David Banner’s Mental Check-In On Shannon Sharpe, Talks Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, TI, & Ryan Coogler

How you doing, bro? I'm doing good. I. woke up this morning. I was in my right. mind. Blood was running warm in my. veins. I had use of my limbs. I was able. to put my feet on the floor. A lot of. people had an appointment they couldn't. reschedule. What they say from where we. from? We on this side of the dirt. Yeah, that was the first thing I wanted to say. before we say anything, bro, is check in. with you. All my life been grinding all. my life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid the. price, want a slice. Got to roll the. dice. That's why all my life I've been. grinding all my life. All my life been.

grinding all my life. Sacrifice hustle. paid the price. Want a slice to roll a. dice. That's why all my life I've been. grinding all my life. [Music]. Hello. Welcome to another episode of. Club Shay. I am your host Shannon Sharp. I'm also the propri of Club Shay. Stopping by for conversation on a drink. today is one of hip hop's most. multi-dimensional figures. He's a Grammy. nom Grammy nominated rapper, award-winning songwriter, and. multi-platinum artist, versatile.

producer. He's the first rapper inducted. into the Mississippi Musician Hall of. Fame. He's evolved from a rapper into a. dynamic force behind the scenes. Uh he's. CEO of Banner Vision who created. campaigns for Gatorade, Disney, Marvel, Gillette, and Pepsi. A multi-talented. actor, activist, philanthropist, entrepreneur, entertainer, and public. speaker. An advocate for humanity, a. cultural thought leader, an outspoken. commentator on social issues, an. industry veteran for over quarter. century, he uses his voice and influence.

to push the boundaries and spark. meaningful change. One of the major. forces behind the Dirty South's rap. breakthrough in mainstream music in the. early 2000s from the MI crooked letter, crooked letter I, crooked letter, crooked letter, humpback, humpback. Here he is, yours. truly, David Banner. Blessings, Shannon. Yes. How you doing, bro? I'm. doing good. Honestly, like like No, you. know what? I woke up this morning. I was in my.

right mind. Love was running warm in my. veins. I had use of my limbs. I was able. to put my feet on the floor cuz a lot of. people had an appointment they couldn't. reschedule. What they say from where we. from, we on this side of the dirt. Yeah. That was the first thing I wanted to say. before we say anything, bro, is check in. with you. Yeah. Like I need you to. understand something, bro. When you. decided that you were going to talk like. you talk, be intelligent. Yeah. Make. sure that you know everything. I watched.

how you researched. I watched how it. meant something to you cuz I remember as. an actor, you know, one of the first. things they told me to do is to crush my. southern accent or I was going to be typ. cast. I remember that, bro. And for you. to decide, make a conscious decision. that you going to speak like you, bro, and you brought them to you. Yeah. That. meant a lot. And we have to be careful, bro. Sometimes. we will allow them to turn our blessings.

into a jail cell. Yeah. Like, bro, that's you know, I watched when you. talked about, bro, not having no running. water in the crib. Bro, people don't. even understand where we come from and. the environments that our grandparents. lived and our mothers lived under, bro. You know, and for you to break. generational curses, bro, I want you to. understand that regardless of what what. they decide to try to do, bro, you own. yourself. I do. You a made man. So, like.

one of the things that I think that we. do is we become so judgmental of each. other. we do and forget that we're human. being. But I talked about recently. people were really interested in this. conversation. about how and I'm not talking about. whether he was right or wrong or not. That's not for me to judge. That's for. that's for God to judge. But like how. media did Chris Brown when he was a. child, right? He was a kid. People. forgot he wasn't even 21 at the time.

