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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
(3.5 Stars) Certified Like the USDA!, October 1, 2005
David Banner is back with a vengeance. He stormed on the scene a couple years back with "Like A Pimp" and the not-so-popular song "Cadillac on 22s" from his debut cd Mississippi The Album. He almost immediately released MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water, a move that was obviously a decision by the label in a failed attempt to capitalize on the success and popularity of "Like A Pimp." The last time somebody did this in recent memory was when DMX put out his first two albums in the same year. The difference between the two is the fact that DMX had multiple tracks off his debut album that had extensive promotion before the second album even hit stores. But after a little time off and a major self-examination, David Banner makes his way back into the spotlight in hopes of expanding his fan base with Certified.
From the looks of the cover for Certified, one might think that it's a more reserve David Banner this time around. By no means is this the case, thankfully. He has made his songs a little more friendly with the inclusion of some R&B cats like Jagged Edge on "2 Fingers" and the almost-forgotten singer Case on "Thinking Of You." And songs like "F*cking" featuring Jazze Pha and the first single "Play" are centered around pleasing the female crowd that we all know loves almost any nasty hip-hop that comes out (a la "Wait/The Whisper Song" and "Get Low"). And David Banner reflects on the inequalities of the world with "My Life" featuring Sky. But that's really the only thing that is less hardcore on the album than with his previous offerings.
Banner has a huge selection of guest stars on the album, a technique that practically every other music artists is utilizing these days. His best collabos have to be "Ridin" surprisingly featuring Dead Prez and Talib Kweli, "Take Your" featuring the living legend Too Short along with the versatile lyricism of Bun B, and "Gangsta Walk" with Memphis' own Three Six Mafia and 8Ball & MJG. Other decent duos would be "Treat Me Like" with Jadakiss, and "On Everything" where he trades verses with Twista. Other songs are true grimy Dirty South fare like "Certified" featuring Marcus, "Ain't Got Nothin'" with Magic and Lil Boosie, and "Bloody War" with ex-Cash Money soldier BG.
There are quite a few songs that probably should've been reworked, remixed, or left off the album entirely. "Lost Souls" is the first track on the album and leaves you wondering if you should even continue listening to the rest of the album. "Westside" sounds too obnoxious and loud to even take seriously, along with the song "X-ed" with Kamikaze. And the closing song "Crossroads" featuring Grout has a hefty dose of heavy metal, something almost no one in the hood can relate to. All in all, David Banner does give a satisfying album, with a few interruptions here and there. And with the saturation of crappy albums flooding the market these days, Certified is officially worth your time and money.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
David Banner is actin' bad --and that's good, October 30, 2005
A lot of artists succumb to being over produced and *featuring* many other artists on their albums --artists that really don't add anything, except to underscore why we *have* (and need) a cutting room floor.
Not true here. Throughout this album and across the lyrics DB and friends are provocative, thoughtful, and humorous.
Banner = quality
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome cd, October 23, 2005
very good cd best songs are play, aint got nothin, crossroads,certified, gangsta walk, and treat me like
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~ David Banner
~ David Banner
~ David Banner
~ David Banner
~ Silkk the Shocker
by David Banner 
