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David Banner (Levell Crump) was born in Jackson, Mississippi in c. 1973, is a rapper, occasional actor, hip hop music record producer, record label executive, and philantropist.
He takes his name from the lead character of the 1980s CBS television series The Incredible Hulk.
Prior to having a solo career, Banner was part of the rap group Crooked Lettaz which released an album called Grey Skies in 1999. Banner then released his first solo album called Them Fire Water Boyz, Vol. 1 in 2000. The album managed to sell over 10,000 copies in his hometown alone despite having little record label backing.
His first major-label album, Mississippi: The Album, went gold and was a critical and commercial success, 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."
The following album, MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water, was completed in two weeks at the behest of SRC executive Steve Rifkind. His fourth album, Certified was released on September 20, 2005, after repeated delays.
In 2006 Banner appeared from 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. |