Mhm. And we because we're so vested in. these people's fame and their money, we. forget what God say. We forget about. being human beings and we pray for. forgiveness every Can I cuss y'all? Everying day of our life. But we are the. most judgmental people on this planet. Right. So, bro, like I really really. wanted to know just how you doing. I. think the thing is a lot of time it. happen what happens is is that we ask.

for forgiveness but we're the least. forgiving and I think that's the biggest. issue right there and we don't forgive. ourselves. No, no, we and and sometimes. we we end up putting ourselves in jail. for perpetuity, even though at the. smallest mistakes, realizing that at the. end of the day, we're human and we're. going to heir. And uh and I Yeah. But I. I think the thing for me is that is that. I I do realize how fortunate I am. I do. realize how blessed that I am. And I do. realize where I came from and how how I.

how long it took me to get here. And uh. I'm very thankful. I'm very appreciative. of the people cuz a lot of people had to. sacrifice in order for Shannon to be. where Shannon is. And I never forgot. that. You know what I think that that. your followers should do right now? And. I think they should sit back and be. honored and blessed that this much. chocolate is on their camera right now. Just look at take this in right now cuz. Shannon, I'm in that gym. Not quite as. much as you. I'm in that junk, dog.

Yeah, I see. I see you. That's That's. what uh Jordan to my my my social media. guy, my guy, my picture guy. He was. like, "Man, okay, I see you've been in. the gym hitting them shoulders, huh, bro? Let me tell you something, dog. Man, um I'm so thankful, bro. You had. Ali Sadi on here." Yeah. Yeah. That's. one of my That's one of my partners, bro. Yeah. He He's amazing, bro. Matter. of fact, I saw he it shocked you when. you asked him a question and he said. David Banner. Yeah. And you you was like. ah like Ali was one of the one of the.

people that that taught me man that if. we really about what we say we are about. spiritually. we make some people uncomfortable right. there's certain spaces that are not for. us and sometimes we we have to be. careful I had to learn this bro I just. came out like a major depression bro and. I think I can't say what God was trying. to show me man but I think God was. trying to tell me that even the things. that I think are good still don't come. before him, her, or it. You understand.

what I'm saying? So, I thought fighting. for black people. I thought being a good. person. I thought all of those things. Even think about David in the Bible. People don't know that Psalms is a song. versus a song. And that as much as. people talk about it, if you took away. the fact that God said that that was his. man, if you look at David, he was a. gangster rapper. No, really, I'm. serious. And the only reason why. Christians hoop and holler about David.

is because God said that's my man. But. if you took that away, right, you would. treat him like you used to treat David. Banner and how they trying to treat you. So just like just as men, bro, like. regardless, it ain't my it ain't my. place, bro. But I wanted to do a check. on you. Good. Cuz most people don't. And. most people really don't care, bro. Right. Yeah. Well, bless, bro. Everything that you've accomplished, all. that you're doing, and what you'll.

continue to accomplish. Thank you, J. God bless you. I appreciate it, man. I. appreciate it, bro. Thank Thank you for. having me in your space, bro. Thanks for. coming to me. How have you been, bro? I'm better than I ever been in my. life, bro. To be honest with you, man. It's It's so funny, man, because. the kids call try to call me OG. And I And I'm serious, bro. With the. exception of speed. I'm stronger than I. ever been, right? Uh I'm smarter, wiser,

jamming, rapping better than I ever had. I'm definitely a better actor. And what people don't understand is my. life is just starting, bro. Look at what. you were able to acrude after football. Yes. And think about this, bro. Like. sometimes. the things that we thought that we. wanted, God didn't give it to us cuz he. knew it would be a nightmare. Correct. Bro, you done so much more after. football. Yeah, bro. I'm doing so much.

more. Like once people once it catches. up what I'm doing right now, bro, I. didn't even dream it, bro. Right. No, I. definitely didn't see this aspect of. Yeah, bro. Like I'm I'm about to be a. superhero, bro. I play a god in a movie. that's about to come out, bro. And. that's the reason why now, man, I've. stopped asking why and I ask what. Like, what is it for? Like, what is it for? It's a reason because I know I'm chosen.

