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Click here to view all of Benz0's reviews David Banner Album Review: CERTIFIED “I’m an ex-con, I’m a vagabond, I’m the president’s pawn in a chess game and if you look a little closer…man it’s you too..” - David Banner, “X-Ed”. My first introduction to David Banner was the song “Like a Pimp”. I was intrigued by Banner not only because the aforementioned track was so sonically powerful but also he happened to be from Jackson, Mississippi. I was curious to see what would be on the mind of anyone living in that oppressed, racist, gang-ridden state. And as you watched the video to “Like a Pimp” you saw right off the bat the KKK imagery mingled in with defiant images of black power. It became apparent that below the surface of Banner’s pimpology was a strong desire for him to also sneak in his critiques on American’s racist power structure. Things became WAY clearer to me about where Banner stands on political activism when I was lucky enough to catch him in concert at a Chicago downtown club called Funky Buddha Lounge. Right from the start you could see the powerful presence he had on stage and then out of no where the guy jumps on one of his security guard’s back and starts ripping the mic in the middle of the club among the patrons. He then made it a point to throw some profanities out about George Bush and was undeterred by the fact that the crowd was 50% white. He spoke his mind, spoke the need for unity between black and white - not just amongst blacks - and in between showed his human side by flirting with every chic near the stage. A powerful mix of ideals David Banner represents indeed. After that thrilling and politically charged performance I was finally compelled to buy his newest album, CERTIFIED, on G.P. (general principal). See I have a soft spot for any politically oriented rapper as I used to practically worship Public Enemy back in the day as they helped reinforce the ideals of my parents who instilled in me a sense of pride in being black. Public Enemy let me know that being black didn’t mean I had to succumb to the racism of America and live out the stereotypes that so many young black men and women fall victim to. But I was curious how David would find a way to mix in his rebel type ideology he was spitting at the club and still put out music that the dumb masses crave. Well listening to the album he definitely packaged everything into it including his political views but can such a marriage of commercialism and activism work? David Banner considers himself a true rap fan that started listening to groups like Mantronix and Stetsasonic back in ’87 while also finding groups like NWA on the West Coast and UGK in the South just as appealing. Thus his goal was ”let me put together what I think would be the best rap album that a rap fan has heard in a long time”. So what we get on this album CERTIFIED is a potpourri of musical styles and ideology. To please his down South crunk rap fans he give us “Treat Me Like” featuring Jadakiss and “Gangsta Walk” featuring super group Three-Six Mafia and MJG. DJ Paul has one of the best lines on the whole album as he quotes “I’m affiliated with more terrorists than George Bush!!”. Classic. Continuing the down South theme he gives us “Certified” (One of the top songs on the album), “Ain’t Got Nothing”, “Bloody War” featuring one of my favorites in B.G. and the HBCU flavored “On Everything” whose track literally uses music that you would routinely hear at the halftime show of HBCU’s like FAMU or Grambling. “On Everything” also features the super powers of Twista who elevates the song to another level. As a FAMU alumnus I immediately fell in love with this song and had the sudden urge to go to Homecoming to hear the best marching band in the world - FAMU’s “Marching 100. Of course you gotta sell records so Banner smartly made “Play” his first single off of the album that is still getting major club play. The video is also in the running for top 5 video of the year right up there with “The Whisper Song” as we get treated to multiple “hot bodies” working out for David. Ironically the explicit version of the song HAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MEANING showing the true genius of the video. Backing “Play” up is the formulaic “2 Fingers” that is your typical guy singing on the chorus, borderline R&B, party song. There’s a hiphop business myth that says ladies drive hiphop sales so to please the ladies further, Banner gives them “F*****G”, and “Thinking of You”. Both extremely forgettable. By the time you get to Track 14 though you get to Banner’s best efforts as of course tracks 14-17 are his politically charged, socially aware, rebellious songs. “Ridin’” features my homies Dead Prez and also Talib Kweli who all quickly remind us that in America sometimes you still got be a ni**a to remind America that we just might take up firearms against the man if anymore of our basic freedoms are taken from us. “Crossroads” is a great and musically risqué rock laden track that represents a powerful uplifting Dungeon Family type song that you really feel in your soul. The intro song, “Lost Souls”, is similarly powerful and uplifting. But Banner is at his best on “X-Ed” as he tag teams with his ex-partner Kamikaze to give us a Public Enemy type angry song whose main theme is “I’ve been X-Ed from the system, X-Ed from the hood and you wonder why I’m up to no good?!!!”. Alas I have to conclude that overall the album frustrates me. David’s strengths are obviously putting together powerful socially conscious and politically angry ballads. Yet because of the pressure rappers have nowadays to literally feed their family off of the proceeds of their music career, rappers like Banner must put all this other formulaic crap on the album too. Because of this the album isn’t always enjoyable as you wade through the so-so collaborations and blatant attempts at commercialism. I would love to say this album is a must have due to the 5 powerful political/socially aware songs Dave gives us here but this album isn’t consistent enough to be a must have. Solid effort but until David starts having the ballz to dedicate himself to making the majority of the songs on his album mean something we will never get a must have effort from him. C’mon Dave we’re waiting for you to take your political calling to that next level!
Benz0
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