During Rock The Bell’s (which he is a part of) New York stop at Randall’s Island, Banner took the time to sit down with us for a Q&A session in which he addressed Saigon, Pimp C, the state of hip hop and much more.
DefSounds: You’ve been out of the public eye for a minute now, mostly doing production work for other artists, how does it feel to be back and how are you adjusting?
David: I’m filthy fucking rich right now! I’ve been doing cartoons and movies, I’m on my third movie. Been doing production for Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Quincy Jones…It’s not an adjustment to me really..I’m a don. I think the biggest adjustment for me is learning that you don’t have to be in front of the camera everyday, all day all the time. I think it’s more powerful sometimes to make people miss you. I’m 10 times better than I’ve ever been. I had the best album in the last three years, you can tell your favorite rapper I said that.
DefSounds: In a recent interview, you mentioned that 2006 was the worst year of your life, can you elaborate on why?
David: Yeah it was the worst year of my life. I have this theory that you can’t be a soldier for god unless you go through boot camp. I have something call the diamond theory, if people know the origin of a diamond—a diamond is a piece of coal which is probably the most worthless element on earth. But when pressure is applied to it, if it can stand that pressure, it totally transforms into something else. I’m a total different person, from a business aspect, from a personal, religious, and business aspect. Just Look at my fucking GUNS! [flexes muscle]
DefSounds: Do you think hip hop has changed since your last album, if yes..what do you think has changed?
David: I think hip hop is supposed to change, if it doesn’t, it’s going to die. My mother said the only way to stay 25, is to die at 25. When hip hop stops evolving, when it stops changing, even if it’s changed for the worst—I think it’s changed for the better. Most of the niggas that talk about hip hop is dead and hip hop this are niggas that ain’t making no money. Cause they can’t adapt. Man Up Nigga.
DefSounds: There are artists who say there are trying to better hip hop by bringing certain aspects back such as lyricism and what not, Who do you think is helping hip hop and who do you think is hurting it?
David: I think we’ve always been lyrical, everyone that I listen to is lyrical to me. T.I., Chamillionaire, Bun B, David Banner..I don’t see any problem with it. Now, make sure you put this on here, this is very important to me…Ain’t it funny that these niggas bitch like women in High School “I don’t think this rapper’s doing this right and I don’t like his song” YOU SOUND LIKE BITCHES!..Mind your own business!..If you think the South is hurting hip hop well you make a hit song then nigga!..You Can’t!..You lost it!..You lost your swag! ...Thats one thing about me, I have improved…I touch myself and get aroused! [flexes again]
DefSounds: What angle are you taking with The Greatest Story Ever Told?
David: Angle?..Position?..what position I wanna take it?..Or What I wanna put in it?...I wanna take the album..put it on its knees..prop it up..and hit it from the back!
DefSounds:..Wait…you want to fuck your album?
David: Yep, I’m dead serious..I wanna prop’er up..and I want to fuck it.
DefSounds:..So thats what your album is about?
David: No not the album, hip hop, I wanna fuck hip hop. I wanna make hot passionate love to hip hop. There’s been no foreplay lately.
DefSounds:...No Vaseline?
David: Thats right..I just wanna get in there and manhandle it…grab her by the hair and SMACK!..Take that take that! Thats what hip hop needs.
DefSounds:...thanks for the Details!
David: [laughs] I honestly just want to turn up the climate of music with this album. I wanna make it hard. I feel like people think they can just jump in the studio and do whatever. Out of this generation of rappers, they say we don’t make good music in the south and that theres no lyricism. So here it is, twenty songs and I’m saying its one of the best rap albums in history..period. This is for my peoples..I want them to come to it later and consider it one of the best albums.
DefSounds: The lead single of the album features, Lil Wayne, Akon, and Snoop…how was it working with them?
David: It was great to work with greats, these are all the people who are at the top of the game in their respected areas of hip hop and it was an honor to be amongst them and prove that I’m worthy of this position.
DefSounds: Do you think Lil Wayne’s the best rapper alive?
David: I think Wayne is great. I think he’s well on his way. He should say it! I’m telling ya’ll I have one of the best rap albums in the last 3 years. When he came out, he said he was the best rapper alive when he first came out and everyone went up in arms, same thing with TI. Now What?...Now people are saying ..maybe he is.
DefSounds: What rappers/artist are in your top 5?
David: Andre 3000, 2 Pac, TI, Scarface, and ME damn it!
DefSounds: Who else do you collabo with on the album, who’s handling the production?
David: Nitti, Cool & Dre, Bow, Warren Campbell, Akon, collabos with Chris Brown, Jim Jones, Chamillionaire, UGK, Snoop, Lil Wayne,Young Joc, and Akon of course.
DefSounds: How was working with Chris brown
David: He’s like a brother to me, I gotta watch my movement around him cause he looks up to me and watches my movement. It’s a blessing, he doesn’t have to look up to anybody, nigga’s filthy rich!
DefSounds: Are there any collabos you wanted to do but didn’t happen?
