| JoeyStarr | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Didier Morville |
| Alias: | Double R, L'Expert de la maison mère, Jaguarr Gorgone |
| Birth Date: | 27 October 1967 |
| Birth Place: | Saint-Denis, Île-de-France, France |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Occupation: | Rapper, record producer, actor |
| Instrument: | Percussion, synthesizer, keyboards, bass guitar, turntables |
| Years Active: | 1989–present |
| Label: | Epic, B.O.S.S. |
| Associated Acts: | Kool Shen, Busta Flex, Jaeyez, Lord Kossity |
| Website: | joeystarr.fr |
Didier Morville (in French pronounced as /didje mɔʁvil/; born 27 October 1967), better known by his stage name JoeyStarr,[1] is a French rapper, record producer and actor, from Saint-Denis, Île-de-France. He co-founded the French rap band Suprême NTM in 1989 along with Kool Shen.
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]
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]
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]
| Year | Album | Charts | Certification | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL Wa | FR [10] | SWI | |||
| 2006 | La dernière année | 20 | 3 | 36 | |
| 2011 | Armageddon (Cut Killer, JoeyStarr & Kimfu) | — | 171 | — | |
| Egomaniac | 22 | 5 | 47 | ||
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | La Tour Montparnasse Infernale | Joël | ||
| 2000 | Old School | Isaac | ||
| 2004 | RRRrrrr!!! | Wood Club Tester | ||
| 2008 | Passe-passe | Max | ||
| 2008 | La Personne aux deux personnes | Himself | ||
| 2009 | Le Bal des actrices | Himself | ||
| 2010 | L'Immortel | Le Pistachier | ||
| 2011 | Polisse | Fred | Nominated–César Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| 2011 | Nuit blanche | Feydek | ||
| 2012 | L'amour dure trois ans | Jean-Georges | ||
| 2012 | Les seigneurs | Shaheef Berda | ||
| 2012 | Max | Toni | ||
| 2012 | Do Not Disturb | Man in Prison | ||
| 2013 | Frank | |||
| 2013 | Une autre vie | Jean | ||
| 2014 | Colt 45 | Milo Cardena | ||
| 2015 | Les Gorilles | Alfonso | ||
| 2017 | Alibi.com | MC Stocma | ||
| 2021 | Cette musique ne joue pour personne | Jésus |