A Durham-born, Atlanta-made turntablist who traded weekend gigs for weekend drills — and later became the first DJ to share a stage with the U.S. Army's official rappers
July 4, 2026 — As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, one of Atlanta hip-hop's foundational figures is being recognized not only for the records he broke on the turntables, but for the service he gave in uniform. Youtha Anthony Fowler, known worldwide as DJ Nabs, is a U.S. Army National Guard veteran whose four-plus years of service ran parallel to a career that helped shape the sound of the Dirty South.
Long before he became the touring DJ for teen phenomenon Kris Kross and shared bills that opened for Michael Jackson's "Dangerous World Tour," Fowler was a Boy Scout in Durham, North Carolina, coming up alongside his cousin Joseph Milford, Jr. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout at 16 — an early lesson in the discipline and precision that would define both his craft and his service.
When Fowler left Durham for Atlanta in 1988, a mentor named Juan Davis encouraged him to bring his musicianship into uniform through the U.S. Army National Guard Band. He enlisted and completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, with the B-3-26-1 platoon, where he was named squad leader within his first month of service. He went on to join the 116th Army National Guard Band, playing saxophone in its concert, big-band, trio, and quartet ensembles at events across the state of Georgia — and, on at least one occasion, bringing his turntables to the stage in uniform. Fowler qualified as a sharpshooter and was honorably discharged in 1992 after four years and nine months of service.
(L to R) NABS, Staff Sgt. Nicolas “Nicco” Feemster, Jamison Lucas, and Staff Sgt. Lamar Riddick at rehearsal with Morgan State University Band - Photo courtesy of JMB Media Group
The through-line of Fowler's life has always been the people beside him. His lifelong best friend, Alton Lucas— profiled with Fowler in The Associated Press's landmark 2021 series on the 50-year war on drugs — remains family to this day. That bond now spans a generation: Lucas's son, Jamison Lucas, joined the United States Marine Corps after graduating high school and has served posts in Rwanda, Switzerland, and now Jacksonville, North Carolina. Ahead of shipping out, Jamison traveled with Fowler as his road manager for the very performance that would connect Fowler to the next chapter of the Army's musical story.
In November 2022, DJ Nabs was invited to DJ alongside the U.S. Army's first official rappers, Staff Sgts. Lamar Riddick and Nicholas "Nicco" Feemster of the U.S. Army Field Band, during The Truth and Service Classic — the Howard University vs. Morgan State University football game in Baltimore. It marked the first collaboration between a DJ and the Army's rappers, and footage from that performance appears in the group's official "On the Way" music video, where Fowler's turntables can be seen roughly a minute in.
(Click image to watch music video “On the Way” by US Army Rappers)
From the Scout troop to the National Guard band, from the touring circuit to the Field Band stage, DJ Nabs has served his country on more than one field. As America celebrates 250 years, his tactical and musical contributions stand as a testament to a life lived in service — to the culture, and to the country.
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