The NTM posse started out on the French music scene as a trio. The founding members of the group were Bruno Lopes, better known to rap fans as Kool Shen, Didier Morville - aka Joey Starr- and DJ'S. All three members of the original group grew up on housing estates in the run-down Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. Kool Shen and Joey Starr, who were both born in 1968, met in the playground of the local lycée and would go on to become firm friends. They would later join forces with a talented local DJ by the name of DJ’S (who was born in Saint-Denis in 1966).

Early in their teenage years Kool Shen and Joey Starr discovered the hip hop craze which had just arrived in France from the United States. Both would go on to become passionate fans of ‘smurf’ - the sharp style of breakdance which young American rappers began performing in Paris on the Trocadéro esplanade from 1983 onwards. Impressed by these early rap dancers who performed their ‘smurf’ moves to music like the Sugarhill Gang (the pioneers of the American rap movement) Kool Shen and Joey Starr soon got involved in smurfing themselves - after all, it was as good a way as any other of escaping the boredom of day-to-day life in the suburbs !

By 1984 the hip hop movement was rapidly gaining momentum in France. And later that year the rise of French hip hop culture would be fuelled by the launch of the pioneering television programme "Hip Hop", presented by the legendary Sidney.

Inspired by the new French hip hop movement Kool Shen and Joey Starr went on to form their own group of smurfers, Actuel Force. After winning a number of breakdance competitions in France, the group would set off on an extensive tour of Europe. Kool Shen and Joey Starr would also become involved in other emerging aspects of hip hop culture such as graffiti and ‘tagging’, daubing the walls of their housing estates with this new form of street art. Meanwhile, French rap was slowly beginning to take form on the music scene. At first French music fans were rather sceptical about this new genre, finding it hard to imagine that rap could exist in a language other than English. Rising to the challenge, however, Kool Shen and Joey Starr began writing their first lyrics in 1989, proving that French rappers could not only adapt the style of their American counterparts but also add their own distinctive ‘French touch’.

It was not long before the presenter of a Paris FM station invited the duo into the studio to perform their new-style rap live on air. Kool Shen and Joey Starr would give an impressive live performance accompanied by their DJ friend DJ'S. A few months later the trio took part in the ‘Coupe de Paris des DJ's’ (an annual DJ competition), then supported the anarchic French rock group la Souris Déglinguée when they performed in Paris at the Olympia.

NTM, who have spearheaded the hardcore movement on the French rap scene, take their name from the insult "Nique Ta Mère" (‘motherfucker" - an insult which is frequently heard on the housing estates where the trio grew up ! ) In spite of frequent attempts by NTM’s record company to play down the group’s aggressive image - NTM’s record label tried to rename the group for instance by adding the prefix "Suprême" to NTM - the group remain as hardcore as ever. NTM’s hard-hitting lyrics are also as uncompromising as ever - while many critics have accused the group of writing violent, despairing lyrics, NTM claim they are just "telling things like they are". Using slang and rap terms the group paint a bleak, but accurate, picture of urban problems such as drugs, unemployment and violent crime .

In 1990 NTM went into the studio for the first time, recording the track "Je rappe", which appeared on the French rap compilation "Rapatittude" (released on Label Noir). After making their recording début, the posse set off on an extensive tour of the French provinces, performing with the other rap groups featured on the compilation album.

NTM would get their first major break after this tour, when Sony offered the group a recording deal with its offshoot label Epic. NTM would immediately return to the studio to record their début single "Le monde de demain" (a maxi which featured four tracks including "Le monde de demain"). The release of NTM’s hardcore rap single in 1990 could not have come at a better time for the group. Youngsters were rioting in the Lyon suburb of Vaux-en-Velin, setting cars ablaze and engaging in violent clashes with the police. Meanwhile thousands of students were taking to the streets in Paris to protest against education funding and conditions. Given this revolutionary fervour, NTM’s hard-hitting lyrics and aggressive style instantly struck a chord with disillusioned French youth- and the single "Le monde de demain" would soon go on to sell over 50,000 copies.

NTM kicked off another tour in March 1991, then returned to the studio in June of that year to begin work on their début album "Authentik". In July the group were invited to take part in the "New Music Seminar" and headed off to New York to perform at the Palladium with Son of Barzek. Later that year the group would release two new singles, "Authentik" and "Soul Soul" (both of them re-mixed by Kirk Yano).

