The series “The World of Tomorrow” on Arte retraces the birth in the 80s of French hip-hop and the rap group NTM. It follows the young Kool Shen (Bruno Lopes, played by Anthony Bajon) and JoeyStarr (Didier Morville, played by Melvin Boomer), from their beginnings in breakdance and graffiti to their first steps on stage, but also DJ Dee Nasty or Lady V. The “real” JoeyStarr says he is proud to see this story told, even if he does not hide a touch of disappointment, Monday October 24 on franceinfo: “JI find it next to what was really going on”.
franceinfo: JoeyStarr, you are at the heart of the Arte series “The World of Tomorrow”. You don’t play it, but actors embody the stars of early hip hop in France. You, Kool Shen, Dee Nasty… I know you met your character, Melvin Boomer. What did you think of the series?
JoeyStarr: I respect all the work that has been done by the actors, the team, all that. And above all the fact that it tells about the emergence of this movement in the 80s and so on. And how, what, the situation, all that. I like the idea. Afterwards, I’m a little less enthusiastic when I see the series, in fact.
Why ?
Because I think it doesn’t play on the right note. And I’m not saying that the people who did it, the directors, are incompetent or anything, far from it. But for me, it doesn’t speak to me because I find it alongside what was really going on.
Isn’t that what you experienced?
Not at all.
It’s much darker?
Yes too. It’s not necessarily only for these reasons but I’m not happy because I see. But as I say, I think there’s a tremendous job that has been done by the actors and so on. But I think we may not have appointed the right people to do it. In fact, that’s the thing.
But how does it feel to see your story brought to the screen? Because there is also the film at the cinema “Supremes”, ofAudrey Estrougo, released in 2021.
Normally, that would have flattered my dizzying ego, there you go! On the movie Supreme, I have another opinion. I find that we are a little more exact, even if they are two completely different objects, the series and the film. But I really validate more what is said and what sends Supreme as message.
So it doesn’t even flatter you to say to yourself: I became a series hero or a movie hero?
No, but when you look, I’m not alone. We’re full, it’s not just me that should flatter. It is all these efforts that we have provided. It’s a team sport, this story. So yes, we’re all happy that this cultural impetus – I use words like that today – that all those hours we spent in hangars, dancing, thinking, wetting our jerseys, are highlights. Of course I’m very proud of that.