David Banner chatted with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about entrepreneurship on Scoop B Radio. Photo via Instagram.

Many people know David Banner as a talented lyricist and equally talented producer responsible for hits such as ‘Like A Pimp,’ ‘Get Like Me,’ and ‘Cadillac on ’22s.’ But what’s equally admirable is what he’s done in addition to the hip hop culture that he’s kind of been quiet about.

“What happens with me is I think it is very important, for you to become a success first,” David Banner told me on Scoop B Radio. “I think sometimes that black people in general, we run our mouth before, you know; we seem to put the carriage before the horse. What I wanted to do was, I wanted to be successful in a sector where there were not a lot of black people.”

Check Out David Banner and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson‘s chat on Scoop B Radio

Banner believes that diversifying portfolios is the only way to get ahead in the economy as an entrepreneur: 

“I own a multimedia company, people don’t know I did the music for Gatorade, for the World Cup, Mercedes Benz. I did like a whole season for Pepsi, all the music for Pepsi for the NFL season besides the Super Bowl. I scored video games, I scored movies, I done 12 major brands and the bad thing about it is, most of that money went from paying back taxes, for not knowing about it, you know, as a rapper. But, I just wanted to gain power, real power. I wanted to get to a point where nobody could stop me, you know. And what people don’t understand, as a leader, as a pan Africanist, one thing that I learned is one of the reasons why children don’t wanna be revolutionaries, because all the ones we loom up to were broke, lonely, crackhead or something. Malcolm died with $300 to his name, that’s what he left his family with.”

Banner broke it down further:

“After all the stuff that he gave, you know to people all over the world; globally, you know people don’t talk about the fact that Harry Belefonte and his friends were funding Martin Luther King. So why do the people who give the most that are black die broke? When you know revolutionaries from other countries and other walks of life they go down in history and their family live good and they live to be 80 and 90 years old and we die at 26 and 34. I just said that I wanted to be sure that I’m able to truly stand for the people and I think the only way you do that is to have success and then make a sacrifice.”

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The post Scoop B: David Banner Says Producing For Brands Like Pepsi, World Cup, Mercedes Benz Diversed His Portfolio appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

July 2015: David Banner helps to celebrate Patchwerk Studio’s 20th anniversary…as part of RESPECT.’s 23rd issue, Jazze Pha, Dungeon Family, Monica and more joined Banner in paying homage to the long-standing Atlanta recording studio.

Check out our latest interview with Banner here; you can also pick up the Mississippi emcee-producer’s latest album, The God Box.

The post PHOTO OF THE DAY: June 8th, 2017 appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: David Banner

It has been seven years since David Banner released the album Death Of A Pop Star with 9th Wonder, which was done by design. He took his time to create his latest album, The God Box, as he was fueled by the people he encountered on his speaking tours, he wanted to create something that spoke to the experience that black men have in this country – decidedly political, potentially even antagonistic, but that’s Banner’s style. He has never been one to let his thoughts or ideas sit idle.

The God Box features an all-star cast, including Cee-Lo, Raheem DeVaughn, Big K.R.I.T., Black Thought, Trinidad James, WatchtheDuck and Big Rube. While Dave handles the production on half of the album himself, he also enlists production from DJ Khalil, DJ Swiff, Chris “THX” Goodman and more.

When asked what The God Box is, Banner states:

Tt’s more than an album, it’s an art exhibit. It’s sort of like a secret. It’s something that people are going to have to come to their own conclusions on. Everyone will get something different out of the album; and I’ll let the listener decide what that is.

Stream the album below:

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The post David Banner Delivers His Latest LP ‘The God Box’ [Stream] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

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.

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The post RESPECT. Interview: Getting Introspective With David Banner appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Instead of asking the Jackson, Missippi-native rapper if he’s lost, after listening to “The Cross,” you should know the answer to that question: He’s trying to take Jesus off of the cross. Not really sure what that means or what Mr. Banner intended to say, instead of guessing, stream the track below featuring X and wait for his new project “The God Box,” set to come out in February.

