Hip-Hop Legend, DJ N.A.B.S., Hosts Back When It Was Rap Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop

Hip-hop legend DJ N.A.B.S is hosting Back When It Was Rap, a weeklong celebration recognizing the 50^th anniversary of hip-hop. These curated events pay homage to the origins of rap music and the hip-hop culture in the state of North Carolina.  Programming for the celebration includes an art exhibition and silent auction, a movie “mix” night, a skate party, and other impactful events with performances from hip-hop celebrities Pastor Troy, The 69 Boyz, Tracey Lee, and legendary DJ Mixmaster Ice of UTFO. The festivities will kick off with a collaboration at the North Carolina Juneteenth celebration in Durham.

Events during the Back When It Was Rap celebration will span multiple venues in Raleigh and Durham to create opportunities to learn the history from hip-hop pioneers, historians, and living legends. The pinnacle event of the week is the world premiere of the Carolina Crate Diggas Podcast on Wednesday, June 21^st at 7:00 p.m. The live panel discussion will chronicle the oral history of hip-hop’s origins spoken from the pioneers who ignited the movement in North Carolina. Panelists include Carolina legends Wink Moody from Foxy 104.3, Shirlene “Frosty” Merritt from The Icey Girls, B. Paiz from 95.3 The Beat/iHeartMedia, Reverend Fredrick James of Pittsboro, DJ Tee-Luv of Greensboro, Felicia Tapp, DJ DVS, and members of the DJ collective, The World Famous Butta Team. Joining the discussion is special guest DJ Hurricane of the Beastie Boys and moderator, Ben Zion, artist/civil activist from Atlanta.  The podcast will be recorded live at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham.  

Born Youtha A. Fowler, II, N.A.B.S, as he is known professionally, grew up in the Walltown neighborhood. He graduated from Durham High School (1986) where he was student body president and DHS Marching Band drum major for two consecutive years.  After attending North Carolina Central University, N.A.B.S moved to Atlanta, GA in 1988, where he spent over three decades building a legacy of his own in the entertainment industry.  Over this career, N.A.B.S has worked with icons such as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Grand Master Flash, and Kurtis Blow.  N.A.B.S started his radio career as a weekend mix show DJ on Atlanta’s local station WVEE. Former president of Columbia Records Black Music Division, Michael Mauldin hired N.A.B.S as the DJ and Music Director for the rap duo Kris Kross, a position he held for over 20 years. He became So So Def Recordings’ exclusive DJ backing up artists Da Brat, Xscape, Jermaine Dupri, and Bow Wow. N.A.B.S is recognized as a pioneer in Atlanta radio, joining the first 24-hour hip-hop station Hot 97.5 in 1996, hosting the branded show, In the Lab with DJ Nabs™, with his then co-host/intern, now Hollywood Walk of Famer, Ludacris.

FMM: In 2019, you returned to the Triangle to begin the next chapter of your life, focusing on family, and carving a new career path in the entertainment business. Tell us about Em City™ World and the impact you are making in the entertainment industry today. 

EMCityWorld.com was born. We see ourselves as an ever-evolving digital media company that focuses on sharing meaningful stories through music, animation, podcasts, documentaries, live performances, and events wherever our imagination takes us. The artists we’re producing right now are myself under my original moniker (N.A.B.S), 25-year-old musician, songwriter, and artist Jo Will B, seasoned veteran artist and activist, TheCause2k, and smooth rap poet Sir Baggumz. We often collaborate with artists such as David Whild (ATL), David Banner (Rapper/Actor) and music producer Mike Nice (NC).

Our latest music releases available for streaming include “Jokers Wild,” “Good Moaning,” “MMM,” “HNY,” and an Em City™ mixtape release on YouTube entitled “The Takeover” by TheCause2k & N.A.B.S.

FMM: During the week of June 21st, you are hosting Back When It Was Rap, a weeklong celebration recognizing the 50^th anniversary of hip-hop. What makes this event so important?

What makes this event important is having the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate many of the early pioneers who paved the way for Hip-Hop in North Carolina.  The Carolina Crate Diggas Podcast will bring together several of the most influential people in North Carolina’s rap music movement to share their personal accounts and experiences seeking an opportunity to break into the industry.  The panel will include deejays, emcees, radio personalities, party promoters, artists, and special guests who continue to preserve the legacy of NC hip-hop history.  This is taking place at the historic Hayti Heritage Center in Durham.  The podcast will be recorded live and air at a later date.