So if I'm chosen, bro, like we got to. stop doubting. Like there's a reason for. everything that we ever gone through, bro. You know when you get in that gym, bro, that rep don't start until you feel. the pain. So when you feel the pain, okay, now it's time to really get to. work. So now you got to get back to work. because it was getting easy for you. Yeah, I know how it is. We get spoiled. We spoiled children, bro. So it started. getting easy now. Okay, I'm back where. I'm comfortable. You feel what I'm.

saying? I'm comfortable. I'm built for. this, bro. And so, man, like I'm I'm so. fortunate, man, because. bro, this stuff that I'm doing now, man, like it it it I won't say it scares me. cuz I I knew it. I saw it, but it's like, bro, I'm from. Mississippi. Yeah. And God placed me in. that place for a reason. To be able to. rep, bro, that Farrakhan once told me one. time, bro, it shook me, man. He said.

that if you can put any type of dent. dent in racism being from Mississippi, you can be a beacon of hope for people. in places. And I'm paraphrasing. It's, you know, it's hard to speak for a man. that powerful, but everything is starting to make sense. to me. And I think it'll start making. sense to you in a minute, bro. Yeah. You. mentioned you're from Jackson, Mississippi. Yes. Now, Jackson, Mississippi is not New York. It's not. Chicago. It's not LA. It's not one of.

those big cities. So, it's interesting. I I would like to hear what was your. upbringing? Were you like I mean, I know. Jackson is is the capital. And so, were. you on a farm? Were you in the rural. area? What was growing what was David. Banner's childhood like? So, this is the. craziest thing, bro. I always wanted to. be a city boy my whole life. And then I. moved from Mississippi. Then I moved to. the city and was like, "No, we had it. already." Okay, dog. That love, that. good food, that space. But I um I.

realized, man, that I had already been. blessed. And that's the reason why it's. important for you to have purpose in. life. Cuz sometime God has already. blessed you. I spoke at the way makers. conference and I was telling the young. kid like we had walked by and I can tell. he didn't know who we were cuz he was so. young. I was like, "Come here, bro." I. said, "Bro, you don't know who you you. don't never know who you talking to. Be. kind to everyone." Absolutely. And I. think that's what us being from the.

country Georgia and Mississippi taught. us, bro. Like the real truth is before. conventional religion, we believe that. God is in everything. Even if you going to hunt, you got to. pray over that body before you kill it, before you eat it. And I think money has. blinded us to those things that our. grandparents taught us, bro. Like I I I. remember seeing that in you, bro, when. you first started, bro. It was it was a. of course there was competitiveness cuz. that was your job, bro. They they build.

these almost mechanical machines and try. to act like that doesn't bleed over into. real life. And they know better than. that. Correct. That's why so many. football players have problems after the. game because they don't know where to. put that cuz you warriors, right? So. like for me being from Mississippi, man, I um. I grew up man rap actually changed my. life. Like Jackson was real loud, the murder.

capital of the United States, bro. When. when stuff was hard for me, bro, that. was why my friends didn't understand. I. didn't listen to the same kind of music. other people listen to. Imagine being in. Mississippi. I would roll up to the club. playing the Price is Right. It was like that [ __ ] crazy. Yeah. But I. always wanted to escape. And so what. football did for you, like music did for. me. But the problem was with me is like.

once I made it, I realized it wasn't. what we thought it was. like all that all that [ __ ] is a is a. lie. It's a business, bro. And it hit me. hard because I really really loved. music. My little homeboy would always. say, "Man, like you act you act like. rapper girl like it broke your heart or. something, bro.". And what I think that we can do, Shannon, that's different. is that if we really want it to be true,

and this is the power that God gave to. us. All you have to do to make the music. industry fair is we can sign kids and. give them what they deserve. We talk. about DEI all the time, bro. Apparently, them people don't like us. Apparently, they don't want us around. Then why. don't we employ our own people? Because. one thing one I don't have many problem. with my peers but the problem that I do. have with my peers is we acrew all of. this money and we'll buy fancy clothes. and jewelry and stuff but we won't.

invest in ourselves. We talk about. investing in all these corporations, bro. I invest in me, right, bro? I've. made enough money, Shannon, in my life. to live three generations, bro. But the. reason why I don't have the money that I. probably deserve and my family probably. deserve cuz I've always put my money. back into me, back into my community, things that I stand for. And people say. I'm crazy for that, bro. But like I real. real real real life love black people in.