The post New Music: David Banner – “The Cross” featuring X appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

December 4th, 2007 marks the day legendary rapper Pimp C passed on to greater pastures and left the hip hop game hurting with his absence. Before making his heavenly transition, the UGK emcee left behind a collection of his work not only including that of which we’ve already heard, but enough unreleased material to keep his legacy alive for years after his passing. To celebrate the 8th anniversary of his departure, Pimp C’s Wife Chinara Butler teamed up with long-time friend/producer of Pimp’s Mr. Lee and rapper Juicy J to compile a project that allows the southern artist to breathe some new life into hip hop titled, Long Live The Pimp. Featuring such artists as Nas, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, Ty Dolla $ign, T.I., 8Ball and MJG, and more, Pimp C is definitely delivering a posthumous mixing of some old with a little bit of new on this album. Giving RESPECT. Magazine an exclusive look into the late Chad Butler‘s life and work, Mrs. Butler and Mr. Lee recently took the time to speak on the upcoming project.

RESPECT. Magazine: Long Live The Pimp comes out on December 4th. What was the importance of releasing the project on the 8th anniversary of Pimp C’s death?

Chinara Butler: Well, normally every year recently after Chad passed, I started doing Chad ‘Pimp C’ Butler Hip Hop, Health & Wellness event. Me and him had a daughter together, and…her birthday is also on the 15th (of December). When he died, her birthday was a day after the funeral. After that, I felt like we should honor him and it should be–I didn’t want it to be a sad situation. We still do the Chad Hip Hop Health event, but I thought this would be the perfect time to celebrate him as an artist and why not do it on the day he passed?

RM: What was the significance of the artists you chose to feature?

CB: The whole process was basically to broaden Chad’s audience to keep his legacy alive so I wanted to mix a little old with a little new so, I feel like, what UGK and Chad had already done in his career. We have a little A$AP, 8Ball and MJG, got a little Nas; I probably went different directions people wouldn’t expect Chad to, but I’ve always been through the process so this wouldn’t be foreign for him.  

RM: Mr. Lee, being one of the co-executive producers, what was your vision behind putting this project together?

Mr. Lee: The biggest agenda I had was making sure that it was something that Pimp C would have wanted to do. Also, having the mindframe of kind of seeing the future a little bit to being able to move into the future of what Pimp C would have wanted and not stay where he was…He didn’t believe in doing things that he did yesterday. He always thought ahead. That’s why his verses and the music that he’s done during the years before he passed is still relevant because he was out the box and he always thought ahead. So, I had to stay in the mindframe of that. We use to always talk on the phone all the time about music…It was really a blessing for me to even be a part of the project. Also, even being an executive producer is an honor for me and it’s a pleasure working with his wife because I feel like Pimp C was reborn in her again because of the way she talks; she’s just like Pimp C to me. It was a real good thing for me. I enjoyed every moment of it.

RM: Mrs. Butler, everyone has their own view on Pimp C being the legend he is. How would you describe him?

CB: Oh god. The truth. Trill. Also, I don’t feel ‘trill’ is just a word, it’s a lifestyle. To wrap it up, the truth, trill, trill shit (laughs). Yeah, that’s the best way I can wrap it up all the way. The real definition of trill.

RM:  In spite of Pimp C’s passing, the use of codeine (for recreational use) has seemed to increase in popularity. Do you have any message for those out there who use lean being that you’ve dealt with losing a loved one using it first hand?

CB: I try to talk about stuff that’s relevant. I really do a lot of research. I educate myself on anything I’m about to do or even say and they don’t even make drank anymore so it shouldn’t be affecting anybody because it doesn’t exist.

RM: A lot of artists cite Pimp C as being a legendary influence when it comes to rhyming. How do you feel about Pimp C still having an influence on current artists in hip hop and just hip hop in general today years after his passing?

