Montana of 300

Walter Anthony "Tony" Bradford (born March 3, 1989),[1] better known by his stage name Montana of 300 (or simply Montana), is an American rapper, singer and songwriter from Peoria, Illinois. His debut studio album, Fire in the Church, was released on May 20, 2016. He is best known for his rap style, incorporating trap, R&B, and drill beats, while also making remixes to hit songs that, like his originals, often include religious subtext.

Montana of 300
Background information
Birth nameWalter Anthony Bradford
Also known as
  • Montana
  • Tony
Born (1989-03-03) March 3, 1989
Peoria, Illinois, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2009–present
Labels
Associated acts
  • Talley of 300
  • $avage
  • No Fatigue
  • J Real
  • Jalyn Sanders
  • Kevin Gates
  • Don D
Websitemontana300.com

Since releasing Fire in the Church, Montana has committed to releasing an album every year on May 20. The significance of the date is unknown. His third album, Don't Doubt the God, was released on May 20, 2017, and his fourth album, Pray 4 the Devil, was released on May 20, 2018, and his fifth album, Views from the General's Helmet, was released on May 20, 2019.

Early life

Tony Bradford was born on March 3, 1989 in Peoria, Illinois. He has two brothers and three sisters.[2] He started rapping at age 15, and grew up listening to artists such as 2Pac, DMX, Lil Wayne and Jay Z.[3][4] Both his parents suffered from serious substance abuse issues, his father from alcohol and his mother from crack cocaine. After witnessing his parents' struggles, Montana ceased using narcotics, not wanting to "fry his brain."[5]

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".[6]

Career

In 2014, Montana released his first mixtape titled, Cursed with a Blessing. In September 2015, Montana made a cameo appearance in the popular television show, Empire.[7] In December 2015, Montana and Talley of 300 released a collaborative mixtape titled Gunz and Roses. Staples of this tape included "FGE Cypher" and "Mf's Mad".

On May 20, 2016, Montana released his debut studio album, titled 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".[8] The album peaked at #95 on the Billboard 200.

On February 10, 2017, Montana released a compilation album with his Fly Guy labelmates, titled No Surrender No Retreat.[9]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[10]		 US
R&B/HH
[11]		 US
Rap
[12]		 US
Ind.
[13]
Fire in the Church[14] 957211
Don't Doubt the God
  • Released: May 20, 2017
  • Label: Fly Guy Entertainment, E1 Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 ——422
Pray for the Devil
  • Released: May 20, 2018
  • Label: Fly Guy Entertainment, E1 Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 ——337
A Gun in the Teacher's Desk
  • Released: November 16, 2018
  • Label: Fly Guy Entertainment, E1 Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 ——10—
Views from the General's Helmet
  • Released: May 20, 2019
  • Label: Fly Guy Entertainment, E1 Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
 ———

Mixtapes
List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Details
Cursed With a Blessing[15]
  • Released: December 1, 2014
  • Label: Fly Guy Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download
Gunz n Roses[16]
(with Talley of 300)
  • Released: December 2, 2015
  • Label: TSO Records
  • Format: Digital download

Compilation album
Title Details
No Surrender No Retreat[17]
(with Fly Guy Entertainment)
  • Released: February 10, 2017
  • Label: Fly Guy Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download

As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Derrick Rose MVP Song"[18] 2011 Non-album single
"Ice Cream Truck"[19][20] 2014 Cursed With a Blessing
"Gas Mask"[21]
(with Talley of 300)		 2015 Gunz n Roses
"Nothing New"[22]
(with Talley of 300)
"You Know"[23]
(with Talley of 300)
"Mf's Mad, Pt. 2"[24]
(featuring Talley of 300)		 2016 Fire in the Church
"Land of the Dark"[25]
"Here Now"[26]
"Wts Now"[27]
"Dirty Dancin'"[28] 2017 Don't Doubt the God
"Ugly" 2018 Pray for the Devil
"Chiraq vs. NY"
"Been a Beast" 2018 A Gun in the Teacher's Desk
"Dip-n-Sauce"
List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Bad Combo"[29]
(Nasty Nem featuring Montana of 300)		 2014 Non-album single
"Black On Black Everything"[30][31]
(Talley Of 300 featuring Montana of 300)		 Thanksgiving
"Upstate RockStar"[32]
(Locx featuring Montana of 300)		 2015 Non-album singles
"Stephen Curry"[33]
(J Real featuring Montana of 300)
"Black Out"[34]
(Jax Teller featuring Montana of 300)		 Just Another Crazy Kraka
"Like Me"[35]
(Jewelz Montalvo featuring Montana of 300, Abbie and Tatiana Carrion)		 2016 Non-album singles
"Come Up"[36]
(Innocent featuring Montana of 300)		 2017

Filmography
Television series
YearTitleRoleNotes
2015Empire[37]Jamming PrisonerEpisode: "Without a Country"
2017The Quad[38]DredsEpisode: "Pilot"

References
  2. "What Makes so Many People Listen to Montana of 300?". Noisey. March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  3. "Interview: Montana of 300". Fact. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  4. "Montana Of 300: 9 Albums That Changed My Life". Tidal. March 21, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  5. "Montana 300 on Growing Up in Chicago; His Name; His Mother". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  6. "Montana of 300". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  7. Donaldson, Erich. "Snitch B*tch: Empire's Fake Songs Are Becoming Real Hits". Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  8. Zonyee, Dominique. "Montana of 300 Goes Deep on 'Fire in the Church' Album". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  9. "Montana of 300 Reveals Tracklist For 'No Surrender, No Retreat'". Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  10. "Montana of 300 - Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  11. "Montana of 300 - Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  12. "Montana of 300 - Chart History: Top Rap Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  13. "Montana of 300 - Chart History: Top Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  14. "Stream Montana Of 300's Album "Fire In The Church"". HotNewHipHop. May 20, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  15. "Montana Of 300 – Cursed With A Blessing [Mixtape]". OnSMASH. December 1, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  16. "Gunz n Roses by Montana of 300 & Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  17. "No Surrender No Retreat by Various Artists". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  18. "Derrick Rose MVP Song - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  19. "Ice Cream Truck - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  20. "Watch Montana of 300's "Ice Cream Truck" Video". Complex. November 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  21. "Gas Mask - Single by Montana of 300 & Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  22. "Nothin New - Single by Montana of 300 & Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  23. "You Know - Single by Montana of 300 & Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  24. "Mf's Mad, Pt. 2 (feat. Talley Of 300) - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  25. "Land of the Dark - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  26. "Here Now - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  27. "Wts Now - Single by Montana of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  28. "Dirty Dancin' - Single". iTunes. iTunes.
  29. "Bad Combo (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by Nasty Nem". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  30. "Black On Black Everything (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by Talley Of 300". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  31. "Talley of 300 ft. Montana of 300 - B.O.B.E. - shot by @ElectroFlying1". ElectroFlying1. October 24, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  32. "Upstate RockStar (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by Locx". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  33. "Stephen Curry (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by J Real". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  34. "Black out (feat. Montana Of 300) - Single by Jax Teller". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  35. "Like Me (feat. Montana of 300, Abbie & Tatiana Carrion) - Single by Jewelz Montalvo". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  36. "Come Up (feat. Montana of 300) - Single by Innocent". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  37. ""Empire" Without a Country (TV Episode 2015) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  38. ""The Quad" Pilot (TV Episode 2017) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
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