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.

Black History Month is here and while the month is short and will be over before you know it, it’s a month where African-Americans of times past and present are honored for their sacrifices, achievements and accomplishments marked throughout history. It’s a time for us to reflect on that rich history and celebrate the lives of the ones lost and present whom paved the way for generations of other African Americans to walk in freedom and while this movement is still a “work in progress” for the most part, we’re proud that they stood fearlessly in the face of adversity to make sure we have some of the luxuries we have today such as the right to vote.

One way to honor and look back on African-American culture, history, activists and the actors that played them or played parts representing such troubling times is by way of a movie. I personally love watching movies, especially the ones that portray the African-American men and women whom did so much for us. So, if you just happen to have a down day this month and want to celebrate the occasion, listed below are 10 Classic movies portrayed by African-Americans that you should watch in honor of Black History Month. In no particular order they are:

‘Purple Rain’

What better way to celebrate black history and the life of music legend Prince. The musical drama features some of Prince’s most iconic songs and killer outfits.

‘Malcolm X’

‘Malcolm X’ is was Spike Lee classic, portrayed by Denzel Washington. The movie chronicled the life of the civil rights hero.

“‘Selma’

Ava DuVernay made history with ‘Selma’ in 2014, becoming the first black woman to have her film nominated for “Best Picture” at the Oscars. ‘Selma’ is a portrait piece of Dr. Martin Luther King as he led the march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights.

‘Glory’

Free black men were conscripted to fight in the Union Army during the Civil War, but as this 1989 period drama shows, not even their willingness to sacrifice their lives for their country was enough to shield them from racism and segregation. Denzel Washington stars in the role that would nab him his first Oscar.

‘Barry’

‘Barry’ is one of two drama films (of what will surely be many) that take a glimpse at the life of a younger former President Barack Obama, the man who would one day become the first black president of the United States.

‘The Princess & the Frog’

In 2009, Disney made history by featuring its first ever African-American princess. Anika Noni-Rose portrayed princess Tiana in this film.

‘The Color Purple’

Okay, so there’s really nothing to say about this one but – CLASSIC!!!

‘The Wiz’

‘The Wiz’ in which stars Diana Ross and a very young Michael Jackson is the black version of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ story.

‘Carmen Jones’

Dorothy Dandridge became the first black woman to be nominated for a Best Actress award at the 1954 Oscars for her role in this epic musical, based on Bizet’s tragic opera ‘Carmen.’

‘A Raisin in the Sun’

Starring Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier, this 1961 adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry‘s play is a film about an African-American family search for the American Dream and what happens when that dream is derailed.

These movies are sure to give you a dose of the richness of the African-American culture and a sense of why we should celebrate this month each year. We’re not just celebrating the culture but we’re acknowledging the people whom broke barriers in every arena which makes us glad to be a part of such an amazing history. You can find other classics listed here. Did your favorite make the list? If not what, African American movies are your favorite classics? Sound off in the comments.

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The post 10 Black Movie Classics You Should Watch in Honor of Black History Month appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

With President Obama days away from finishing his two-term presidency, in comes President-elect Donald Trump.

Rapper, T.I. has been pretty vocal. The King of the South penned open letters to both Trump and Obama.

In his letter to Trump, T.I. said:

“Should it ever at times seem as though we are against you, I assure you it’s a result of you defining yourself as the representative for those who are and who always have been against us,” he wrote.“The deck has always been stacked against us in this country. With every generation, there have been strategic steps taken to oppress, imprison and control US. All we’ve ever wanted was equality and empathy as the historically disenfranchised citizens that we are, in a nation that we’ve contributed to just as much as anyone else who calls America their home.”

Additionally, T.I. created video messages via Instagram expressing his displeasure and giving insight to the entertainment industry as to why they should not be taking meetings with President-elect Trump.

In the videos,  the Grammy award winning emcee breaks down why Kanye West and Steve Harvey‘s meetings with Trump are detrimental to the black community as a whole and why he feels they were chosen.

“Trump knew that young people were against him, so who does he get to appeal to them-Kanye West. Why? Not because they buy his shoes or listen to his music, but to sway the young people who are against Trump that he’s ‘not that bad’.”

T.I. also expressed his displeasure with both Steve Harvey and Rev. Martin Luther King III for their meeting with Trump, saying:

“Steve Harvey you should know better and Rev. King he called you in on your daddy’s birthday, you should know better than that. Willie Lynch, read on it.”

Vincent Peters, a technology exec and community organizer who also served as a deputy field organizer for President Obama in 2008 was a bit alarmed. “I cannot help but be confused and a bit disappointed,” Peters told RESPECT-MAG by phone. “In a letter where Mr. Harris speaks of, “creating a healthy dialogue that may hopefully unite US, addressing issues that have not be addressed, and asking the President Elect who are you and who do you want to be?”  I ask myself what better way is there to create a healthy dialogue, address issues that haven’t been addressed, or understand who a person is outside of meeting that person face to face?”

What Peters finds more alarming is that he believes T.I. and others are using rhetoric similar to late civil rights leader Malcolm X as truth.

In his “The Ballot or The Bullet” speech delivered on April 4, 1964, Malcolm X challenged Black leaders saying:

 

“That same white man knowing that your eyes are wide open will send another negro into the community telling you to support him so he could use them to lead us astray…The first thing the [White racist] does when he comes to power, he takes all the Negro leaders and invites them for coffee, to show that he’s alright. And these Uncle Toms can’t pass up the coffee. They come away from the coffee table telling you and me that this man is alright.”

Malcolm X’s speech is said to have subliminally referenced leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his protege John Lewis who were friendly with politicians and were said to have a cup of coffee or two with President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House. 

“To put things into proper perspective if 2017 was the 1960s Mr. Harris would be the person telling Dr. Martin Luther King and John Lewis not to meet with Lyndon B. Johnson,” said Peters.

“If Dr. King and Congressman Lewis would have listened to those who shared the same or similar sentiment as Mr. Harris, some of the most substantial legislation for civil rights and the advancement of African Americans in the US would have never been proposed or passed.”

Lewis, now a Congressman, in Georgia’s 5th congressional district since 1987, made headlines on Friday for questioning the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s standing as the United States’ incoming president. Trump questioned Lewis’ action in his community. “I understand Mr. Harris perspective comes from a world of art and music where in one song you can have contradicting lyrics themes and ideas,” said Peters.

“As long as the beat is the new wave and the hook is nice no one will ask any questions or try to make sense of the song.  In providing a framework in which others should move forward with Mr. Harris is in a very different arena where what you say and do have to actually make sense.”

So where do we go from here?

Well, Peters suggests defining an agenda for people of color to have been met over the first 500 days of Trump’s Presidency. “Putting together a defined agenda with our associated goals is the first step we should take before we accept any more invitations for coffee,” he said.

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