David Banner

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This article is about the musician. For the Marvel Comics character, see Hulk (comics).
David Banner
David Banner in 2006
David Banner in 2006
Background information
Birth name Levell Crump
Born April 11, 1973 (1973-04-11) (age 35)
Origin Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Genre(s) Rap, hip hop, southern hip hop, crunk, snap music, R&B, rap rock, pop rap
Occupation(s) Rapper, actor, record producer, record label executive, philanthropist
Years active 1999 - present
Label(s) SRC, Universal Records, Def Jam South, Bigface
Associated acts Young Buck, Crooked Lettaz, Yung Wun, 8Ball & MJG, Marcus, Three 6 Mafia, T.I., Chamillionaire, Project Pat, Lil' Flip, 50 Cent
Website www.david-banner.com

Levell Crump (born April 11, 1973) is an American rapper, occasional actor, record producer, record label executive, and philanthropist. Better known by his stage name "David Banner", he takes his name from the lead character of the 1970s and 80s CBS television series The Incredible Hulk.[1][2]

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Personal life

Bannr was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from John W. Provine High School in Jackson, MS and is a graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While there, he served as president of the Student Government Association.[3]

Banner's Father, Zeno Crump Jr. died June 17, 2007. Well known in Jackson, MS as a former District Fire Chief for 25 years, service attendants included Banner himself, and an extended list of friends and family. Several months later, on October 25, 2007, Banner's grandmother Thelma Dixon also died in Brookhaven, MS. She was 83 years old.[citation needed].

[edit] Career

His first major-label album, Mississippi: The Album, went gold and was a critical and commercial success[citation needed], largely due to the success of lead single, "Like a Pimp" (featuring Lil' Flip), as well as more introspective album tracks such as "Cadillacs On 22's" and "Mississippi." It features Lil Flip and Lil Jon in the album. The following album, MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water, was completed in two weeks at the behest of SRC executive Steve Rifkind.[citation needed] His fourth album, Certified was released on September 20, 2005, after repeated delays. Album appearances include Twista, Jadakiss, Jagged Edge, BG, Jazze Pha, Too Short, Bun B, and others. Banner starred in the video for Korn's "Twisted Transistor".

In 2006 Banner appeared on DJ Shadow's The Outsider entitled "Seein' Thangs". The track features comments on the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina. He is also the creator of the main theme to the game Saints Row.[4] He currently remains signed to SRC.

In November 2006, Banner was awarded a Visionary Award by the National Black Caucus of the State Legislature in recognition of his work after Hurricane Katrina. This move was criticized by conservatives within the state, as well as some civil rights leaders, who Banner has accused of failing to adequately aid Mississippi.[5]

Banner played the part of Tehronne in Black Snake Moan. He has also worked on the new Adult Swim cartoon show That Crook'd 'Sipp, which premiered Sunday, May 13, 2007. His single "Play" was used as the background music in the pilot's first television promo. It has been announced that Banner has auditioned for a role in the upcoming Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Knight but lost the role to Michael Jai White.[6]

On September 25, 2007, David Banner testified in front of Congress at a hearing about African American Media Stereotypes,[7] which was aired nationally on C-Span 2. He spoke about his lyrics and whether or not they were appropriate or stereotypical. He argued that his lyrics explain the pain blacks go through. In his opening statement, Banner was applauded by several in attendance for saying, "I can admit there are some problems in Hip-Hop but it is only a reflection of what's taking place in our society. Hip-Hop is sick because America is sick."

Banner was recently featured on the cover of the November issue of Ozone magazine[8] and the Winter 2008 issue of Producer's Edge Magazine. [9] Banner recently released a song named 'B.A.N' which appears to be in response to rapper T.I's recent arrest over gun possession charges and Micheal Vick's charges.[citation needed] The song appears to be directed towards T.I's former bodyguard who was a police informant, and subsequently aided in T.I's arrest. Also Vick's cousin who had a hand in Vick's arrest and subsequent suspension from the Falcons.

[edit] Style

Banner's rapping style consists in putting multiple rhymes in a sentence, using a particular accent on some letters such as an "a". His productions' trademark are the vocals of an unidentified woman saying "David Banner" and sometimes a little kid's vocals adding the phrase "Beast generation". His productions sometimes have small guitar elements. For example "X-Ed" (from Certified) which created the Crunk sound with guitars. He also produced a couple of Rapcore tracks. (Crossroads from Certified)

[edit] Discography

Main article: David Banner discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Black Snake Moan Therron
2007 This Christmas
2008 The Vapor Biz Markie

[edit] Selected production credits

 This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please improve this article if you can (May 2008).

[edit] References

  1. ^ VH1.com : David Banner - Rhapsody Music Downloads
  2. ^ The Clarion-Ledger: Mississippi's News Source
  3. ^ David Banner: He's a Business...Man!
  4. ^ IGN: David Banner Invades Saints Row, August 22, 2006
  5. ^ WAPT: David Banner Speech (Video)
  6. ^ Superhero Hype!
  7. ^ Jolene Petipas (September 25, 2007). David Banner Testifies At Congressional Hearing On Hip-Hop, "Drugs & Violence Were Around Long Before" Rap Music SOHH. Accessed May 11, 2008.
  8. ^ OZONE Magazine
  9. ^ Producer's Edge Magazine

[edit] External links

[edit] Links

[edit] Interviews