Mississippi born David Banner has placed himself with the likes of BB King and Muddy Waters --soul and blues artists all from below the Mason-Dixon Line.Banner started his ambitious musical career as a young boy, and by the time he was just a teenager he started the rap group Crooked Lettaz. The group released the Tommy Boy Records Grey Skies, and became nationally recognized for their politically slurred lyrics and Deep South characteristics. Banner formed Crooked Lettaz in 1996, and by 2000 he was ready for his solo career. Them Firewater Boys Vol. 1 was his debut album as a solo artist. Fellow rappers XXL and Murder Dog praised the record, claiming it was the best album of the year. Legendary music executive Steve Rifkind, who has worked with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep and Big Pun, approached the Mississippi boy and signed Banner to his SRC Label.Banner worked mercilessly to debut his first SRC label album in 2003, titling it after his home state, Mississippi. The record, Mississippi The Album made The Billboard 200 at number nine. Since this debut SRC album, Banner has created three more chart topping albums that have sparked a nationwide interest in his home state and his world. In his 2008 album The Greatest Story Ever Told, Banner showcased his producing skills on some of the tracks. He has collaborated with several different artists in the industry, from Young Joc and Jim Jones, to practically seeing Chris Brown grow into the pop and R&B sensation he is today.Besides working on his hip-hop sound, Banner has also pursued acting. He appeared in the film Black Snake Moan as well as This Christmas and Days of Wrath. He continues to give to others, founding and performing for his charity Heal the Hood, which raised over $500,000 for the Hurricane Katrina victims.