David Banner journeys to the opposite end of the Rap-o-sphere on his fifth studio album. Where every album prior showcased the Mississippi emcee’s skills behind the mic and the boards, he hands production duties over to 9th Wonder this time out, allowing the North Carolina beat-miner to craft the score to the spaceship ride that is Death Of A Pop Star.
It only takes 30 minutes for Banner to completely redefine his lyrical reputation. He’s always been a skillfully aggressive rapper, but hearing him relentlessly attack track after track with varying styles and levels of introspection — dropping dime after dime like Hugh Hefner — over 9th’s snare heavy, east coast sound is the truest testament to his range as a rapper yet seen.
His suicidal thoughts speak for the millions still suffering through the current Great Recession on “Diamonds On My Pinky”. “Dreams of screaming demons hearing death whisper ‘Hello’ / My shell’s strong / My soul is Green Lantern wearing yellow / Hella weak,” he raps over the album opener’s haunting choir and charging bass line, then closing the song with six of the year’s realest bars:
“Bang / It’s the same damn thang / The Boys Clubs are closing while they building PF Chang’s / Look it at your pinky ring / It got souls on it man…But I’m from Mississippi where you let your nuts hang / And where the white folks let my ancestors do the same”
It’s an awesome verse, really. One of many that shapes Death of A Pop Star’s beautiful struggle motif. The rich, soulful production feels celebratory throughout, while the weighty, visceral content fosters introspection, demanding repeated listens. “The richer that you get the more you turn away from God / And the poorer that you are the more you steal because it’s hard / We hope for the precious like smeagol living regal,” Banner kicks Redman style on “No Denying (Channel 3)” 
. 9th’s emphatic organs and electronic blips on “The Light” are raucous enough to incite a riot while lines like “Yeah they twisted religion / Made Satan a Christian / Gave us Barack Obama, then we fell off the mission” are enough to incite a riot for a cause.
“Something Is Wrong” (featuring Lisa Ivey) is sonically generic, but Banner’s vivid depiction of a conversation with a homosexual is simultaneously gut wrenching and enlightening — the type of verse that opens minds through it’s visceral honesty.
“Women playing men but why do men play women? / I saw one in Ugg boots and real tight denims / Man, he had Apple Bottoms on / So I walked over to him and asked ‘what’s wrong?’…He said ‘David Banner I remember when he raped me / Taped me to the bed / Binded both legs / I blanked out and woke up in a pool of red / Changed my whole world / I guess my stepdad thought that I should’ve been a girl’”
Even the chick track’s rock right any day of the week. Banner impresses on “Be With You” by nearly matching wits with guest Ludacris — never an easy feat, especially over a backdrop that sounds custom made for the Atlanta lyricist. Anthony Hamilton croons lovely on “Stutter” as DB stutter-steps his affections for a breezy across the room. “Silly” sounds perfect with it’s quintessential 9th Wonder beat and Erykah Badu on the hook. 9th’s lone verse here is surprisingly fresh, feeling like a victory lap of sorts considering he largely laced Death of A Pop Star with an expansive array of audio dopeness.
“Slow Down,” with Banner’s strategically placed breaks in his breakneck double time delivery and ho-hum production sounds hoky, corny even. And the “Mas 4” beat steals the spotlight, relegating Banner to the background. Those are the album’s only immediate speed bumps, unfortunate albatrosses on an overall tour de force that impressively offers something for everyone while remaining uncompromising.
Death Of A Pop Star is arguably David Banner’s best work to date, and certainly the most digestible to those jarred by the Crooked Lettaz’ front-man’s production. Additionally, this is 9th Wonder’s most complete pet project since Murray’s Revenge. It’s brevity is balanced by a high quality collection of songs screaming replay value throughout. The album is both diverse and earnest, commanding and club ready. Above all, it places the Mississippi emcee’s mic skills front and center, highlighting his ability to captivate lyrically and stylistically over beats he’s never approached previously. The pop star may be dead, but David Banner and 9th Wonder are still shining; shining brighter than ever.
very solid album by banner. by far his best album.
ohhh, i think album is solid, it has great taste and concept but in my opinion it didn’t deserve a 4
Must-buy. Should’ve made Year End lists.
agreed. i wish that is had come earlier this year, it would have been a smash for sure.
Productively, this is 9th’s best work since Murs 3:16.
Lyrically, this is David Banner’s best work period.
5/5 stars. I listened to this album many times more than My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and it doesn’t bore me one bit. In fact, I dare say it’s better. I appreciate the fact 9th doesn’t have to reach out to 3+ producers a track to work off a sample, and STILL comes off with subpar rhymes. Sure, 32 mins isn’t fair to judge next to a 1 hour and 10 mins, but MBDTF is not fun to listen to start to finish like this album.
This was a GREAT collaboration. Can’t wait for Killer Mike and El-P now!
True Statement. MBDTF is fucking garbage and Kanye sucks ass now with the lyrics.
Clarification: 9th never needed multiple producers to work off a sample, and David Banner never comes with subpar rhymes like Kanye did all over his album.
The production values are high as Banner’s lyricism. I would give 4.5, it’s an outstanding project, but let’s give an X-mas gift..
Great record
This is dope!
good 2 hear d banner on some better beats
yo
Just a great album. 9th’s best work in a long while.
