There was a time when rappers were shockingly candid and
outspoken, regularly incurring the wrath of politicians and right wingers on a
regular basis. By contrast, today’s rap
stars avoid politically charged content like the plague. Controversy may sell, but any artist that
pushes the envelope too far risks forfeiting all that they have worked for. In such a climate, the presence of an artist
like David Banner is refreshing. I’ve
always respected his candor and passion.
That being said, I’ve never much cared for his musical output save for a
few songs. It is for that very reason
that I find his new song and video “Swag” to be a shockingly pleasant surprise.