It’s only been a couple of weeks since we last posted an interview with David Banner, but while attending the event for the Disney movie, Let It Shine, I caught up with Banner again. David was attending in support of the film and it’s soundtrack, for which he produced and co-wrote on. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk with him about his involvement with Disney, and the progress with the 2M1 movement. I had about 10 minutes with David Banner, here goes…
Parlé Magazine: First of all, you’re here to support this Disney movie, Let It Shine; you produced on the soundtrack. Tell me, how’d you get involved with a Disney movie of all things?
David Banner: My agent called and said do you want to do some stuff with Disney. Initially I was like, let’s see, but then I realized that us as African-Americans, when you have these million dollar corporations that’s interested in our youth and our culture, we gotta start being a part of it, because if we don’t start being a part of it, then how are we going to have any say so on the images that our kids receive. Just because it doesn’t have any cussing in it doesn’t necessarily mean that its positive for our kids. If its making our kids want to be something other than themselves than its no good. So to be able to be a part of something like this, and have some say so, on whatever level or to even be able to see how people think about us, is a definite blessing and I’m happy to be a part of it.
Parlé: Music aficionados can appreciate your ability to just dominate on all levels. From your own projects to working with artists like Estelle this year and now working with Disney, is it just about being everywhere for you?
Banner: To be able to diversify and work with Wayne one week, then the next week I’m working with Disney, then be in the studio with Chris Brown and Justin Beiber, then the next week be in the studio with Game, its amazing. And at the end of the day, its about good music.
Parlé: How are you able to do it though, literally everywhere we turn nowadays we hear that ‘David Banner’ drop.
Banner: Not having no kids, family, not having to watch your little brother. But after a while you start looking at it like, what is it really all for. But I would contribute it all to working and I work HARD. A lot of times I put my own money up. The Mercedes Benz situation I demo’ed and did everything myself, live instrumentation and all. I paid for and I did that all on my own to prove to them that I was serious. And I could’ve lost all that money, they could’ve said ‘I don’t like it.’ But I don’t believe there’s no reason for failure, I don’t believe in failure. If I fail then it means I was meant to learn a lesson. Its not negative when I fail, just means I need to tighten up my game. God has blessed me with so many experiences and opportunities to help me learn every day. To become a better man, better business man, better philanthropist, a better giver, a better taker in that a lot of times Black men are never paid for their talents. A lot of Southern Black men are not paid what their worth, nor are they paid on the level of contribution that they give.
Parlé: Let’s Talk about the 2M1 movement that you have going on for your most recent release, Sex, Drugs and Video Games. How’s that going so far?
Banner: Its been amazing. To even be able to conceptualize a new way to make money in this time is amazing. People are always waiting for somebody to do something for them when they don’t realize sometimes its right in front of your face. They waiting for their favorite star to do it, but their favorite star ain’t got no reason to do something new because they winning with the old system. So for me, to be able to be a trailblazer, to be able to stand before people as a man and say, ‘I didn’t beg.’ Regardless if people want to admit it or not, the last 2 albums I put out have been groundbreaking. Even from my Grammy Award winning projects to Chris Brown on consecutive projects, Lil’ Wayne, A$AP Rocky, there hasn’t been a conglomerate effort like this in a long time. I put my money up for Hip-Hop. It ain’t no label. I ain’t begging, I’m standing up like a man for mine. Its going to be Amazing, I’ma reach my goal. However it go, I stood like a man. If I gotta do that, it is what it is. I’m powerful!
Parlé: At this point you’re laying a foundation to be called one of the Greats out here. How can one follow-that path towards greatness?
Banner: Fuck what people think, fuck what they say, fuck their feelings, do what God put on their soul, on their mind. Don’t worry about what other people think, what they wearing, be creative. It took me all this time to realize that. Don’t worry about what other people think, nobody that’s great ever did. Andre 3000, OutKast wasn’t worried about what nobody felt. Jimmy Hendrix wasn’t worried about what anybody felt. You can imagine how the Tribe Called Quest got talked about, how Prince got talked about. So in order to be great you have to not give a fuck. And I just realized, right now, that I don’t give a fuck.
Parlé: We’re at this Disney event, and I know you’ve already made your mark in Hollywood, any plans to return to that big screen?
Banner: I’m in the process right now of creating something very powerful. But I read this powerful passage a couple weeks ago that said, you don’t tell the world about your accomplishments until you accomplish them. You don’t give people the opportunity to hate on you or give someone else the opportunity to do it. I’m going to do something very powerful that’s going to bridge the gap between music, movies and all entertainment as it pertains to people of color. I’m excited. Then maybe I can go have some kids, get me a family, go watch a basketball game, go on vacation or something.
Parlé: Thank for the time.
Also Check Out:
Bigger Than Hip-Hop, The David Banner Movement
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