all forms of us, bro, because I study. history. I know why we act the way that. we act. I'm not surprised. But I am. grateful, bro, that we come from where. we come. And to be able to sit here, no. matter how much pain we've been through, and find a way to look at each other and. smile and I'm drinking your [ __ ] and. enjoying it. That's a blessing, dog. It. absolutely is. Yeah. You said something very interesting. You. said you always wanted to be a rapper.

and when you got there, it wasn't what. you thought it was. I've always wanted to be a professional. football player. Mhm. And I'm not. necessarily and I it wasn't because I. thought it was this glamorous position. I mean, a glamorous job because it was. I wanted to be it because I thought it. what it would do help me do for my. family. That's all I've ever wanted to. do. Can I pause you for a second? Yes. And bro, I love the reverence that you. have for your brother. Appreciate that, dog. People need to see that. That is so.

important, Shane. And like, bro, I know. sometimes, man, like we sometimes we we. get disillusioned and we forget that. most of the stuff that we shoot for now, we didn't even know that it was. possible. Absolutely, bro. The reverence. that you give for your like I I've. studied you. That's that's the thing. about you is because, bro, all the rest. of that stuff and all them other people. that I see in your position, I don't. know them, right? I know where you from, bro. I know the pain that you've been. through. Right or wrong, I don't agree. with everything you say, everything that.

you do. But I do know you're a country. darkkinned man from very similar. situations that I come from. So that. other [ __ ] them other talking about, I. don't know about that, right? I know. about what you come from, bro. So your. reverence for your brother, bro, I've. always respected that. And he needed to. Yeah. Because of injuries, bro. He. wasn't able, bro, he was a maniac, dog. And so he may not tell you this, bro, but but bro, when you feed back into.

him, bro, that gives him life. And he's. actually able to live through your. ability to continue, bro. Well, that was. our whole thing. Um, growing up and I. don't know him. I can't speak for him, but I'm just No, but when we growing up. after my grandfather died, he was the. dominant male figure in my life, even. though he was only three years older. And so the the relationship that we have. is that is more of a father figure than. a brother figure. My sister, she's 8. years older, is more of a mother because. she taught me all the things that a.

mother probably would would would have. done. Mhm. And so, you know, help me. with my homework, sign my report card, you know, get me help me get take a bath. and get me dressed for school when I was. when I was at that at a at a age that I. couldn't really do it for myself. And. so, we've always we've always been. close. I remember my grandpa my. grandmother used to always say, "Boy, she say, "Son, teeth and tongue may fall. out, but you and your brother and your. sister, y'all should never fall out.". Damn. And I and Oh, hold on. That's a. bar. Let that sit there for a minute.

That's this that's the [ __ ] we need, right? And and it it wasn't and as I I. at the time that she said it, I didn't. understand. And what she meant, she. said, "Son, if your teeth bite your. tongue, your tongue get mad at your. teeth, won't it?" Mhm. And you like, she. said, "They might fall out with each. other." She said, "But y'all don't." And. we're not perfect. My brother said some. things, done some things I didn't like. I've done some things. I promise you, my. sister's the same way. But through everything, good, bad, up,

down, indifferent, I can always pick up the phone and call. Buck. I can always pick up the phone and. call my brother Spike. And no matter. what, no matter what, honestly, man, like whatever this. whatever I may disagree with you about. or may not like, like we could talk. about that as me later on, right? But. like for us to to have some type of. united front, bro, that's important, bro. And I'm doing this on purpose in. front of the camera because we don't,

bro. I act honestly, bro. I didn't learn. to talk, man. My mentor just taught me, bro. Like, where I'm from, you don't you. don't talk to nobody, bro. Right. I. didn't know I didn't talk to my friends. about [ __ ] where I was. I was taught in. the streets, bro. You don't shitness to. nobody, bro. And so my mentor, my. mentor, David Moody, he asked me, he was. like, "Bro, do you talk to your friends. like you talk to me?" And I was like, "No, sir." Mm-m. And bro, I've been. holding this [ __ ] my whole life. You cuz.

you got I think the thing is, David, that we got to be careful cuz I'm I'm a. firm believer. Uh my grandfather used to. say, "Boy, you got to be careful what. you tell people." He said, "When once. people find out what make you tick, they'll wind you up and make you tick. when you they want you to instead of. when you need to." But that's only. that's only because the environment that. our our grandparents were built. Yes. But the real truth is if we can't talk. to our friends, then they not our. friends. True. They shouldn't be around. us, bro. We make enough money to have.

