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Suprême NTM is a controversial French rap group, comprised of rappers Joey Starr and Kool Shen. The group takes its name from the French slang NTM, an abbreviation for "Nique Ta Mère" meaning "Fuck your Mother" or "motherfucker". NTM is known for their hostility towards the police, violent lyrics, and legal battles with the French authorities. Their musical style is hardcore rap with influences from funk and soul and later also reggae. The group is outspokenly critical of racism and class inequality in French society, and while their earlier music is violent, some of their later work is explicitly anti-violent (such as Pose ton Gun: "Put Down your Gun").
Discography
- 1991 Authentik
- 1993 1993 ... J'appuie sur la gâchette
- 1995 Paris sous les bombes
- 1998 Suprême NTM
Conflicts with Authority
The 1993 release 1993 ... J'appuie sur la gâchette (1993 ... I've got my finger on the trigger) featured violent lyrics and a track La Police that featured violent criticism of the police. The police responded to this by taking NTM to court. The court decided in favor of NTM, however many French radio stations decided to boycott the group's music.
A second encounter with the police occurred in 1995 when the group made further comments critical of the French police during a live concert that allegedly included advocating violence against the police. The group was again taken to court, and this time they were sentenced, initially to six months imprisonment, changed to two months imprisonment and a fine on appeal.
Joey Starr was later imprisoned for charges unrelated to his musical career, for assaulting a flight attendant in November 1998, and for assaulting his ex-girlfriend in 1999, shortly after his release.
References
RFI Biography: NTM (http://www.rfimusique.com/siteEn/biographie/biographie_6051.asp)