David Banner Album: “MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water [Clean]”

David Banner made his nationwide debut about this time 2003 with the hit song 'Like A Pimp' and a successful album 'Mississippi: The Album'. In almost a DMX esque fashion, he dropped another album in December 2003. Unlike DMX though, this album falls a good ways from its predecessor.

To start things off, the first single from this album is merely a remix to a song that's been too much played in the first place. 'Like A Pimp' remix adds Twista and Busta and serves as a worthy remix but fails to capture the magic of the original because they both have the same beat. The second single is flat out horrible. 'Crank It Up' hardly gets any play in the south and I sincerely doubt it gets play anywhere else. Song sucks. The lyrics on the album feel rushed and aren't as prolific as the previous one. The beats are just ok and for David Banner that is unacceptable because production is his main forte'.

With all that said this album is still infectious with some really incredible songs. Eternal and My Lord are great reflective tracks with laid back beats and real rapping. The collaboration with Scarface sounds weird at first with Banner attempting to sing but eventually works out. And Scarface takes over the track as one would expect a legend to do. Banner shows out on 'Pretty Pink' with Jazze Pha and TI that has that classic signature Jazze Pha sound. Lil Jones (although truly released on Them Firewater Boyz) displays it's classic status because it still sounds fresh today. He gets crunk on 'Mama'z House', which is truly gangsta if you listen to it ( as a matter of fact one of the most menacing tracks I've ever heard ). I could see this one causing some type of trouble. The best song though is 'Gots To Go' featuring Bun B and the ever ridin Devin The Dude. Straight up ridin with a true to life chorus.

David Banner drops above average on this one considering the facts that he isn't that dope of a rapper and that he recorded this cd in about 4 months and it has a bunch of remixes, interludes and recycled songs. In reality this should have been just an EP. But if you like David Banner this should hold you over until his next release. 3.5 Stars.

I think this cd is a little better than Mississippi and has more guest appearances on it, but less ammount of songs.

There were two interludes on here but both were dumb after a while, and just take up space.

My favorite songs are Like A Pimp, Crank It Up, Eternal, Mamas House, and Air Force Ones.

I suggest you buy this album for those songs only.

it seems like most people feel this album is better than his first on SRC and I will have to agree. I don't remember the first one being that bad but it definitely fell short of the collective effort of Crooked Lettaz Grey Skies (David Banner's former group) Banner definitely has some heat on this lp, I been bangin it nonstop since I purchased it (somethin I did not do with the first Mississippi lp) but the best song to me is a introspective joint he got with the king of the south, Scarface. This album is in the top 10 of hip hop albums to come out this year, but I strongly recommend everyone pick up the Grey Skies lp as well cause it's best hiphop albums ever to come out the south, period!

After David Banner released his first solo album, "Mississippi: The Album", he didn't waste no time at all recording and releasing its follow-up. "MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water" was released six months after his debut in December 2003.

1. Eternal - Good beat, Banner spits pretty nice, hook is pretty good - 4.5/5

2. Talk to Me (Featuring Lil' Flip) - Good beat, Banner and Flip both spit good...another great collaboration from them, hook is good - 4/5

3. Like a Pimp [Remix] (Featuring Twista & Busta Rhymes) - Good beat...same as the original version, Twista, Banner, & Busta tear it up...better than the original...same hook as before...still good though - 4.5/5

4. Crank it Up (Featuring Static) - Good beat, Banner spits pretty good, Static's hook is good - 4.5/5

5. Pretty Pink (Featuring Jazze Pha, T.I., & Marcus) - Good beat, Banner, T.I., & Marcus all spit good, Jazze's hook is pretty good - 4/5

6. Pop That (Featuring Sky) - Great beat, Banner spits good, Sky's hook and singing is great...song fades and answering machine message plays for the rest of the track (around 50 seconds) - 4/5

7. My Lord (Featuring Sky & Marcus) - Good beat, Banner and Marcus spit pretty good, hook is great - 5/5

8. The Game (Featuring Scarface) - Good beat, Face and Banner spit real nice...the track is just too slow paced to keep my attention, Banner's hook is kinda weak and repeats wayyy too much - 2/5

9. Gots to Go (Featuring Devin the Dude & Bun B) - Good beat, Banner and Bun spit good, Devin's verse is wack, hook is pretty good - 3.5/5

10. The Christmas Song (Featuring Marcus & Sky) - Good beat, Banner & Marcus spit real hard, Sky has a great verse as well, hook is good - 4.5/5

11. Baptized in Dirty Water (Interlude)

12. Ooh Aah - Good beat, Banner spits pretty good, hook is pretty good - 4/5

13. Mama's House (Featuring Frekzanatcha) - Pretty good beat, Banner & Frekz spit pretty nice, hook is lame - 3/5

14. So in Love - Pretty good beat, Banner spits good, hook is weak - 3/5

15. Lil' Jones (Featuring Bone Crusher) - Not feeling the beat, Banner spits good...Bone Crusher is wack, don't understand the hook at all - 1/5

16. Air Force Ones [Remix] [Bonus Track] (Featuring Nelly & Eightball) - Good beat, everyone spits good, hook is great - 5/5

17. We Ride Them Caddies (Featuring Marcus) - Good beat, Banner spits faster and pretty good...Marcus's verse is good as well, hook is good - 4.5/5

18. The End (Interlude)

Overall: 61/80

3.5 Stars

Compared to his first release, Banner definitely stepped his game up. The tracks on this album are much better but there still were a couple that were terrible. Overall this cd is a lot better than his first, but it still needs a lot of work.

2003 was a good year for David Banner. This was the year that he hit it big with his infectious hit "Like A Pimp", which featured his new rhyme partner and Texan King Lil Flip. "Like A Pimp" came from his mainstream debut "Mississippi: The Album", which was nothing short of a regional classic. Having enjoyed this immensely, I was amazed to see Banner drop his sophmore album just months later, coming in the form of "MTA2: Baptized In Dirty Water". I was expecting a lot and I certainly wasn't dissopointed.

Whilst it's not as good as it's predecessor, it's still an amazing effort. The first two singles were nothin' short of hot. "Like A Pimp (Remix)" is true southern style, adding Chicago fast-tongue Twista and remix king Busta Rhymes. It's hot, not as good as the original, but still hot. Then came "Crank It Up" and this is pure crunk. Whilst it's not one of the albums stronger points of the album it's still pretty decent and worth a few listens. These two lead singles were good, but didn't compare two Banner's other two singles - "Like A Pimp" and "Caddillac On 22's". This is the feel of the album. Hot, but not all that an' a bag of chips.

With all that said, I'm really feeling this album. "Eternal", "Pop That" and "My Lord" are all amazing reflective cuts, which display Banner's true rhyming ability over his own great beats. These are arguably the best songs on the album. "Talk To Me" was the next Banner/Flip callabo, and whilst it's nowhere near as good as "Like A Pimp" it's still crunk to the fullest. I was hoping for more from this duo but I can nod my head this number. "Gots To Go" is ridin' with the ever outstanding Bun B and Devin The Dude. "Mama's House" and "Lil Jones" are two infectious crunk cuts. "The Christmas Song" is a different kind of ghetto tale and shows how diverse Banner can be. Other good songs include "Pretty Pink", "Ooh Aah" and "We Ride Them Caddies".

I think this is a pretty good album, with a couple good remixes and insightful skits. If you're looking for some different crunk music to bump bump bump in your ride this is just the ticket. If you're looking for a good album outta the south, this is definetley up there. 4 stars.