Born in Morocco in 1984, Kharbouch immigrated to New York City at age 13. His early years were defined by significant struggle:

: He arrived speaking only Arabic and French, which led to the nickname "French".

: His father left the family shortly after arriving, leaving his mother, Khadija, to raise three sons alone in the South Bronx.

: In 2003, he survived a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head, an event he cites as a major turning point for his focus on music. 🎤 Building an Empire