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David Banner - Transcend Music
Interview By: Kevin L. Clark
 This is a hip-hop website, so you should be familiar with the legendary Mississippian named David Banner. The Incredible Hulkian rapper-slash-producer-slash-actor has kept you nodding your head ever since 1999. Since then, he’s released three major label albums and has emerged as a conscious political voice within hip-hop.
 The SRC (Street Records Corporation) signee linked up with label head, Steve Rifkind, to be a part of the on-going Loud.com battle. His beats and your voice fuel the growing competition and together are bringing the Loud name back into the forefront. NobodySmiling.com is proud that the Southern University grad sits down with the site as he talks about the Loud.com project, why the South has yet to get their just due and why he’s disappointed in Oprah Winfrey.
NobodySmiling.com: You have an association with Steve Rifkind, but what made you want to hop on board with the Loud.com project?
David Banner: I looked at it from the standpoint that I didn’t see anything like that before and it appealed to me. With me being from the South; being from a place where there’s not a lot of exposure – by being down with Loud.com, it levels the playing field. If you have a computer and a mic, you can have a beat from the hottest producers in the game. So, in the end, it leaves no excuses. You can come up with whatever you want and compete on a major level.
NobodySmiling.com: As a producer and an MC – what is one thing that you look for in an aspiring artist?
David Banner: I look for something besides rapping in an individual. To me, they have to have another talent. Look at the way things are nowadays… everyone is trying to rap! It’s the new basketball, the new dope game. They see it as a way out of any situation. When I was doing it, it was a way to get out of the hood. When I see new artists, I want to see if they can make their own beats, write their own press releases. Hell, that’s more important to me, if you can handle your business, because you can get anyone to write raps.
NobodySmiling.com: So, do you think that an artist who is more conscientious and less commercial minded can not make it in the industry?
David Banner: I disagree… I’m a political rapper, first! It’s funny because we just had this conversation a few days ago. There are things going on in my records that touch on things that have been going on in the events in the news. I think it’s more about making a hit record above anything. But I also think it’s really disrespectful to decide who or what an artist is. They’re their own representation in the game and it is wrong to try and box in these individuals. I think that Bun B and Killer Mike are political rappers, also.
NobodySmiling.com: The battle began on April 15th. As the competition heats up – what are you expecting to see from those who use your beats?
David Banner: Well, I will say this to those who are competing, “Once you start believing your own hype, that’s when you fall off.” I think one of the problems is when you put expectations into something; therefore, I have no expectation about this competition. I’m just anxious to see someone do something different with my beats. You really have to understand that people mess that up sometimes. They think that a song has to be a certain way. To me, a beat is what it is: a tune that brings out something out of spirit. I can’t wait to see what it brings out of these MC’s.
NobodySmiling.com: Your production has always represented the South. With more acts outside of the region trying to duplicate the sound for success – do you feel that the South has got its just due?
David Banner: I still don’t think that we get our just due in the game. I think we won’t until we have our own 50 Cent’s, Eminem’s and Jay-Z’s. I see T.I. knocking on the door, getting to that higher level. When we’re able to transcend music is when I think that we’ll get our just due. Until we can see people on television, hosting shows who are talking like they’re from the South, and by that I don’t mean not using incorrect English, then we’ll get our props. I guess people look at the South and compare it to ignorance. But if you look at Craig Brewer who made 'Hustle & Flow', he’s ushering in a new beginning of a change. He shows the people why we do the things that we do and say the things we say.
NobodySmiling.com: Now, I went to Biloxi to help rebuild. You’ve been a vocal advocate about certain leaders not adequately coming to the aid of Mississippi. With it being almost two years since Katrina – what has changed in Mississippi?
David Banner: I don’t think much has changed. A positive and a negative thing in Mississippi is that we’ve pretty much feel that they’re not going to come and help. It’s like… we wanted the help to come and we’ve given up on that notion. For me, Katrina was just a confirmation that the South, especially in Mississippi, is the Ghetto of America and they’ll treat us just like they do any other ghetto or hood around the country.
NobodySmiling.com: My mom graduated from Southern University, as did you. With the recent events at Rutgers – do you think hip-hop’s voice has been represented in a positive light? Or do you think that the music is still being used as a scapegoat?
David Banner: Hey, man! Shout outs to your mom! Go Jaguars! I think that it’s a crock of bullshit, man! White folks have called us ni**ers and bitches when we didn’t have choice or a legit means to fight back. Now, that we’re making money off of our pain it’s a problem. I’ll put it to you like this: you can slap your sister or brother around, fight and all that and be fine in the end. But if someone who wasn’t family did that to them, you’d beat they ass! To me, we have a right… we’re all family!
NobodySmiling.com: Well, Snoop recently stated that rap’s usage of the word “ho” differs from how Imus used it. Excluding the word “ho,” altogether, doesn’t rap music’s imagery reinforce what is implied by using the word?
David Banner: Nah, dude, the difference from what we do is that it’s a form of expression. They’re protraying hip-hop and the foundation of the culture as the torchbearers for problems in America, which takes attention off of what’s really going on in the country. You can do 'Kill Bill, Vol. 2', put a rating on it and it’s in theaters and on DVD. But when it comes to hip-hop, it’s the reason why people are getting pregnant in America, the influences behind the Virginia Tech shootings, but all we make are just songs! Look at what gets aired on regular television, they use the same language that we do.
South Park ran an episode in which they were allowed to use the N-word. Was there a protest? Young Black males are targets… not even females protect us. So, I ask, “Why crucify your children?” Even if we’re wrong, we’re supposed to handle it in our own community. Don’t crucify us on television. I’m very disappointed in Oprah. If she’s mad, bring us to your show. You’re not talking about Russell Simmons or Common. You’re trying to take our jobs away. That’s a problem, right there! When we start making these pop songs and they don’t sell, no one is going to give us a job. Is Oprah going to give me a job?!
NobodySmiling.com: You said that your next album is going to be the stuff of legends. Can you talk about it in detail?
David Banner: One thing I’ll say is that no matter how good we become, we don’t get the proper respect. Bun B, Andre 3000, Scarface, Rich Boy, Young Dro… these cats are rapping! Lil’ Wayne hasn’t changed much with his flow. People started paying attention after he said that he was the “best rapper alive since the best rapper retired.” I guess people don’t respect anything much but assholes. Kanyé got love when he said he was the best producer. So, on this album, I feel that a person may have one or two better songs than me, but no one will have a better album than me for the next three years!
NobodySmiling.com: Even better than Detox…?
David Banner: I’ll put it like this… I’m not the one to call out names. If there is a better album out, that’s fine, it’ll help rap out as a whole.
NobodySmiling.com: You’ve remained humble throughout your career, spanning music to movies. What is one perk that you continually enjoy since being blessed with all this success?
David Banner: I think the ability to help people. One thing that I thank God for is that all people come to me for help and it humbles me. While we’re being attacked [by the media] I called T.I. and he said, “I’ve been waiting on you to hit me up.” It’s a blessing for me to be able help poor people; not Black people or White people, poor people.
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