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JoeyStarr is from a family originating from the French overseas department of Martinique. He had a difficult childhood, having been raised by his violent father until he turned 18. He was taken from his mother when he was five years old, and only saw her again 18 years later. He tells of a time when his father killed his pet rabbit and made him eat it.[2]
In 1985, he joined the military at Baden-Baden, "19 months of hell", an experience which he raps about in his album Authentik.[3]
After the army, he wandered the streets, sleeping in subways and alleys. He discovered drugs and hip-hop, and the latter changed his life.[2]
Suprême NTM
During his time on the streets, he met another aspiring rapper, Kool Shen, who was also born in Saint-Denis. In 1988 they formed the group Suprême NTM alias NTM.[4] When the first single came out in 1989, he could not cash the check, since he could not provide an address or a bank account.
The group achieved record sales with their four albums, but split in 1998.
It had a comeback as announced on 13 March 2008.[5]
Personal life
JoeyStarr had an infamous romantic liaison with French actress Béatrice Dalle, and the couple appeared on TV shows and promotional events. JoeyStarr has two sons, Mathis and Kalil, with his current girlfriend, hip-hop journalist Leïla Dixmier.[6]
In 1999, he was sentenced to two months in prison for physically harassing a flight attendant.[7] He was also sentenced to three months in prison and fined 2,000 euros for physically abusing a former partner. His criminal record includes 13 infractions.[8] In 2003, he was condemned for animal brutality for hitting a monkey on national television, and was heavily criticized in the press and by his fans.[9]
Awards and nominations
Music
2007: "Best rap artist" during L'Année du hip-hop Les trophées
2008: "Best concert" during L'Année du hip-hop Les trophées
Acting
2010: Nomination for "Best actor in a secondary role" during César Award for his role in Le Bal des actrices
2012: Nomination for "Best actor in a secondary role" during César Award for his role in Polisse
^"Tous ces pédés de militaires / Qui pendant, oui, presque plus d'une année / M'ont séquéstré, malmené / Sous prétexte de faire de moi un homme, un vrai"
^Helenon, Veronique. “Africa on Their Mind: Rap, Blackness, and Citizenship in France.” In The Vinyl Ain’t Final: Hip Hop and the Globalization of Black Popular Culture, ed. by Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, 151-66. London; Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto Pres