David Banner Goes off on Before The Box, Ahead of Album Release
David Banner Delivers Epic Mixtape, Before The Box,
New album The God Box coming May 13th
Multi faceted rapper and producer, David Banner has most recently dedicated his time as an activist and public speaker. But now, the Mississippi bred talent is coming back with his new project, The God Box. The God Box will come after a 4 year hiatus. His 2012 effort Sex, Drugs and Video Games, which he released digitally was a far cry from his 2003 major label debut, Mississippi: The Album, a project which featured songs like the hit track “Like A Pimp” and “Cadillacs on 22’s.” These days Banner trades in his braggadocios attitude and misogynist street tales for a conscious and thought evoking message. He recently released a mixtape, aptly titled, Before The Box, where his message is on full display.
The Grammy winner has also been making appearances at several black colleges speaking on racism, restoring the Black community, police brutality and the state of America. Banner is currently on The God Box Lecture Tour helping spread cultural awareness and previewing the album.
The upcoming album, The God Box, which Banner is proclaiming is the “best rap album ever,” will be in stores on May 13th. The God Box features some of the game’s best producers like 9th Wonder, DJ Khalil and of course Banner himself, who is known for producing hits for everyone from Hip-Hop royalty Lil’ Wayne, T.I., UGK, and Ludacris to Gospel artists like Mary Mary and Lecrae to R&B songstress Jill Scott.
Banner’s new conscious approach leads us on a journey with the mixtape, Before The Box his newest 16 track effort. The mixtape serves as a prelude to The God Box for the fans and critics who couldn’t wait till May to hear Banner’s latest offering.
The mixtape features some great production and hits with a distinct realness as Banner guides us through the plight of being Black in America. Before The Box tackles issues from social injustice to police brutality, while also dealing with Black marriage. Some of the tracks are songs which Banner has released in the last year, other tracks are snippets of songs which will likely be featured on the upcoming album.
Before The Box opens with “My Uzi,” a track sampling the late Pimp C and Bun B, and featuring a memorable feature appearance from Big Krit. Standout tracks from the project include, “Marry Me” an ode to Black women taking a deep look at how they are portrayed In the media, and sympathizing with the pain of past relationships. Banner also joins forces with Mississippi standouts Tito Lopez and once again Big K.R.I.T. on “Pain”.
These efforts coupled with tracks like “Malcolm X,” “Black Fist,” and “Gone with the Wind,” which ends with Banner asking the listener, what if “God looked just like you?” “What if he was from Mississippi?” Easily this causes us all to look a little deeper when accessing our true identity.
Overall a solid project giving the listener a front seat as Banner continues to transcend from street figure to freedom fighter.
Download and listen to Before The Box here: