Suprême NTM, a pivotal gem in the crown of French hip hop, blazed onto the scene in 1989 from the vibrant Seine-Saint-Denis département. At its core, the group consists of the powerhouse duo Joey Starr (Didier Morville) and Kool Shen (Bruno Lopes), whose lyrical prowess and edgy beats catapulted them to the apex of the industry. As signees under Sony Music Entertainment, they released six seminal albums that would leave an indelible mark on music history.
The name Suprême NTM forges out from the gritty Parisian streets, echoing the rebellious spirit of the French slang 'NTM' or 'Nique Ta Mère'. Their music rumbles with unfiltered narratives that challenged authority, particularly the police, and were often entangled with the French judiciary due to their bold and violent rhetoric.
Despite the incendiary nature of their earlier work, Suprême NTM eloquently evolved to voice powerful anti-violent messages in tracks like 'Pose ton Gun'. Their sound is undeniably hardcore rap, yet it is imbued with funk, soul, and reggae undertones in their later explorations. This eclectic mix underlines their manifesto against racism and socio-economic disparities plaguing France.
In the twilight of the millennium, 1998 heralded a pivotal moment - the release of their ostensibly final album under the NTM moniker. This spurred the duo Joey Starr and Kool Shen to venture into new domains, including establishing their labels and penetrating the clothing industry with brands like 2High and Com-8, respectively.
Suprême NTM's cultural push did not cease, although Kool Shen affirmed the end of their collective journey in 1998. The band's legacy perpetuates, serving as a vocal emblem for Franco-resistance and lyrical innovation. The stark contrast in their rapping styles – Joey Starr's cavernous timbre and deliberate pace against Kool Shen's sleek, funk-infused flow – positions them as true connoisseurs of their craft.
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