Posted on 07/17/2008
David Banner is one of the few rappers that gets respect for what he does outside of the recording booth. He’s been very vocal about the devastation of New Orleans, and his home, Mississippi, due to Hurricane Katrina, and has spoken out tremendously about the Jena 6, and the death of Sean Bell. It is obvious that he is thoughtful and articulate. Unfortunately, his new LP, The Greatest Story Ever Told, does little to shine light on a man with a progressive mind.

But I thought it was going to be insightful. At least judging from the first song, “So Long,” which spells out a call for revolution among the hip-hop generation. It addresses the gangster persona, which seems silly and irresponsible, when dealing with real issues of police brutality in black neighborhoods. What a refreshing beginning to an album.

But from there it gets spotty. Songs like “Suicide Doors,” “9mm/Speaker,” “Get like Me (Stuntin Is a Habit),” and many others are all infectious songs, but they all boast about just the things that Banner seemed to be disgusted with in the first place. And after track one, these songs were disappointing, solely based on subject matter.

I recognize that people are complex and that that complexity plays itself out in the music. And to be fair, Banner doesn’t totally negate his “moral’ persona. On “Syrup Sipping,” Banner sermonizes about how black people have lived up to the negative stereotypes of mainstream America. Unfortunately, it comes right after the hypersexual “A Girl,” dulling its potency. And on “Freedom,” Banner delivers an intense proclamation, beginning with the sound of whips cracking, about the perpetual conditions of blacks in America. But following it is the song, “B.A.N.,” which is a song about snitches.

The last song “Faith,” is awesome, but it seems out of place. And as far as the album title, The Greatest Story Ever Told, well, by the end I was confused as to what exactly the story was. Or if there even was a story. As a matter of fact, by the end of the album, I didn’t care about a story. I just wanted to go to the club. Again.

- Jason Reynolds