David: Nope!..I have so much money right now I can make whatever I want to happen.
DefSounds: Have you chosen the second single yet?...If so What is it?
David: Get Like Me featuring Chris Brown, Young Joc, and Jim Jones.
DefSounds: Now lets get into a couple of tough questions, how do you feel about the comments made by Pimp C against the south?
David: Thats was his personal opinion. People have a right to say what they want to and do what they want to. The only people that should react to that are the people he’s talking about. It’s not my responsibility or business to worry about what another man said.
He has earned the position in hip hop to say whatever the hell he want to say.
DefSounds: What’s your response to Saigon in regards to his comments regarding your album title?
David: I didn’t know his album was titled that until i heard about it a couple of weeks ago. My album is already on its way to being pressed so it aint really no stopping it. Saigon and I are marketed to different markets so it shouldn’t be a problem. It’s not like someones gonna go pick up Saigon’s album and pick mine up instead..OOPS!...Not gonna happen.
DefSounds: Finally, When’s the album dropping?
David: We’re looking around October 9th. But We’re not really sure yet. Make sure to check me out on Myspace.com/davidbanner. I’M A MYSPACE WHORE!
_By Liz Rosario For Defsounds.com_
COMMENTS
Dude crazy
that banner cd should be good...his last joint was nice
haha !like his attitude
i like that banners tracks in my car is like BOOM-BOOM_ BOOM!!!
Irrelevant!
~Be Eazy!
cosign
You 2 are the SAME 2 EVERYTIME! LOL
dis nigga straigt trippin!
"David: Thats right..I just wanna get in there and manhandle it…grab her by the hair and SMACK!..Take that take that! Thats what hip hop needs."
ha ha!
i dont know.....the south defently got a chip on there shoulder but no doubt they earned it.....i do like what he said
"YOU SOUND LIKE BITCHES!..Mind your own business!..If you think the South is hurting hip hop well you make a hit song then nigga!..You Can’t!..You lost it!..You lost your swag!"
that puts the pressure on. intersted in how his album will do and what he will say if it flop.
after all this boastin and braggin that he's doin, if it doesn't go plat, he's gonna have some covering up to do. either that, or go out and buy 2million of his own records, with all this new money that he says he's got.
Niggas need to stop bitching trying to referee hiphop
I like when he said NYC niggas act like bitches,da south is hurting hiphop well u make a hot song that is so fucking true
It cant be said no better than dat
banner is telling the truth if you dont like what the south is doing then go to a studio and make a hot song.reppin south florida all the way!!!
Someone's head is gettin a lil too big...
Great Interview! However, I think David Banner is very straight forward, a little too confident, and needs to lend a sister a couple of dollars. David I will be hitting you up on myspace; I hope your pockets are ready. Good luck with everything tho I wish you the best.
how you gonna be a self admitted money whore on the internet. damn gold diggers advancin their technologies and using computers now.
this interview is totally wrong yep i said it (!take that take that!) aint that jokestas tittle in the forums and (David: We’re looking around October 9th. But We’re not really sure yet. Make sure to check me out on Myspace.com/davidbanner. I’M A MYSPACE WHORE!)
dis nigga done lost his mind he got da best album last 3 yrs get da fuck outta here im done with dis shit
"David: I think hip hop is supposed to change, if it doesn’t, it’s going to die. My mother said the only way to stay 25, is to die at 25. When hip hop stops evolving, when it stops changing, even if it’s changed for the worst—I think it’s changed for the better. Most of the niggas that talk about hip hop is dead and hip hop this are niggas that ain’t making no money. Cause they can’t adapt. Man Up Nigga. "
YES. this nigga is wsup im feelin his confidence! David Banner is a hit maker and hes fuckin rich like he said...ahh its lovely to see nice artists i like on the come up these days.Suicide Doors,9mm..cant wait for that album gon have another classic like mississippi
i cant stunt banner aint a rapper id put in my top 5 or top 10 but he aint put out a wack album since he hit the scene either. so i think he might actually put a fire ass album out this go round too
I understand Tupac, Scarface, Andre 3000 but T.I. top 5??? over anybody else he coulda said. I love T.I. but I'm real specific when we start talking bout top emcees
so.. where exactly did he get all his money? i mean, he said producin.. but, you don't become a multi-millionaire of off producing a couple songs for a couple artists.
i don't like how hes been GONE for years, and all of a sudden he's the resurrector of hip hop. fab was gone for like 4 years, and he didn't say shit about how he's gonna change hip hop, and he has more of a reason to boast about changin the game. i'm not a hater of banner, but i'm sure not a fan.
look like he only puttin out songs that feature like three or more hot artists and him together. seems a lil fishy to me, ill wait until he puts out a track with just him on it to see if i will cop. his verse on 9mm was great, but you wouldnt be able to tell the difference of it being his,snoop,akons, or waynes song.
now every body coming talkin bout the rich now
coal which is probably the most worthless element on earth
Dude is delusional. Dave must think he Kanye or somebody. Maybe David never heard of all those mutibillion dollar COAL burning power plants in America. This is why niggas shouldn't speak on things they no nothing about. Stick to rap and making wack club music, and stop tryin seem like he deep or profound or some shit. And this nigga went college and he spittin' all that nonsense. Nigga you ain't filthy rich, you just fucking filthy. Now take your crusty ass back to Mississippi.