Yes. people around us. We don't. But. real friends, you need to be able to. And I And I mean this and I know how. media is, so I have to watch what I say. You got You should be able to get naked. in front of your people. My mentor. taught me something, bro. I'm serious, bro. I never thought about this in my. life, bro. He said, "I don't He said, "I. don't do business with men that cheat on. their wives.". And I said, "Huh?". He said, "If the person that you sleep. with can't trust you, I damn sure.

can't.". And I never thought about that. If I. can't talk to my best friends, like, this is the first thing I ever asked my. friend coming from the streets. And it's funny, bro. I just talked to. Matt Barnes about this, bro. Cuz I'm so. proud of that boy, man. Or that young. man, that that man, excuse me. We. probably about the same age. I'm so. proud of him, man. And I could tell that. we deal with the same struggles. So, I. talked to him. I was like, "Bro, man,

I'm so proud of you. I watch I don't. even know you like that, but I watched. you grow up." Mhm. And I told him, man, I was like, man, like. I didn't saw so much violent stuff. I. didn't understand why am I having. anxiety. about this weak [ __ ] that I'm going. through now. You know what I'm saying? But my therapist taught me that the. human brain and God built us and loved.

us so much that the human brain hides. you from certain stuff until you get. comfortable enough or old enough. And. now that we got some bread, okay, deal. with that [ __ ] that happened to you when. you were nine. Oh. Oh [ __ ] That's why. I'm freaking out. Oh, okay. I get it now. And when you. were playing football, you were a. different type of animal. Mhm. When I. was really in rap in the middle of that. [ __ ] I was a different type of animal.

Now I actually care. And enough therapy. has taught me that I really do care. about people. I thought I was the. hardest walking on the streets. I did. I. was not. the David Banner. Now, as trained as I. am, excuse my French, I would the young. maniac loud talking person that I was. because people that run their mouth and. talk loud, they don't know [ __ ] You. ain't never in your life saw an angry.

kung fu master, have you? No. All they. got to do is cut and literally cut your. throat. It's all they got to do. You. ain't got to get mad about it. Mad is a. lack of information. If you are the greatest, you ain't never. got to get mad at nobody. I knock you. out, fool. You know what I'm saying? So. for me, man, like the older that I get, bro, I think that we can use this these. mediums, bro, as a way to release each. other, bro. Like I really want you to. know that it's okay. However this [ __ ].

go, bro. You've already won, right? Like. we we are the underdogs, bro. The. continent underdog. if we don't get. another dollar, another view. It's a. blessing that God made us, gave us the. vision to see further and to want more. But Bruce Lee said something that was so. powerful. He said, "The goals are only a. north star to keep you moving. They're. not always things that you are supposed.

to accomplish, but we got to keep moving. or you die, right?" Yeah. So growing up, so was rap, did you play. sports in high school? Did you play. sports growing up? Did you ever want to. be an athlete? Did you always want was. rap the only thing that was on your. mind? So what were you going to do to. get out? Cuz I know Jackson, Mississippi. Grew up born in Jackson, grew up in Jackson, that wasn't going to. be your final resting place. I never I. never said this before, but people used to laugh at me cuz I was. a rapper.