We will also debut the Back When It Was Rap art exhibition that will feature artifacts from not only North Carolina, but from throughout the hip-hop industry.  The exhibit will include items such as, vinyl records, artwork, vintage dj equipment, promotional items, and apparel from national recording labels, So So Def, Bad Boy, and Rock-A-Fella.  You will also see items from artists, J. Dilla, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, Jay-Z, and Mariah Carey.  The collection will also feature artifacts from local legend Mr. Freeze of Mr. Freeze Record Shop, one the first record stores to sell hip-hop records in the Triangle.

I’m honored to be able to bring so many living legends together for such a historic event taking place in my hometown.  It is my mission to make sure the story of NC hip-hop is told and the original pioneers receive proper recognition for their immense contribution to the rap music movement.

The full list of events is available at www.nchiphophistory.com.

FMM: Who have you admired the most in Hip Hop?

Oh man, that person or group has changed and changed over the years and these days I would say no one.  I wouldn’t use the word admire but I will say, I continue to be inspired by Grandmaster Flash and his legacy that mostly all DJs still follow today as well as the consistent strive for excellence I still see in him.  

FMM: You have a roster of celebrities joining you for the event. Who can we expect to see?

Good friends and long relationships. First off, I gotta mention and thank Mike Nice of the Butta team for connecting me back to the scene here in the RDU. We’ve been good friends since the late 80’s at NCCU .  I’m having my guy Pastor Troy come thru to perform and debut a new collaboration that we have called “Don’t call It A Come Back.”  The visual was animated by the very talented Tres Corderos.  Also, DJ Wiz of Kid N Play/House Party will be showcasing his video mix skills for our Krush Groove Movie “Mix” Nite. We have Tracey Lee celebrating the 25th anniversary of his hit single “The Theme (It’s Party Time),” as well as a listening party for his new music project. We are transforming an event center into a kind skate event, we have the 69 Boyz performing live at The Fairview Raleigh!  There may be a guest appearance by the legendary DJ Hurricane of the Beastie Boys…stay tuned.

FMM: The pinnacle event of the week is the world premiere of the Carolina Crate Diggas Podcast. Tell us more.

The Carolina Crate Diggas Podcast will bring together several of the most influential people in North Carolina’s rap music movement to share their personal accounts and experiences seeking an opportunity to break into the industry.  The panel will include deejays, emcees, radio personalities, party promoters, artists, and special guests who continue to preserve the legacy of NC Hip-Hop history.  This event is significant because for the first time in NC history, there will be representation of the origins of the hip-hop era in one space discussing their efforts to move the rap music movement forward in a time when it was not popular.  If it wasn’t for this distinct group of panelists who were and remain dedicated to hip-hop and its legacy in North Carolina.

FMM: How has Hip-Hop shaped your life? What’s next for you?

Hip-Hop has opened doors for me that I never knew were waiting for me to enter.  While in high school at Durham High (now Durham School of the Arts), I went on my first tour with female duo The Icey Girls from Walltown, Sherlene Merrit, emcee Frosty and Tiwanda James, the beat boxer (recently passed June 2023), as their DJ and we shared a stage with DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, Whodini, UTFO, and many other legends.  After this experience I knew I wanted to pursue more, so my best friends and I went to Atlanta and my career took off in ways I didn’t see coming at all.  I was hired to be the DJ and music director for Kris Kross, which I toured with them across the globe, literally.  We toured with Michael Jackson on his 1992 Dangerous Tour which I couldn’t have dreamed of meeting MJ,let alone touring with him.  Next, I became the exclusive DJ for So So Def Recordings, where I toured and performed with Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, Xscape, and Lil Bow Wow, which took me around the world again.  During this time, I created and hosted my own hip-hop radio show, In the Lab with DJ Nabs™ on Atlanta’s first hip-hop station Hot 97.5 and started an old school Sundays party under the same name.  I was able to meet and bring hip-hop legends Kurtis Blow, Run DMC, The Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, Whodini, Jay-Z, and many others to perform at the DJ Nabs Old Skool Sundays at Club Kaya.  Having the opportunity to perform on TV shows such as It’s Showtime at the Apollo, The Arsenio Hall Show, Soul Train, Jay Leno, and Sinbad’s Vibe is immeasurable, and I have been nothing less than grateful for each opportunity to share my gifts with the world.

FMM: What’s next? 

As you can see, I never really know what to expect.  For now, I will continue building Em City™ World, producing music, shows, animation, documentaries, podcasts, and events.  I look forward to Em City™ becoming a recognizable, household name for the quality of its productions and the positive influence it will have on the music culture. This chapter in life has already been very rewarding to see my vision come to life one project and sometimes several at a time.  The EMC team continues to grow and we are excited about what is coming for us in the near future. 

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