Banner wasn't always the David Banner. He was a regular boy from Jackson, a non-economically thriving area of Mississippi who was dreaming of making it big as a rap superstar. He was born Levell Crump on April 11, 1973. His father Zeno Crump, Jr., a respectable District Fire Chief and his mother Carolyn Crump were two people who raised Banner in a simple way, sticking their values to religious beliefs. Little Banner learned music from instruments like keyboards and second hand drum set but his power laid on his ability to eject words rapidly through his lips. Stepping up to the game to debut his rapping skill, he showcased the talent when he attended Northwest Jackson Middle School. Going to high school he took a part time job as grocery bagger in a local Kroger store and used the salary to aid his music career. He would create his own music, put it on a CD and sell it to the Jackson natives. The career did not take off immediately but it was his meeting with rapper Kamikaze that really put a base on his career today.