Lavell William Crump (created April 11, 1974), better known by his stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer, and occasional performer. Produced in Jackson, Mississippi, Banner graduated from Southern University and pursued a masters of instruction in the University of Maryland.
He graduated from Provine High School in Jackson in 1992 and then attended Southern University, his mom’s alma mater. At Southern, Crump served as president of the Student Government Association and received a bachelor’s degree in operation. He attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to continue a master’s degree in education but afterwards left the plan to pursue his music career full time. His dad Zeno expired on June 17, 2007. Crump’s stage name “David Banner” is taken in the lead character of the television series, The Incredible Hulk. With several of his buddies, Banner sent some demo tapes to Jackson, Mississippi radio station, WJMI. In 1999, Banner and rapper Kamikaze as the duet, Crooked Lettaz, released Grey Skies (Penalty Records). In 2000, Banner released his solo debut album, Them Firewater Boyz, Vol. 1. Released on the independent label, Big Face Records, the record sold around 7,000 copies. When the record’s single, “Like a Pimp”, became a radio hit, Banner started to bring major label interest. After evaluating various offers, Banner and supervisor, Scott Johnson, decided to sign with Universal Records subsidiary company, SRC Records, that was set up by Steve Rifkind who’d previous success as CEO of the heavyweight hip hop label, Loud Records. In 2003, Banner released his first major label record, Mississippi: The Album. Mississippi contained the hit single, “Like a Pimp”, featuring Lil Flip. He released the follow up record the exact same year titled MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water which given the hit, “Crank It Up”, featuring Static Major.