NTM would then embark upon another series of concerts, rounding off their tour with an incendiary performance in Paris at Le Zénith on 24 January 1992. The group’s hard-hitting lyrics and aggressive on-stage antics drove the crowd wild - and shortly after the tour NTM’s album sales would rocket up to 70,000. On a roll after the tour, the group soon released a new maxi single entitled "Boogie man" (which included two live tracks recorded at Le Zénith).

NTM would return to the studio the following year to begin work on a new hardcore album, entitled "1993 ... j'appuie sur la gâchette" (1993 ... I’ve got my finger on the trigger !) With a title like this, the album was bound to send shockwaves reverberating through conservative French society. But the controversial track "Police" - on which NTM violently insulted the French police, accusing them of abusing their power and living off corruption- did more than cause shock waves. The French police brought a court case against NTM - and even though the judge decided not to prosecute the group French radio stations decided to ban all NTM records from the airwaves. NTM would ignore this radio boycott completely and release their new single, "J'appuie sur la gâchette", in March as planned.

In March 94 NTM would also turn their attention to their live career once again. The group planned to perform a whole series of shows but ended up playing just four dates (including one mega-show at the Palais des Sports in Paris). Concert organisers, scared of the audience running out of control, remained wary of booking rap artists - especially controversial groups like NTM !

Faced with booking problems, the group decided to focus on their recording career instead and returned to the studio in June of that year to begin work on a new album. The album "Paris sous les bombes" - recorded partly in New York, partly in Paris - was released in March of the following year and preceded by a new single entitled "Tout n’est pas si facile" (which came out on 10 February 1995). Meanwhile the group underwent a slight change of line-up - DJ'S, who had decided to leave the group and branch out on his own, was replaced by DJ Clyde.

"Paris sous les bombes" was a far more highly accomplished album than NTM’s first album. The production was much smoother and the musical arrangements far more sophisticated - but, judging by the subversive lyrics on "Paris sous les bombes" NTM had certainly lost none of their hard-hitting aggression ! By this stage in the career NTM had established an extensive following of fans and the single "Tout n'est pas si facile" - a rather nostalgic track about the early days of the French hip hop movement - soon went rocketing to the top of the charts.

NTM’s first hit single was swiftly followed by a second, "la Fièvre", which was soon played non-stop on the French airwaves - an irony which did not escape the group whose records had been banned on French radio just two years before! After turning the tables on the French media, NTM would go on to sell impressive 250,000 copies of their album. Following the phenomenal success of "Paris sous les bombes" the group set off on an extensive tour of France, which included appearances at the Printemps de Bourges festival in April and the famous Francofolies festival held in la Rochelle in July. NTM also gave a highly incendiary performance in Paris (at Le Zénith on 9 June 1995).

As NTM continued to rise to national prominence, the group’s highly controversial track "Police" would provoke another major scandal. In July 1995 NTM travelled down to the South of France to take part in the "Rendez-vous de la Liberté", a music festival organised in Seyne-sur-mer by the anti-racist association SOS Racisme. NTM were halfway through their set and about to launch into a rendition of their notorious song "Police" when Kool Shen and Joey Starr broke into a violent tirade against the French police. The French police on security duty at the concert immediately took offence at the rappers’ remarks and took NTM to court. When the case finally came up in May 1996 the group were charged with "insulting officers of the law" and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment (with an obligation to serve at least three months!) They were also banned from performing in France for the next six months. Outraged by such a harsh sentence, NTM successfully launched an appeal and got their sentence reduced. (They ended up with a two months suspended prison sentence and an extremely hefty fine). The group’s court case would provoke a national debate on censorship and hundreds of people ended up supporting NTM, considering that the group was simply expressing the urban violence they had grown up with.