Some of the same people that ask for. record deals now, I remember them. laughing at me. Yeah, they like, "Why. you trying to do that New York shit?". [ __ ] laughed at me, bro. And uh. I um. my uncle came from the north, bro. And. for some reason, he wanted to be a. he wanted to be a blues DJ. I didn't even know that was a thing, right, bro? He gave me all of his rap. rap records. Wow. I remember the first.

record was uh Rock Leet from St. Honey, what you know about stat? I just told. you. Yeah, I just told you. Just say. step. Yeah. Um, Ta Rock. Oh, man. That's Now you going. back, Mantronics. I'm telling you. And I. was a little little kid, bro. Imagine. getting this type of information, bro. But what people don't know, bro, is that. we were battle rapping in Mississippi. That's how powerful.

uh uh um hip-hop was at the time, man. And um he gave me all these records, bro, and it helped me to escape. Hip-hop. had always been like, bro, I I listen to. I related more to, you know, groups like Hieroglyphics, bro, and Souls of Mischief because the. dope dealing, the violence. My friend. Chucky was the first person to die from.

gang violence in Jackson, Mississippi. He was older than me. We used to go to. what y'all call Circle K. It used to be. Stop and Go back in the day. Okay. So, it's this game that was the uh ripoff of. Pac-Man was Ladybug. Mhm. Like I would. go down and we would play Ladybug, man. And as old as he was, cuz what people. don't know is that the people who were. affected the most by gangs was dance. groups cuz they were already in a group.

No different than fraternities. I think. that's what Jim Jones was trying to uh. explain to people. Bro, football is a. fraternity. Absolutely. Like, bro, basketball is rap is a fraternity. We. just not as organized. Correct. You know. what I'm saying? Like, that's what we. should might as well just go ahead and. say it and get organized and made it. move. And Chucky was Chucky was the. first dude to ever die, bro. So, it. affected me in a way. And what I what. happened was, bro, is that I loved rap.

so much because it was always my escape. from my reality. But what it also did. is, think about this, bro, this is going. to freak you out, bro. I stopped eating. pork in Mississippi and you know how we. feel. How old were you when you stop. eating pork? 11th grade. 11th grade in. Mississippi. So. I ain't been eating pork longer than. most, no pigtails, no nothing. No bacon. No, nothing. No sausage. See, that's the. reason why people listen to me, Shannon. Chillers? Because I tell people I never.

ate chillers. Oh, okay. Hog mo? No. Oh, okay. But let me tell you this. Listen, this is this this is the reason why I. think kids listen to me, bro. I would. swim in pork if I could. That [ __ ]. tastes good. Act like the [ __ ] don't. taste good for real. But would I tell. people this? And be honest with you. Listen to me when I say this, y'all. Would you eat rad if it tastes good? You probably would, Shannon. I ain't I. look at your big ass. You Shanny, don't. Hold on. Take a drink first, Shanny. You.

probably Your big ass. Your big ass probably would. My home. grandma. You You decide that. Mhm. Yeah. The only reason why I'm saying that is. cuz the rat's diet is better than the. pigs. Yeah. The pig will literally eat. your ass. So will a chicken. You eat. chicken? Yes. Ain't nothing nastier than. a chicken. I grew up on the farm. That's. what I'm saying. And you eat that. Hold. on. But let me tell you, but let me. There's a difference though. The thing. that I realized though, bro, is that is.

that as I got older, bro, that hip hop. actually taught me something, bro. Like, I stopped eating because of brand. new Nubia. You know, I tell Sadat at the time, his. name was Sedat X, Derek X at the time. Like, bro, it was a reason why I stopped. eating pork. And then bro from that I. read Malcolm X autobio bro it changed my. whole entire life and I and then from. the broader files I actually stole that.

book from my cousin. Um this is a story. that I'm actually and I'm not gonna go. too far into it but um the lead singer. from House of Pain um. he ended up buying two of my God boxes. I put out my last project that I put out. some people said was the greatest. marketing so-called they call it. marketing schemes but um he ended up. buying two of those God boxes because. his sister got pregnant by a black dude.

