Hip-Hop has always been a lie. They give you all these rules and what Hip-Hop is about and, this sh*t is really just to control people.
I agree. While talking with David Banner, the rapper/activist who has always been a controversial figure in the culture, I could hear his frustration with the industry. “I don’t care if nobody in this world gives “My Uzi” the credit that it deserves bro” the 42-year-old Mississippi native tells me over the phone, “I put a real f**king symphony orchestra, line for line beat for beat.” Though the south has been flying high lately with budding stars such as Future and Young Thug grasping a choke hold on the rap game, Banner says it wasn’t always this way. “If you were anywhere over that bridge, they didn’t want to give it to you.” He says over the phone, “Hip-Hop has always been elitest. Being the best is relative, we already know we’re dope.”
Born Lavell Crump, you might know David Banner from his club bangin’ hits such as “Like A Pimp” or “Play“, or from his roles in movies like This Christmas or The Butler, but nowadays he’s being touted more for his efforts in the community. Whether it’s through his foundation Heal The Hood which gives underprivileged kids gifts during the holidays, or it’s through his lectures, Banner is making a difference. Though his efforts and his attention to the community are only now being recognized, Banner says he’s always been this way. “If you look back to the “Like A Pimp” video, I was burning confederate flags then!” says Banner, “It’s just that now I have the twisted hair and the long grey beard so I’m profound.” The struggle between keeping it real and keeping it popping has always been there for Banner, “One time I was doing a show, and I played Malcolm — “Malcolm X (A Song To Me)” — and then right after I played “Like A Pimp” and the crowd was shocked that I would go from topic to topic just like that.” He says, “It frustrated me. Just because I’m conscience don’t mean I don’t like to f***!” Still, that doesn’t stop him from speaking his mind freely. Banner has gained mass attention lately with controversial interviews on VladTV and other outlets through his comments on things such as white rappers, the N-word, and more.
Hip-Hop has always been elitest. Being the best is relative, we already know we’re dope.
Growing up as a mixed kid who looked predominately white but was always being seen with his black father — the looks we receive to this day are hilarious — the N-word was and has always been an enigma to me. “Should we say it? Should we not say it? Since I look more white, should I say it?” were always thoughts that lingered through the back of my mind as a child. On this subject, Banner said something that really struck me. He told me, “Most people use that word to seem cool. But then when it’s time to step up and help our people, they aren’t for it.” On the subject of biracial rappers specifically, he told me, “They’ll use the word n***er freely, but you’ll never hear them say cracker or devil at all” On the surface, I disagreed with this comment whole heartedly. I mean c’mon, J.Cole — probably the most famous biracial rapper save Drake — was on the front lines of the fight in Ferguson and New York in recent years. Also, off tops, I can name two songs where he makes comments about his struggles of being in the middle in “Rich Niggaz” and “Grew Up Fast“. But then once I sat down and actually pondered over the words he spoke, he was absolutely right. The N-word was never meant to be used as a term of endearment. It’s roots are in shaming the African race and only because our people got tired of feeling terrible, did it derive into a term of endearment. This was a notion mirrored by Banner. “Black people have been mentally beat down to the point where we accept that sh*t” He says. I asked him what other alternatives could our people use in substitution. “Anything! You can literally put anything right there and it would be better. Call me a god, call me a chair, call me something else. But don’t call me your n***er.” says Banner, “I don’t wanna be your n***er.” He continued, “It’s a shame that people get more offended when another man humbles himself to call you a God than being called a b**ch or a n***er, I don’t get it.”
Through this interview with David Banner, I learned a lot about not only the way people think, but how artists think. “You know why it takes certain artists so long to release music?” He says to me, “It’s because we care. When we put all of our spirit into a song and people don’t feel it bro, it breaks our f****ng heart.” He continues, “The people who don’t care and the game is a hustle to them, they’ll keep putting out music everyday. One of them motherf***ers will hit!” Though he didn’t name any artists specifically, immediately an interview with Lil’ Uzi Vert came to mind. On Ebro In The Morning recently, Uzi famously told Hot 97 host Ebro Darden that he wasn’t a rapper. “I’m a rockstar” said Uzi right before he declined to rap over a DJ Premier beat. Similarly, during an interview shortly after, also with Ebro In The Morning, internet sensation Lil’ Yachty mirrored Uzi’s comments by basically saying he doesn’t take this Hip-Hop sh** too seriously and that he’s just young and getting money. There’s nothing wrong with thinking like that, especially since I’ve never heard Uzi nor Yachty attempt to solidify their spot in the lyricist lounge, but that’s exactly what Banner was referring to. Nowadays a lot of artists are in the business to make money and experience the “lifestyle” while artists like Banner who pay attention to every little detail, are casted off as “weirdos”. “Man my music is like my babies, I’ve mixed records on The God Box 10-12 times and I’ve spent 3 stacks to get my sh** to get engineered.”
It’s a shame that people get more offended when another man humbles himself to call you a God than being called a b**ch or a n***er, I don’t get it.
After having this conversation with David Banner, I’ve emerged more excited to hear his new project The God Box, than I have been since Compton came out last year. Too often in this business when an artist reaches a certain age or stature in his career, we disregard his hunger for the art of music. We’ve seen it with Ludacris, who Banner says in his opinion “has never spit a whack verse”, when rappers get older and branch out, we tend to stop giving a f*** about their bars. After speaking with Banner and hearing his recent work such as “My Uzi” — especially the Swishahouse Remix — The God Box will surely be worthy of our attention.
Be sure to go pre order The God Box, which is slated to be released August 19th, here.
Suggested Articles:
David Banner featuring Big K.R.I.T. – “My Uzi” (Lyric Video)
Exclusive Online Interview: David Banner – “It’s More Than The Music”
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1 Comment
Damn Mr.Banner hit it on the head saying black people have been mentally beatin down to the point we accept that shit. Very excited to listen to The God Box after reading this article!