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Interview: David Banner (Pt. 2)
Interview: David Banner (Pt. 2)
- Genre : More Music
- Type: News
- Author : Super Admin
- Date : Fri, 01 Aug 2008
You talk about the importance of the truth, and it's one of the reasons fans connect with you, but people are being lied to everyday by politicians, the media and their peers. Besides someone like you, where are people supposed to turn to for the truth?
Your mutherfuckin' parents. That's one of our problems—we look to everyone else to raise our kids, and ourselves, but ourselves. Some of the stuff I rap is true and some of it ain't, but I try to guide people in the proper direction. I've got head-busting records, but I really don't want you to bust too many people's heads. [laughs] I give people the example of Ice Cube. I don't really care if Ice Cube was telling the truth or not. His story was so relevant, and the shit he was saying touched the pulse of the people. Everybody was trying to figure out if Pac was real or not. I don't really give a fuck. He influenced me, and he motivated me to do certain things. In saying that, I take all this shit with a grain of salt. My lessons come from God, man. My Dad died about a year ago, and the most painful thing about it was that, as he was dieing, I realized he was my best friend. That's my example of manhood. That's where I looked to for guidance. I am proud that I can say, lately, a lot of artists have been coming to me for guidance. That's powerful. I take it for what it is, but I don't think people should look to artists to raise their kids. That's not my responsibility, although I take that responsibility. I'm impressed by the opportunity.
It's cool that rappers come to you for guidance and show you so much respect, because sometimes on your records you check the industry and let everybody know when they aren't on the right road. How is it that you can speak that truth and still maintain that respect?
I don't do shit for the sake of doing it. I don't do the beef shit. We're grown ass men. If you really want a nigga, wait till he comes to the House of Blues and get that nigga. We know your schedule. We'll bring you to our city. I'll have Willey [his manager] book you a show. I'll pay the front end and it's going down. [laughs] I only really check people that fuck us over. Everybody I ever said anything about is somebody that attacked rap first. People always call me angry. I'm not angry. If people attack hip hop, I'm going to put them back in their place. Black men don't have anybody to protect them. Our publications don't protect us. We didn't protect Nelly. We didn't protect Akon. We didn't protect Mike Vick; that's why I got out there and held his jersey up. White people know that. Women know that. So if they attack us, America will promote that. So when I told Al Shaprton to kiss my ass I was all over the news. What about Katrina? What about me speaking to Congress? What about the scholarships I give away? What about the little girls I council? Nobody ever talks about that shit.
That's real talk. When you tell the label what you want to do, or say, on your albums, do they ever push back?
They don't tell me shit. They're not going to do my records the way they are supposed to, so they can't tell me nothing. That's what I tell artists. Can't nobody make you say nothing. You make that decision. My concern is not the label. My biggest concern is, am I more of a detriment to my people than a help. I know all the things I could say that would make it cool for me to rap about the things that I say. The truth is, when I'm sitting alone, hearing God's voice and looking in the mirror, I have to fight with my talent and my calling. God didn't lay the same calling on you; you aren't going to be judged the same way. Not that it's anymore or less. I do what I do, not because it's my responsibility as a rapper, but because it's my responsibly as a man. It ain't about the label. It's about the fact that I want my people to do more than stuntin', but I can't tell them to do shit if I don't
Your mutherfuckin' parents. That's one of our problems—we look to everyone else to raise our kids, and ourselves, but ourselves. Some of the stuff I rap is true and some of it ain't, but I try to guide people in the proper direction. I've got head-busting records, but I really don't want you to bust too many people's heads. [laughs] I give people the example of Ice Cube. I don't really care if Ice Cube was telling the truth or not. His story was so relevant, and the shit he was saying touched the pulse of the people. Everybody was trying to figure out if Pac was real or not. I don't really give a fuck. He influenced me, and he motivated me to do certain things. In saying that, I take all this shit with a grain of salt. My lessons come from God, man. My Dad died about a year ago, and the most painful thing about it was that, as he was dieing, I realized he was my best friend. That's my example of manhood. That's where I looked to for guidance. I am proud that I can say, lately, a lot of artists have been coming to me for guidance. That's powerful. I take it for what it is, but I don't think people should look to artists to raise their kids. That's not my responsibility, although I take that responsibility. I'm impressed by the opportunity.
It's cool that rappers come to you for guidance and show you so much respect, because sometimes on your records you check the industry and let everybody know when they aren't on the right road. How is it that you can speak that truth and still maintain that respect?
I don't do shit for the sake of doing it. I don't do the beef shit. We're grown ass men. If you really want a nigga, wait till he comes to the House of Blues and get that nigga. We know your schedule. We'll bring you to our city. I'll have Willey [his manager] book you a show. I'll pay the front end and it's going down. [laughs] I only really check people that fuck us over. Everybody I ever said anything about is somebody that attacked rap first. People always call me angry. I'm not angry. If people attack hip hop, I'm going to put them back in their place. Black men don't have anybody to protect them. Our publications don't protect us. We didn't protect Nelly. We didn't protect Akon. We didn't protect Mike Vick; that's why I got out there and held his jersey up. White people know that. Women know that. So if they attack us, America will promote that. So when I told Al Shaprton to kiss my ass I was all over the news. What about Katrina? What about me speaking to Congress? What about the scholarships I give away? What about the little girls I council? Nobody ever talks about that shit.
That's real talk. When you tell the label what you want to do, or say, on your albums, do they ever push back?
They don't tell me shit. They're not going to do my records the way they are supposed to, so they can't tell me nothing. That's what I tell artists. Can't nobody make you say nothing. You make that decision. My concern is not the label. My biggest concern is, am I more of a detriment to my people than a help. I know all the things I could say that would make it cool for me to rap about the things that I say. The truth is, when I'm sitting alone, hearing God's voice and looking in the mirror, I have to fight with my talent and my calling. God didn't lay the same calling on you; you aren't going to be judged the same way. Not that it's anymore or less. I do what I do, not because it's my responsibility as a rapper, but because it's my responsibly as a man. It ain't about the label. It's about the fact that I want my people to do more than stuntin', but I can't tell them to do shit if I don't
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