Everyone in this scene should have heard a word or two on this Mississippi representin’ cat that is a hot producer (see Foxxy’s Producer Watchout 2k4) as well as a hot rapper, David Banner. Basically, Banner takes the often-thought-of characteristics of the state of Mississippi – poverty, racism, violence and, yes, rural backwardness – puts them into his album and combines it with everything else that’s hip hop: Pimping and all that. His new record “MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water” is no exception.

Take one side of the album: “Like a pimp” feat. Twista & Busta Rhymes which has been featured on the “2 Fast 2 Furious” soundtrack is banging: Twis’ and Busta go into a doubletimer that’s off the hook. “Crank it up” feat. Static is about the bling-bling and talks money, nothing else. So is for example “Pretty Pink” with Jazze Pha, T.I. and Marcus, also “Pop that” is on booty poppin’ and features Sky. Or, of course, the remix of “Air Force Ones” with Nelly and the legendary 8-Ball.

Then take the other side: “My Lord” with S ky & Marcus, “The Game” with Scarface, “The Christmas Song” feat. Marcus & Sky, also the interlude “Baptized in Dirty Water” all talk about the less popular topics and about the things that don’t make charthits: About poverty, about daddies that don’t have a job to feed their kids, about racism, about despaired people. The way David Banner talks about these things is very real, one gets the feeling that this person is personally involved in the issues he talks about.

Mix those two sides up with a handful of beats, mostly done by David Banner himself, which are pure dirty, dirty South, South type of music, and you have an album by David Banner that is entertaining and takes you from one pimp and hoes anthem into some of the deepest shit you hear for the moment, from loud guitars and bass lines up to melancholy samples that will make you lay back (maybe light some) and listen to what he actually says. David Banner’s album is captivant, it’s worth listening (and really listening) to. So if you’re not a hater of the South’s music, go and at least check this one out.