Ok... Mutt if your gonna make a point please use the whole qoute or else you makin seem like he said it for no reason he says
" I have something call the diamond theory, if people know the origin of a diamond—a diamond is a piece of coal which is probably the most worthless element on earth. But when pressure is applied to it, if it can stand that pressure, it totally transforms into something else. I’m a total different person, from a business aspect, from a personal, religious, and business aspect."
anyway i might cop his album last one was pretty good and it always bangs my speakers
YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T TALK ANY MORE , BANNERS COMPARING HOW MUCH MORE VAULABLE A DIAMOND IS COMPARED TO COAL,SO YOU SHOULD STOP SUCKING ON YOUR BOYFRIENDS COCK AND GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT
David only puts out fight songs its bullshit
I FAIL TO BELIEVE DAVID BANNER IS FILTHY RICH. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT.
you got a point, only fight songs make the radio, but if you get his album, then you can understand why he talks about the things he does.... Just like what MsClarkKent std. "Mississippi" the Album is a classic. If you listen to the album you would change your mind also. My homie swore up and down that in 98' that All south music sucked. Then he heard Ridin Dirty, Aquemini, Soul Food, and any Scarface album. His mind changed. People don't want to listen to what is STILL going on in the south, because they either won't believe it or just try to justify it. Perfect example: This is taking place in Louisiana, but since its not on Television, because they are BLASTING MICHAEL VICK like thats the worst thing happening right now, they won't air it.
http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=1900-194641 You may need to copy and paste that on to something else.
ajballa
There was no need to qoute the entire statement cause my point is that COAL is something valuable BEFORE it becomes a diamond. Coal was our first way of heating society. Or put another way, COAL is not a worthless element EVEN if is NOT turned into diamonds. We use coal in power plants for heat, lights, energy in general. We don't burn diamonds for fuel. My comment applies to his entire interview, not just the coal thing. This nigga talkin about fucking records and shit, blah, blah, blah. Bad attempt at a metaphor. It's just stupid. All of it.
^^^^^^^ I Co-Sign to Mutt 3900
NIGGA STOP YOUR BULLSHIT
THIS DAVID DUDE A CRAZY FREAKY ASS NIGGA YOU ARE GOING TO FUCK HIPHOP NIGGA HOPE YOU WAS ON DRUGS BECOZ PAPOOSE IS GOING I SED IT GOING TO KILL MURDER THAT HIP HOP BITCH 456,000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 TIMES SO LETS WAIT AND SEE....... OOO YEA DIPSET ALL DAY NIGGAZ
YEA NIGGA I FILL YOU ON THAT CO SIGN
THA SHIT GONE B HOT..
i like him but he aint great. his beats are crazy though
I agree wit da shyt he said about hip hop changing, and contradictin all this dumb ass people who cant take change, is lyke niggas is house wives they whole life so dey wanna keep it like dat, he said some real shyt.......until he got excited and talked bout fuckin hip hop.............weird as fuck
by da waii, dipset has got to be da worst shyt to happen to hip hop, got dumb ass dudes, runnin around sayin -dipset all day, nigga dem clownz dont even know or giv a fuck about who u are, hop off dey dick
Banner says his mind dats y i like nd his attitude is crazy..
i stopped reading after he said he wanted to fuck hip hop.... smh lol
me being from miss......that shit made me laugh my ass off.
To keep it real with yall the south not really that hot only reason people say the south his cause they play alot they song s on the radio but other than scarface luda and outkast.cats from the south aint really got know classic albums most nigga from the south be talking about the same shit and the always put everybody from the south on one song. they just copy each other to much. oh yeah and young buck on the come up his next album will be a classic.
this nigga wack a shit
To all the dudes who are really taking apart what DB said in the interview for the sake of negativity, go find yourselves something else to do.
It could be said that DB is a very serious person and at other times, he is quite lighthearted. In this particular interview, he is both. He uses metaphor to push the point home about how he wants to flip hip-hop over and give it what it has had coming for a while. I just love that.
Now with that said, let me get on with business.
Dear Mr. Banner,
I loves when you talks dirty. At long last, a real nigga to make me feel wanted.
All I have to say is that you ain't got to take me to your house in Atlanta. You ain't got to take me to no bungalow in L.A.. I will accept any good fucking you have to offer to me in house number 1 (of 3)in suburban Jacktown.
To put it plainly, come on and put that thang on me, nigga. Love what you do.
Yours truly,
Hip Hop
P.S., My sister Rap said you turn her ass on with your erotic talk, so we might make it a threesome.
Since it
MsDirtySouth
In the words of J.T. Money, Hoe.....shut up!
this is just a real dude.
dats d spirit man......
i gotta say he came a long way from where he at now and when he use to be sleeping in his car lolz