A year out of the rap game, during which he did philanthropy and charity work, mainly with Hurricane Katrina victims on the Gulf Coast, has got David Banner angry.
The Southern rapper’s sophomore album is titled "The Greatest Story Ever Told," and judging solely by the title track, it seems as though the mood might indeed be a little Biblical: Old Testament-style.
"So Long" is a political diatribe and call to arms, as Banner takes aim at politicians, a complacent generation and black-on-black crime. His commanding bark rides over a cascading slo-mo beat, and it’s almost like he’s about to take a similar path as Nas with his soon-to-be-released "Untitled" album, exploring the black experience and speaking plainly about tough subjects.
That doesn’t last long, though. All of the topical, thought-out rhymes on the opener last about four minutes, and then it’s on to “Suicide Doors,” the first of many joints that doesn’t do well distinguishing itself from much of the other Southern rap out there: skittery hi-hats, deep 808 hits and lots of candy-painted Fleetwood Broughams.
There is the occasional pause for a reflective moment (“Hold On,” where Banner regrets having encouraged a youngster to hustle; the mid-tempo bump of “I Get By,” with Carl Thomas), but for the most part, it’s over-the-top synths and predictable drum patterns, with the notable exception of the off-beat “Fly,” featuring Jazze Pha, which explores familiar club-song territory but takes a musical chance or two.
Banner seems to have the lyrical and production chops to do more than this.
Sussex Countian
