East Atlanta Montana had an incredible journey to become the successful artist he is today. From living in a tough area in Atlanta, he was then involved in neighborhood gangs before turning his life around and rediscovering his passion for music. He may have had a rough start, but this rapper looks at the brighter things ahead of him.
East Atlanta Montana is a recording artist who grew up in an area in Atlanta known as Zone 6. He recalled, “It was a difficult neighborhood to grow up in. My mom made the best of it while raising four of us kids on her own. She even moved us to better areas to keep us out of trouble, but trouble still found me anyway.”
This young boy was in and out of detention centers. There was even a time when East Atlanta Montana got in trouble for recording music dissing rival gang members. This incident led to an altercation at school, and Montana was sent to a military program for six months. It was there that he turned his life around. Montana worked on his GED, and when he came back home, he formed a music group called Gwalla Boyz.
Gwalla Boyz gained popularity in Atlanta. They performed at various events and were even offered management and label contracts. But disagreements within the members of the group eventually made them go their separate ways. East Atlanta Montana and his brother CEO Mario kept the name Gwalla Boyz and started a promotion team instead. Together, they threw parties and organized events where several artists would perform. Many artists and musicians made connections in the music industry through Gwalla Boyz’s promotions and events.
The success of Gwalla Boyz meant that East Atlanta Montana and CEO Mario finally got a studio. They worked with their good friends Coca Vango and Lil Quill to create “Poppin’”, Montana’s first single. This song became a massive hit in Atlanta, and Montana started working on other songs. He collaborated with a high school friend and producer, ArmaunDidIt, to record the song 7. “That song is dedicated to my grandma. She liked to gamble, and her lucky numbers would be 777,” Montana shared. “After she passed, I kept seeing 777 everywhere. It turns out they were angel numbers, and I took that as a sign that recording songs was the right thing for me.”
Spurred on with this sign, East Atlanta Montana started recording more songs. The track “I’m Guwop,” which was also a collaboration with Lil Quill and ArmaunDidIt, garnered a lot of attention. Montana began doing shows in Atlanta, taking his team with him. Offers for deals and contracts started coming in. But he wished to remain independent. “I have a rags-to-riches story. I was sleeping in my car or on my friend’s couch. Then I was getting booked for paid shows and features. People started to love my music and learn who I was,” this artist shared.
Today, East Atlanta Montana has a solid global fanbase. He is currently working on music which he feels is his best work to date, saying, “No Handouts is a project where I celebrate the success I achieved without the help of any major labels. I only have my core team, who have been with me from the start. We are very loyal to each other and treat each other like family.”
East Atlanta Montana’s experience has given him a different perspective in life. “I don’t feel the need to compete with anybody. I try to be better than I was yesterday, and if I can take people with me on that journey of growth, then it’s all good.” He makes it a point to help people around him instead of judging them or putting them down. “I’ve been in the position where I needed a little help. That’s why I help other artists,” Montana shared.
In the future, this young artist wants to expand his music empire. East Atlanta Montana sees himself starting a label to mentor artists, producers, sound engineers, and camera crews. He also hopes to give back to his community.
East Atlanta Montana is a rapper and recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia. For updates on his music, you may visit his Instagram page.
