Combining rebellious energy with Mississippi's musical heritage are Jackson's own hip-hop heralds, Crooked Lettaz. Crooked Lettaz consists of two remarkable young men, David Banner (Levell Crump) and Kamikaze (Brad Franklin). For Crooked Lettaz, the mission is clear: "You can find parallel hip-hop with all the struggles and adversities that Black people have gone through," explains David Banner, who also produced 85% of the album. "As far as leadership and direction, hip-hoppers are accepting anything, no matter how wack the MC is. If the beat is dope, people over look the lyrics. Crooked Lettaz is putting an end to that."
Banner and Kamikaze decided to join forces two years ago to combat the monotony of today's rap music. "We were both a par of the same crew, but Kamikaze was already in a group and I was a solo artist." David Banner continues, "But something seemed to be missing. So I thought the two us should hook up and represent for our city. It was time for us to shine." Kamikaze adds to the definition of Crooked Lettaz' goals: "We really deliver a double message. First our rhymes and our premise is revolutionary for Black people in general. We are revolting against the system that has held us down mentally, spiritually, and financially. Also, Mississippi MC's have been underrated and underestimated for a long time; it's a new day for us."
When Crooked Lettaz recorded their first demo tape the results were incredible. The impressive cuts garnered them high profile features in the upper echelon of rap's premier publications: Rap Sheet, Beat Down, Rap Pages and 4080. The homemade tape landed then in the pages of The Source's "Unsigned Hype" column at the beginning of their career. Now on the verge of releasing their debut album, Grey Skies, The Source named Crooked Lettaz "Top New Artist of 1998."
Grey Skies mixes stirring Southern Gospel music, lethal lyrical flows, and soul stirring beats. "To me, the album is a blessing that was laid upon us. The whole concept is that everything on the album leads up to one point, we're going from gritty to grimy. We're trying to bring everybody together, from the intellectuals to the hardest hardcore heads."
Signed to Penalty Recordings since the beginning of 1997, Crooked Lettaz deviate from "ordinary" rap groups. Both brothers degrees: Kamikaze has a Bachelors in Mass Communications from Jackson State University and Banner, who is currently pursuing his Masters in Education at the University of Maryland, holds a Bachelors in Business Management from Southern University. Combining their academic excellence with urban intelligence distinguishes Crooked Lettaz style.
On the verge of blowing up and bringing the pain on a national level, Crooked Lettaz' final mission statement is simple: "We are letting people know," says Kamikaze. "Come back home, come back down South. It's the roots of your past and the roots of your struggle."
– Cleon Alert