Mississippi was in the buildin’ last Saturday night! David Banner took over the McDonald Theatre. I mean the whole joint. The stage wasn’t big enough to contain him. Throughout his entire set, he was diving into the crowd, running around the building … even making his way up to the balcony and standing on the ledge rapping at one point. Dude really has an insane amount of energy and stage presence.
He started off with a blazing cover of Eric B & Rakim’s “Microphone Fiend” and kept the show rolling with a slew of his own songs - “Suicide Doors”, “Like A Pimp”, “Play”, “Get Like Me”, “Shawty Say” … even through in a snippet of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” as part of his “white folks appreciation”. That shit cracked me up!
After his set, he graciously invited my brother and myself on his bus and we talked a bit while he munched down a salad from World Flavors:
How do you like touring with a live band as opposed to a DJ?
Really, I started out with a live band. So that isn’t really something new for me. I actually like live bands better. I love the feeling. You know, even if the band fucks up, it’s just a new vibe every single night. It’s never gonna go the same way. I can change up the music. I can direct, cut the song, all that.
You know, I just enjoy the opportunity man to be in front of such a diverse crowd of people. Regardless of whether we admit it or not, different people gravitate to different songs. You know what I mean? And I do a full range of songs live, so the band just allows me a lot more freedom (to mix it up).
I just heard your latest this week, thanks to the internet, “When You Hear What I’ve Got To Say“. When did you record that track? It has to be brand new ’cause you even mention the bailout.
Yeah, I recorded that about a week ago. It’s just something that I was feeling. You know, a lot of times we put out records and that shit will be what you were feeling a year ago. So, I just really felt like I needed to say something. That I needed to address some of the ways that people were feeling in the streets. People in the streets don’t just wanna talk about drugs and violence. They wanna talk about that pain … and some of the things that have not happened for us. You know? Some things that people promised us but still hasn’t come to fruition yet. And I feel like I got the power and people’s ears enough to say whatever I want. It’s all just part of my calling.
So what are your thoughts on the bailout?
HAH! … Where’s MY MOTHERFUCKIN’ BAILOUT?
Where’s THE HOOD’s BAILOUT? Where’s THE EDUCATION SYSTEM’S BAILOUT?
They are bailing out the people who are responsible for the breakdown of our economy. And you know, it’s just amazing to me how things like this happen in America and we just let it ride.
Also … I gotta ask, what did Tavis Smiley say?
I just didn’t like the way he was going at Obama. You know … thing is man … everybody is entitled to their opinion but I think that it’s just too big of a time. Even if you personally don’t like Obama, dammit … c’mon man! Eight years of the shit we been through! It ain’t personal. It’s about the greater good of the people. Just shut up! You gotta better things to do with your power.
One thing I didn’t know about you, till recently, is that you were involved in a cartoon on Adult Swim, That Crook’d ‘Sip. How’d that show come about?
It just amazing how that worked out because one of the makers is really a fan of David Banner. We had a meeting at Ludacris’ Red Light District party.
You know … I love Dexter’s Laboratory. I love the Powerpuff Girls. I love Teen Titan. I love all that shit! So really it was just hot to get together and make something.
On sorta the same note, I gotta say … nice Boondocks sample on the new album. Gotta love Stinkmeaner.
Well, actually, that’s not a sample. I got the guy to come in and really do it. You know how it is? It’s the black dude from Reno 911 (Cedric Yarbrough). I’m a big fan of The Boondocks too.
And one comment I do wanna make is, that song is a whole lot more political that people would’ve ever imagined. Actually, I got my first hip hop quotable because of the second verse. So that song really means a whole lot to me.
Almost exactly a year ago, you spoke before Congress regarding hip hop and African American stereotypes in the media. And you probably get this question all the time but, do you feel like the testimonies you guys gave helped change some of those people’s perception of your music and their outlook on hip hop in general?
I believe some people listened to us. What affect I had on another man? … Shit, I don’t know. But I DO KNOW that they were not expecting a young black man who was articulate and well-prepared that day.
So even if I changed their thoughts on how they look at us as young people … regardless of what color you are. There is a group of us who are prepared and who are really serious about the betterment of poor people in general. White, Black, Latino, whatever. I stand for poor people. I talk about black people more because I am black. But I stand for the rights of poor people in general.
I think you definitely did explained your music cleverly that day … calling it a Bible with a playboy cover. You get ‘em hooked with a one kind of track and then hit ‘em with a message on the next.
Yep. And hope that they hear me.
MP3: DJ Green Lantern ft. David Banner, Busta Rhymes & Talib Kweli - Black President (RMX Pt. 1)