So his children I mean his nephews are. black and he bought them God boxes. because he said I don't know nothing. about being black but I do trust David. Banner. Wow. What's funny is how I. became conscious because my cousin stole. the remix, the Pete Rock remix of Jump. Around from me. And since he stole my CD. at the time, I stole that book. I read.

that book from Chicago to Mississippi. and it changed the whole course of my. life. And that's why I'm David Banner. How did you So when you tell your mom, you tell your dad or your grandparents. like I ain't eating pork no more cuz you. know bacon and all that stuff. Food is. hard to get in the south. Let's be. clear. I know where you going. Go ahead. Say it. They ain't bringing no shoulder. They you don't you ain't get no the. best. First of all, you not getting the. best cuts of meat on the pig anyway. So. you getting the scraps and a cow. Oh.

have mercy. I don't think I had. hamburger. You get ground hamburger. But. you not getting no no no siron. You. didn't get no real bite, no none of. that. So, how did you make that? How did. you like your great your parents and. your grandparents like I ain't eating. pork no more. Let me let me show you. something powerful. And I didn't realize. this, bro, until three years ago. Okay, watch this. My parents actually stopped eating pork. because of me. Huh? They they they were. on my ass at first because they thought. it was just a fad, but I think they knew what I was saying.

was true. You know what I'm saying? And. I didn't notice that my parents didn't. start back eating pork until a year. after I left school. But sometimes, man, our parents in the South, and I was just. telling the young man this today, that. our parents work their ass off so we. could be smarter than them. Sometimes we. get frustrated at our parents because. they don't understand what we. understand, but there's no way for them. to understand. All they could do is. work, right? So we could be smart or so.

we can be the best football player in. the world. They're never exposed to what. we're being exposed to. And so I think. like this is something personal, bro. Like my mother started going to church. because of me. Wow. She's like, there's. no there's no way that my child is going. to church and I'm not going to church. Wow. And so I ended up telling my mom. later on like, you trusted me when I was. 16. Just consider what I'm telling you. now. Because if you followed me then,

I'm not asking you to believe in what I. believe in now, but just consider me. And then I had to learn that they worked. hard so they wouldn't have to consider. us, bro. And so like back in Mississippi. as far as eating pork and all of that. kind of stuff, man. Like the fact that. they gave me the opportunity cuz they. had to eat what they had to eat. It. wasn't no choices. Yeah. So for me to. even have that is a blessing and I'm. grateful for it. Yeah. I I don't know if. in the 50s and 60s being vegan was an. option for a black person, but but but.

but on the other side, we were Go ahead. No, we were green. Oh, that's hilarious. Oh, or I'm greasy. Just say it, dog. It's okay, bro. I know. We already got. the ratings and stuff. Just say I'm. greasy, bro. I actually usually need lotion. Come on, do it now. We We done broke the third. wall. Let's do it. Yeah. One thing I want y'all to take us take. into consideration though is we country.

You just rubbed rubbed it in. Yeah. Rubbed. That used to be the thing. You. want to be greasy. Well, I tell you, you. want. I don't think that's ever happened on. Shannon Sharp show before. But now, um, but what I was saying was, bro, is that. for us to be in a position, bro, to even. be able to do it, Shannon. And I want. you to think about this off camera, bro. Like, bro, ain't no it ain't no losing. for us, bro. Like, my my parents.

couldn't consider not eating pork. And one thing that people don't talk. about, it was a little bit different cuz. the pig was actually a part of the. family. We went and got our pig from the. backyard. I'm dead serious. You raised. him. So, we know what that pig was. eating. Yeah. I I I don't eat fish, bro. But I had a catfish farm when it that. MTV cribs that everybody says one like, dude, I had catfish and I fed them. So. my catfish, you could literally see. through their skin cuz I didn't feed my.

catfish [ __ ] I fed them like I fed. the dog, right? So when we ate when you. ate the pig in Mississippi and Georgia, it was almost like eating your fourth or. fifth cousin. Cuz I know how I know how meaty is. They'll cut that up and say that I was. eating. Yeah. Yeah. It's like they're. like pets because you fed them out your. hands. I mean, you you saw them grow. like, "Okay, yeah, that's the one that's. going to be, you know, come Christmas. time, that's the one that's going to be, you know," But let me ask you this,

Dave. What is What do you think the. number one thing that you learned from. your parents? What's the What's the the. number one teaching that like when you. going through something or you're. somewhere and you sit back and think and. you're like, "My mom, my dad said, I'mma. give you a great one, Sher. is when I was one of the top producers. in the world. I was out in Vegas. producing for arguably one of the. biggest artists on this planet. And the artist came in and bro this is.

