Mississippi: The Album

In 2003, rapper/producer David Banner was Mississippi's most prominent representative in mainstream rap—hence the fierce hometown pride on his largely self-produced major-label debut. His delivery can be gruff and in your face, channelling crunk’s minimalist aggression on the Lil Jon–produced “Might Getcha” and interpolating UGK on the stripped-down yet massive breakout hit “Like a Pimp". But Banner is impressively versatile: “Cadillac on 22’s”, with twangy guitars overlaid by snappy 808s, showcases his melodic double-time flow.