CB: It’s funny you ask that because I see it in a lot of different artists. I still see it in [Lil] Wayne. That’s probably the last part of the process for me in picking people, unbeknownst to myself. I see it in A$AP. I think it’s a beautiful thing. I think Chad really stood for, he always said, “Fuck the clone,” and it’s not to say, “Fuck somebody that’s trying to be like me.” It’s really saying God created everybody different. We all have something else to bring to the game so do you. I think that’s a beautiful thing to do. If you’re gay, be gay. If you’re straight, be straight. Whatever, just do you. Be proud of you and go in for you.

RM: What is the importance of keeping Pimp C’s brand relevant in the genre for you?

CB: It’s vital for his legacy. Just doing this project it means a couple of things. I, also, want to inspire other widows and wives to actually take control of their families and their late husbands or loved ones’ legacy. I’d like to think I’ve created another lane for myself and, like I said, other widows. I don’t think widows and wives get any credit in this business. I definitely feel like that’s what I’m doing, as well. Definitely inspire (widows) to be resilient. I think it’s super important to understand everybody has their strengths, everybody’s here for a reason and really, you should inspire other people. I think Chad’s whole story is inspiring. You know, we’re coming from Port Arthur, TX; there’s not even 100,000 people in the city. From everybody in the world knowing your name to going to jail to coming out; as soon as you get out of jail, going in, working hard, and grinding hard. I think just doing this whole project and keeping Chad’s legacy alive is to inspire people.

RM: What’s coming up next?

CB: What’s next is the new single featuring Nas and Juicy. The video [for it] is next. We’re going to be shooting a few videos. We have such a cool concept that we’re about to run with, as well. We’re going to do Player’s Ball album release party, which is going to be really dope. We also have an exhibit with Rice University, which will be doing archives of some of Chad’s stuff. Also, we have the Chad ‘Pimp C’ Hip Hop Health event in Houston that’s coming up. We have a short film special with Complex, as well. More music. This not the last project either! Also, I’ll be doing a book too on how to boss up.

Official Long Live The Pimp Track List:

1.  Long Live The Pimp
2.  3 Way Freak (feat. Lil Wayne)
3.  Ain’t Said Shit (feat. Ty Dolla Sign and Devin The Dude)
4.  Wavybone (feat. A$AP Rocky, Juicy J and Bun B)
5.  Spittin’ Game (Interlude)
6.  Trill (feat. A’Doni, Slim Thug, ESG and Lil KeKe)
7.  Bitch Get Down (feat. Bun B, 8 Ball and MJG)
8.  PayDay  (feat. Juicy J)
9.  Slab Music (feat. Lil KeKe)
10.  True To The Game (feat. David Banner)
11.  Triflin’ Hoe (Interlude)
12.  To Lose A Whore
13.  Friends (feat. Juicy J and Nas)
14.  Southside
15.  Butta Cookies
16.  Country Thang (Outro)
17.  Twerk Something (feat. TI) [iTunes Exclusive]

Long Live The Pimp releases December 4th via Mass Appeal Records.

Listen to Pimp C’s new track, featuring Nas and Juicy J, “Friends” below:

The post Trill & True: RESPECT. Talks with Pimp C’s Wife Chinara Butler and Producer Mr. Lee About New Project, ‘Long Live The Pimp’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The video, released just three weeks ago, is a lyrical slide show of visions of black oppression & suppression throughout America. Taking still shots from the civil rights movement panned all the way to present day, the song’s message is far deeper than its catchy wordplay alone. 

Banner is known for being subliminal as well as overt about the issues & topics he is concerned about in the hip-hop community. Once again Banner has sent a hidden message in his very admirable rap expo, watch the black history inspired lyric video below.

The post David Banner featuring Big K.R.I.T. – “My Uzi” (Lyric Video) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.