MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water

David Banner’s debut, Mississippi, was both a pointed socio-cultural critique of his native state and a crunked-up shout-along party record. His follow-up doesn’t change course much: A cursory listen spills raw syncopated beats, grimy synth riffs, and lots of grunting and chest-thumping. But closer examination reveals the sort of knowing contradictions that make Banner fascinating. “Tell those hatin’-ass niggas that they can suck a dick,” Banner spits on the first track, “Eternal,“ before opening the first verse with the seemingly incongruous declaration, “I spend most of my time trying to praise the Lord.” He’s more than just a thug with a Jesus fixation, though: His screeds against religion, racism and, um…“hatin’-ass niggas” are substantive. Banner gives context to his tales of thieving in “The Christmas Song” and mourns the streets’ ever-changing rules on the bluesy “The Game.” There are a few more pop hooks scattered around than on his debut, but the sound remains decidedly raw, as if baptized in the dirty water of life on the fringes in the Dirty South.