N.B.S. (an acronym for Natural Born Spitters) is an American hip hop duo based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The group consists of cousins E'Flash (Imam Bilal-Firmin) and V-Knuckles (Rahim Muhammad). Known for their East Coast hip hop sound, N.B.S. has established an international following in Europe and Asia through self-funded tours and collaborations with international producers, including Germany's Snowgoons, Hungary's Scarcity Budapest, and Switzerland's Empire Music.

Formation and early life (1990s–2003)

While closely associated with Cambridge, both E'Flash and V-Knuckles originally hail from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, where they built their early reputation rapping in local housing projects. E'Flash was raised in the 120 Taurus Buildings, and V-Knuckles lived in the Madison Park Village townhomes. Both relocated to Cambridge during their youth, and V-Knuckles began writing lyrics at the age of 12.

The duo subsequently attended historically Black colleges. E'Flash studied at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, while V-Knuckles attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. During this time, V-Knuckles (performing under the moniker Rah Vital) began distributing music through early internet platforms such as MP3.com, developing a listener base that extended as far as Japan.

Debut and mixtape era (2003–2009)

In 2003, N.B.S. established their own imprint, NBS Entertainment, and released their debut studio album, In Due Time. The project was recorded at Cybersound in Boston with production from J. Cardim, Z. Johnson, and G. Smiley, firmly establishing the duo within the Boston underground scene before going out of print for over a decade.

Throughout the mid-to-late 2000s, N.B.S. became a regular fixture on the Boston live music circuit, performing at showcases like the Boston Hip Hop Unity Fest. They maintained momentum by releasing a series of mixtapes, including Green Heist Vol. 1 & 2 and Straight Piff 1.5, and gained broader recognition in 2007 with a feature on producer 9th Wonder's album The Dream Merchant Vol. 2, appearing alongside Sean Price and Royce da 5'9".

It was during this period that the group formed their core grassroots team. N.B.S. first connected with local producer Brian Shirley (also known as Neo or DJ Liphted) after spotting him rapping along to their lyrics in the crowd at the Western Front club in Cambridge. He began assisting the group pro bono, eventually producing their 2007 compilation mixtape, Evolution (The End Of The Beginning).

The duo also utilized their music for local social commentary. In 2009, they received press coverage for a track addressing the controversial arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. by Cambridge police, an event that sparked a national conversation on racial profiling.

Industry debut and international breakthrough (2010–2014)

Although they had a firm footing in the New England hardcore rap scene, N.B.S. sought to expand their audience globally. They partnered with Big Bang Records, an independent label founded by fellow Cambridge rapper Virtuoso (Miguel Blackmer-Hart), whom they had known since high school.

By combining forces, they released The Prelude in 2010, marketed as their official industry debut. Backed by dedicated label management handling digital marketing, distribution, and booking, the group developed an export strategy that successfully secured independent tours across Europe.

In 2012, they released The Dispensary, featuring the single "Our Time" with Outerspace. The release performed exceptionally well in the Asian market, earning physical distribution in Japan through retailers like Disk Union. Their 2013 follow-up, The Smokefest, secured distribution through Traffic Entertainment Group.

Following this, N.B.S. focused heavily on international collaborations. In 2014, they released Budavets, a full-length collaboration with the Hungarian production crew Scarcity Budapest, and SwissVets: Hot Dogs to Swiss Francs, produced entirely by Swiss beatmakers Jakebeatz and DJ Tray. They also expanded their touring footprint to Asia, headlining the 2015 "Lawalah Vets Tour" in Malaysia alongside the local collective Lawalah Familia.

Collaboration with Snowgoons and recent work (2015–present)

In 2015, N.B.S. formed a powerhouse partnership with the German production team Snowgoons for the joint album Trapped in America. Featuring a politically charged sound and guest appearances from Termanology, Reks, and Onyx, the physical CD release included a remastered version of their 2003 debut, In Due Time, as a bonus disc.

During the 2020 nationwide protests regarding systemic racism and police brutality, they reunited with Snowgoons for the sequel, Still Trapped in America. That same year, they reconnected with their Hungarian collaborators to release the Lost in Budapest LP.

Both members have actively pursued solo careers. E'Flash collaborated with producer Bluntz in 2023 for the Bluntz With Flash EP. In October 2023, V-Knuckles released his solo album The Next Chapter, featuring production from Phoniks and guest appearances from Wu-Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck and Fredro Starr.

Musical style and influences

N.B.S. is deeply rooted in hardcore East Coast hip hop. Their dynamic relies on the vocal contrast between E'Flash's calm, measured delivery and V-Knuckles' highly energetic flow. E'Flash cites Boston pioneers like Ed O.G., Guru, and R.S.O. as his primary influences, while V-Knuckles draws inspiration from legends like Kool G Rap and Nas.

In their hometown, the duo is highly respected for connecting their music to Boston sports culture, having recorded dedicated anthems for the Boston Celtics during their playoff campaigns.