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]