Aubrey and the 925 Crew. The project also featured “Bakersfield Legend,” reinforcing the connection between his growing West Coast presence and the city that shaped him.

Montana Montana Montana’s catalog continued to develop through Lovie Johnson and multiple installments of Really Not a Rapper. His collaborations also reached beyond Northern California. Working with Jay Rock connected him with another branch of the West Coast scene, while his collaboration with Gucci Mane on “M.A.C.” brought a different national dimension to his catalog.

Building 925five Beyond the Music

As Montana’s catalog grew, so did his understanding of what it meant to maintain an independent career. Through 925five Records, he has worked to keep his music connected to an organization he controls while navigating partnerships with companies including T-Team, City Hall Records, Rapbay/Urbanlife, Black Market Records, and EMPIRE. 

Montana has paid close attention to his masters, publishing, distribution, and the information attached to his releases, recognizing that a long career creates value beyond the release of an individual song or album. The goal is to keep the business side organized without allowing it to overshadow the music. 925five remains the home base, while outside partnerships provide opportunities to place his catalog and new releases in front of wider audiences.

Returning With a Different Perspective

After years of releasing music, Montana Montana Montana stepped away from dropping at the same pace as he did earlier in his career. Time away allowed him to view his music and the identity he built from a different perspective. His return now brings those experiences back and continues the #RNAR story with more life behind it.

“I’m not trying to become a new artist,” Montana says. “I’m trying to make the strongest current version of the artist I already built.”

The Next Chapter of #RNAR

Montana Montana Montana’s next phase will include Really Not a Rapper 7, which is coming out soon. This album adds to a series that has defined Montana in many ways but gives him room to change the sound and lyrical content based on the past 12 years since the first installment.

New records such as “Hella Nogal” reconnect Montana to his Bakersfield roots behind 925five; on the other hand, “Drunk Song” offers a more radio-friendly side to his current material. Together, the records reflect an artist who is returning with more history, more perspective and a larger vision for what comes next.

For Montana Montana Montana, a return to music is connected to everything that came before it: Bakersfield, the West Coast relationships that shaped his career, a catalog built independently, years away from releasing, and the continued development of 925five Records.

Before the release of Really Not a Rapper 7, check out Montana Montana Montana’s other records below: