Introducing ‘Notes from Mr. Sandman‘ – a column slapping a spotlight on lyricists overlooked, under appreciated, or just plain criminally slept on. Or like a man named Nas once said, “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.” Enter Mr. Sandman with what y’all missed while chasing the REM dragon.
David Banner is one of those rare hybrid lyricists that can pass through both the mainstream and underground with impunity, a challenge that hampers artists on both sides of the fence. His style can be categorized as southern rap, but it’s unique in that it he was born in Mississippi, a place where we hardly see rappers leave their own neighborhoods.
Banner delivers rhymes through grit teeth, which makes his lyrics seethe with fire. It’s a delivery that has a distinct southern twang to it, but its source comes form some place ancient, a practice that makes Banner more of an oracle than a fly-by-night poet. His energy comes from a hot coal of experience that sits deep in his belly, radiating through his body and fueling his perspective. The type of lyricist that leads with his heart first and then his mind.
On his 2000 debut, Them Firewater Boyz, Vol. 1, he combines raw golden-era style beats, slow numbers that cook with style, and laces them with narratives pulled right from the street. Banner was talking about the ghetto and pointing his weapon at the government long before it became en vogue. On “Living” he speaks from raw experience, making for a surreal trip down memory lane: [LISTEN]
Banner would remain consistent throughout the 2000s, which landed him a contract with Universal. Despite the signing he was still able to maintain his style, and became a cornerstone for a stable of MCs to emulate. He coined a sound that many attribute exclusively to Lil Jon, Outkast and UGK.
2005’s Certified is a bona fide classic. Banner produced the entire album, and brought on a variety of guests that reflect his all encompassing style—from Too Short and Talib Kweli to Elephant Man. “Ain’t Got Nothing” isn’t necessarily the best track on the album, but it showed the staying power of Banner’s style. Rap was getting pillow soft around this time, but here was Banner standing tall in his boots with a grenade in hand ready to bomb whatever tenderness was clogging the airways: [LISTEN]
After 15 years in the game Banner is still thumpin’ skulls, but he’s entering a different phase of his life. He has been a strong advocate for rap and hip-hop culture, he’s won an award for his humanitarian concerts after Hurricane Katrina and even went in front of Congress to testify on behalf of rap, saying something to the affect that if the government doesn’t like misogyny and violence in rap then they should improve the conditions hampering black america. It was bold, and exemplary of Banner’s relentless pursuit of truth. A lyrical phenom whose voice stretches across multiple platforms.
