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Videos: David Banner


Lavell Crump, (born April 11, 1973), better known by the stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer & occasional actor. Banner was born in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Southern University. He started his music career as a member of the rap duo, Crooked Lettaz before going solo in 2000 with Them Firewater Boyz, Vol. 1 and signed to Universal Records in 2003. With Universal, Banner released four albums: Mississippi: The Album (2003), MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water (2004), Certified (2005), and The Greatest Story Ever Told (2008).

Lavell Crump grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, the son of Zeno and Carolyn Crump. He attended Northwest Jackson Middle School and Provine High School.[1] After graduating from high school, he attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his mother Carolyn's alma mater. At Southern, Crump served as president of the Student Government Association and received a bachelor's degree in business.[1][2] He attended the University of Maryland to pursue a master's degree in education[3][4][5] but dropped out to pursue his music career.[1] His father Zeno died on June 17, 2007.[6]
[edit] Music career

Crump's stage name David Banner is taken from the lead character of the television series The Incredible Hulk.[7] With several of his friends, Banner sent some demo tapes to Jackson radio station WJMI, whose operations manager praised them.[1] In 1999, as the duo Crooked Lettaz, with rapper Kamikaze, Banner released Grey Skies (Penalty Recordings).[8]

Banner released his solo debut album Them Firewater Boyz, Vol. 1 in 2000. Released under the independent label Big Face Records, the album sold about 7,000 copies.[6]

When the single "Like a Pimp" became a radio hit it attracted significant label interest towards the artist.[9] After assessing the offers, Banner and manager Scott Johnson decided to sign with Universal Records subsidiary SRC Records because the pair were aware of CEO Steve Rifkind's successful history with Loud Records.[9]

Banner released his first major label album Mississippi: The Album in 2003 with SRC and Universal. Mississippi included the hit single, "Like a Pimp", featuring Lil Flip. "Like a Pimp" peaked at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and #10 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.[10] He released the follow-up album the same year called MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water, yielding "Crank It Up", featuring Static Major. Banner produced T.I.'s 2004 single "Rubberband Man", which reached #30 on the Hot 100, #15 on the R&B chart, and #11 on the rap chart.

In 2005, he released another album, Certified. Its first single was "Ain't Got Nothing", featuring Magic & Lil Boosie, followed by his second single, "Play", which reached #7 on the Hot 100 chart, #5 on the R&B chart, and #3 on the rap chart.[10] The third single was "Touching", featuring Jazze Pha; "Touching" reached #54 on the R&B chart.

On July 15, 2008, Banner released his fifth studio album, The Greatest Story Ever Told.[11] His first single is "9mm", featuring Akon, Lil Wayne, & Snoop Dogg. Banner produced his next two singles: "Get Like Me", featuring Chris Brown and Yung Joc, and "Shawty Say", featuring Lil Wayne. "Get Like Me" reached #16 on the Hot 100, #7 on the R&B chart, and #2 on the rap chart.[10]

He is the creator of the theme song to the game Saints Row.[12] He worked with gospel duo Mary Mary in Superfriend.[clarification needed]

He is credited with writing, producing and arranging an original song (with vocals by Blackstreet's Kermit Quinn) for Gatorade's 2010 "Gatorade Has Evolved" TV commercial.[13]

2010 will see the release of the first fruits of a much anticipated collaboration between Banner and hip-hop producer 9th Wonder.[14] The duo paired up to create an album entitled "Death Of A Pop Star", which was released on December 21, 2010. In an interview with HitQuarters, 9th Wonder talked about the inspiration behind the album saying, "We thought that in many ways the death of Michael Jackson meant the death of black music ... Not to say black music is dead all the way, but on the mainstream side there’s not really much of a focus on soul. There’s not a lot of people trying to redefine soul music."[9]

Major national advertisement for Gatorade running still in July 2010 featuring Evolve, Written, produced and arranged by David Banner.Revolvution Ad's Full Song on YOUTUBE.

Recently, he contributed an original music for a commercial for the video game Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. He also collaborated with the gospel duo, Mary Mary, on their album The Sound with the song Superfriend.
[edit] Film career

Banner played the part of Tehronne in Black Snake Moan. He has worked on the 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. In 2007, he played the character of Mo, in the film This Christmas. Banner also starred as Jay, a gang leader from the hood in Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming. In 2010 he played Bosch in the film The Experiment.
[edit] Activism

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.[15]

On September 25, 2007, Banner testified in front of Congress at a hearing about African-American media stereotypes, which was aired nationally on C-SPAN2. He spoke about his lyrics and whether or not they were appropriate or stereotypical. Banner 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."[16]
[edit] Discography
Main articles: David Banner discography and David Banner production discography
[edit] Solo albums

2000: Them Firewater Boyz, Vol. 1
2003: Mississippi: The Album
2003: MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water
2005: Certified
2008: The Greatest Story Ever Told
2011: MTA3: The Trinity Movement

[edit] Collaboration albums

2010: Death of a Pop Star (with 9th Wonder)

[edit] Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Black Snake Moan Tehronne
This Christmas Mo
Monk Snake the Assassin (TV) Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Rapper"
2008 Days of Wrath Kryme
Vapors Biz Markie
2010 The Experiment Bosch
The Confidant Daniel Jackson
2010 Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming Jay
[edit] Awards

BET Hip Hop Awards
2008, Best Hip-Hop Video ("Get Like Me") with Chris Brown & Yung Joc [Nominated]
2008, Best Hip-Hop Collabo ("Get Like Me") with Chris Brown & Yung Joc [Nominated]
2008, Best Producer [Nominated]

Ozone Awards
2008, Best Rap/R&B Collaboration ("Get Like Me"), featuring Chris Brown & Yung Joc [Nominated]

 




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