Album of the Year. I dare say this is damn close to beating Kanye’s MBDTF.
In my opinion it is. Lyrically without a question, but I see the argument when you put the 9 producers that helped Kanye out with the album verse the one man army 9th Wonder.
Umm have you listened to Distant Rlatives? Thats album of the year without a doubt.
Yup, but Nas didn’t “surprise” me it was more on Damian and Stephen Marley’s part that impressed me the most. THIS album is the most solid comeback for an emcee since Q-Tip’s “The Renaissance”.
distant relatives was great, but i felt the production was a little predictable and there wasnt enough nas for my taste. this is also a great album, but i put how i got over as the best album.
definitely a dope album, but not album of the year. That has got to go to Big K.R.I.T., and his album K.R.I.T. Wuz Here. A fellow rapper from Mississippi, if you haven’t heard him yet you need to quit sleeping and check him out.
A Must BUY!!! HIPHOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111
I’ve never been much of a Banner fan, but this is converting me quickly.
Same here. I’m pretty sure Banner’s made some positive songs before that were deeply overshadowed by songs like Play and Get Like Me. Nice to see he’s made an album full of positive material. I love it!
9mm always made me think banner was just a stupid pop rapper, but this shit completely turned me towards him.
Definitely David Banner’s best album ever.
This is exactly what i have wanted to hear from banner since he came out. dude always had a mass ammount of potential on the mic that finally showed
Classic Shit right here. This will be on repeat in my car for awhile. 9th always kills it and he gave banner a good chance to really show what he has had in him for a long time.
The most under rated album of the year!!!!
THE BEST TRUE HIP-HOP THAT I HAVE HEARD IN A WHILE.
BANNER BROUGHT THE SOUL BACK INTO HIP-HOP WITH THIS ALBUM.
David Banner and 9th Wonder saved Black music with the truth.
This is the death of the pop star version of Banner, and the birth of Banner the lyricist
couldnt of said it better my self….
Gotta agree with this being one of the best albums of the year. From Dallas, lived in the south my whole life, and I’ve heard a lot of Banner. Never been a fan.
He came hard on this album though, and changed up his entire style in the process. Gotta give him his dues for that alone. Cop this shit.
It’s not everyday that we are gonna get REAL SHIT like this. Please BUY the album and support hip-hop. 5 stars easy, it’s short but very to the point. Fuck bootleggers, BUY THE ALBUM
9th wonder definitely does wonders, he made Banner sound good. Its a nice album.
Does this album contain explicit lyrics, or is it clean version?
Classic. Only problem with the album, not long enough.
This album is great. All the beats are good, the lyrics are good especially on “Diamonds on my Pinky” and “Slow Down”. David Banner holds down songs on his own (with the help of 9th Wonder of course). It’s definitely one of my favorite albums of late 2010. I hate that it was so short, though, and I have the one with bonus tracks.
but not just this album, look at ye’s, cudi’s, b.o.b., slim thug and waynes, they’re all just about 13 tracks. Back in the day if you had 17 tracks your album it was short, now-a-days if you put 11 tracks on an album youre good to go, shits whack.
Actually, back in the day dudes only put about 11-13 tracks on a record. It wasn’t until Master P came through with albums that were 25 tracks long that people started following suit. Times have changed again though. You get more complete albums when they’re shorter. Most “classics” aren’t long as hell.
waiting fot all the “9th wonder’s beats” sound the same comments. it’s called a signature syle al la pete rock, primo, etc
Nice, good to hear these two working together.
Banner representin for the Sip! Much luv to my boy from crooked lettaz!
Dope Album, the beats compliment Banner’s flow very well but I just realized it was edited is their an explicit version?
Haven’t found an explicit version yet, even with a purchased version of this album I got an edited copy. Surprisingly doesn’t mess up his flow at all.
9th is bringin niggas careers back to life. If your album sales are in a slump call 1800 9th wonder. Check out the list of people he made relevant….
1. Buckshot: The Formula is my favorite album to this day.
2.Murs: 3:16 is classic. To the point that unless 9th did production I won’t buy a Murs album.
3.David Banner: I have never brought a Banner album. This will be my first.
4.Little Brother: They was super hot when he was behind the boards. Now they not.
Dude, you are my hero. I’m not sure how The Formula slipped past me, but I finally got onto that shit today and it’s been in rotation all night. God-damn.
well, i wouldnt call him if your sales are low, nigga hasnt sold 200k+ ever…but if you wanna make some dam good music call him.
Dope!
Fucking amazing
One of the best hip-hop albums of 2010
9th wonder and buckshot is dope too
This shit is hard as fuck
Easily the best TRUE hip hop album of the year…Can’t stop banging it everyday…This is grown folk hip hop
There’s only one thing wrong with this album…David Banner and his whack flow. I feel like 9th wanted to make an album with a mainstream album and had to settle for david banner.
mainstream artist*
Soooooooooo goooooooood!
How much did David Banner pay you to lie like this album is great? This album is horrible. I can’t understand the lyrics. Ninth Wonder’s production was boring. How can anyone say this album is the bomb when is a bomb?
I’m not one for racist remarks or name calling but are you white? i’m just saying this album spoke to my SOUL and is truly the best i’ve heard in a while! You misunderstood the message son…..listen again and get back at me! lol
Beautiful is how I sees it.