When the new NTM controversy had blown over, the group returned to the studio to work on a re-mix of the track "Affirmative Action" with New York rap star Nas. Then Joey Starr and co. set to work on new material for their fourth album, locking themselves away in a studio in Puteaux (in the Paris suburbs) during the summer of 97. A constant flow of friends and fellow musicians dropped by to give their opinion on the new opus, giving Kool Shen and Joey Starr a certain amount of feedback before the official release of the album on 21 April 98. The album's title ("NTM") contained none of the provocation of the group's previous titles and the tracks on the new album reflected certain maturity in the group's lyrics. The single "Laisse pas traîner ton fils" (Don't Let Your Son Hang Out In the Evenings") and the song "Pose ton gun" (Put Your Gun Down) showed that the French hip hop veterans were now taking their position of role models rather more seriously. In the autumn of 98 the group returned to the live circuit, kicking off an extensive national tour (which included two major dates in Paris at le Zénith in November).

NTM hit the headlines again the following year, although this time the group's 'fame' had nothing to do with their musical efforts. Joey Starr, the group's notorious frontman, found himself back in court on 24 February '99 on trial for attacking an airhostess in a hotel lobby in November of the previous year. The judge in Montpellier sentenced the French rap star to two months in prison and fined him 30,000 francs. Starr left court in a blaze of publicity, the media delighting in portraying him as the unreformed "Bad Boy of French Rap". Four months later Starr was back in court in Bobigny (in the Paris suburbs) where he received a six-month prison sentence for causing his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Galin grievous bodily harm.

In April 2000 NTM returned to the music news when "Authentiques" (a documentary about the group produced by Saer and Alain Chabat) was broadcast on French TV. Shortly afterwards, the group re-emerged with their long-awaited double live album. But as NTM prepare to celebrate their tenth anniversary in the music business, rumours began to spread that the group are on the verge of splitting up. While Joey Starr continues his notorious run-ins with the French justice system, Kool Shen was busy working on a solo album and managing his own label IV My People.

Meanwhile, Joey Starr was also busy setting up his own label, B.O.S.S. Starr and Kool Shen had not worked together or been seen hanging out in public for several months and the apparent cooling of their friendship provoked rumours that NTM were on the verge of splitting up. However, much to the relief of thousands of French rap fans, Joey and Shen teamed up again in the autumn of 2000, bringing out a new EP on November 7th. (This was the first in a series of four EPs collectively entitled "NTM le clash"). Following the release of this EP, a group of DJs and songwriters from Kool Shen's label, IV My People, and Joey Starr's 'stable', B.O.S.S., began working on remixes of NTM classics. These were assembled on a compilation album released in February 2001, which went on to sell 200,000 copies within six months. Following its success in France, the album was released on the European market in July of that year.

NTM have been instrumental in the development of the Gallic rap scene. Breaking away from the American model, NTM have proved that it is possible to produce high-quality rap in the French language - and have helped French rap artists find their own voice in the process!

In 2002, Joey Starr chose to go it alone, releasing a single that was originally recorded for the soundtrack of French blockbuster "Axterix et Obelix: mission Cleopatra" by director Alain Chabot. Entitled "Gaz-L", the song does not display much of NTM’s well-known energy. At the same time, the star made many appearances in mainstream television show—a radical change of attitude, which was mirrored by his more serene treatment in the French media. Yet, this new media image was rapidly shattered by the sequence of a documentary on Parisian nighthawks in which Joey Starr was seen brutalizing a monkey because it was crying too loud. Partaking of his legend, this episode also contributed to reinforce his aura as a ‘cursed artist.’

Meanwhile, Joey Starr was quite busy with a weekly radio show that he has been presenting live from his home in Saint-Ouen near Paris. Joined by a community of rappers, Joey Starr is on the air for a few hours at night, acting as a rap specialist.

On top of his musical activities, the French rapper also set up a fashion brand, Com-8, which is sold by Streetwear, the boutique he owns in the Halles, a trendy district of Paris.

In 2004, it was Kool Shen's turn to strike out on his own with the release of a debut solo album entitled "Dernier Round." The album was produced by Madzim & Sec Undo who both work as composers and songwriters at IV My People (the independent record label the rapper manages on a day-to-day basis). "Dernier Round" gave Kool Shen the chance to affirm his personality and his reputation outside the group. And he showed off his clear, fluid flow on hardhitting numbers such as "On a enfoncé des portes" and "Two Shouts" as well as more nostalgic rap numbers. "Un ange dans le ciel" struck a more personal, poignant note on the album. The track was dedicated to Lady Vee, Kool Shen's longterm partner and a dancer with NTM from the posse's early days, who was killed in a car crash in 2003.