before. I was a conscious super conscious David. Banner. This is before I was polished. I. was straight off the streets and I would. jump in your ass quick. Right. This is. when a lot of people don't know this. I. was on the um terrorist list before it. was a thing. Damn. Because Universal. didn't pay me my money and I kicked open. 12 doors. and they have money behind none of them, huh? Yeah, it didn't. But but I played into that game. My.

anger played into that game because they. owed me that money. And what people. didn't know, bro, I didn't sign the. Universal until way after Like a Pimper. came out because I had told them folks, and I don't think white folks was used. to this because they was so used to. black people being money hungry. I said, "Y'all already put my record out. I. ain't got to sign [ __ ] You owe me cuz I. knew I could sue them. I've always been. smart." So I said, "What you do is get. my contract right. I'll go on this tour. Don't trip, but have my money." So, I.

had become this $10 million David Banner. and my mother was in Mississippi, bro. Struggling, dog. No way. That don't make. sense. Then I'm making millions for you. and my mama can't eat. I hurt you. Okay, let me get back to the the story. So, what I learned from my dad, I'm trying. to be more upbeat. Um, my dad told me this, Shannon, and I. live by this to this day, man. It. changed my life.

The artist walked in. So, I just came. from gambling. and I was playing a beat that was for. somebody else and this artist was like, "Who is that? Who that for?" And I was. like, "Yeah, it's not for sale. It's not. for sale." Right? And the person flipped. me a $10,000 chip. Now, number one, I'm. from Mississippi. I ain't never seen no. $10,000 chip. I've been gambling half my. life, right? But negro,

you don't throw nothing at me. We not. used to that [ __ ]. I almost lost it. And I called my dad. I. left. I w I walked outside the studio. and called my dad. I said, "Dad, some I didn't even tell him the story, right?" He said, "What's wrong?". I said I I said, "Dad, I was shaking. And I was so mad. I I was like, "Dad,". he said, "Stop.

How do you feel?" I said, "Dad, I don't. feel good at all." He said, "Pack your. [ __ ] and leave." I said, "Dad, I'm about. to make six figures." He said, "I don't. give a pack your shit." He said, "I'd. rather you work in the post office. and be a $70 man. than be a million dollar woman with an. invisible skirt on.". Damn. I never never never forgot that,

bro. You can walk around looking like a. man, but have an invisible skirt on. He. said, "Pack your [ __ ] I'd rather you be. back in Mississippi in the mail room and. be a man that I can look at. So the guy. thought he could flip you that that. $10,000 chip and get the beat. I mean, so what was what the thing was is it's. regardless, man. I think sometimes that. we get into this industry and forget. that we're still human beings and that's. something that I don't want to lose. Shannon, I'm going to tell you.

something. I ain't never told nobody. Look at my hands. Yeah, bro. I I don't. wear gloves in the gym. Yeah, you do. hard. Yeah, I can see the calluses. already built up. I wear gloves. Why? Well, that ain't but but we got. different we got different things. But. but literally, bro, like I said, I as. much money as I make, I never want to. lose the fact that I come from a working. man's background. background. Okay. Honestly though, Shannon, man, like my. my dad taught me that is like there's. certain things that we never want to. lose. And bro, like I don't know what. you're going through. Again, I really.

felt like, bro, it's part of my my. purpose as a person, bro. You come from. the south. You come from certain things. that bro, it got to be born into you. Just always remember those things, bro. That's the reason why you here. It ain't. nothing like that [ __ ] bro. Ain't. nothing like our grandparents. And our. grandparents are dead now. Oh, yeah. For. sure. That's one thing that I wanted to. start a business where we go and get all. of our aunties and cousins, all of those.

quilts, bro. You know what I'm saying? Those homemade biscuits, bro. Like the. stuff that white people are making. millions, white folks making millions of. dollars off chillings, bro. We weren't. supposed to be eating no chillings, but. we didn't have no We had to turn it into. a delicacy. The new the new chilling now. is oxtail. Boy, I tell you, they killing. them folks in New York, bro. I'm telling. you, the Jamaicans mad as they was like, "Damn, we could have did that [ __ ] down. What the You feel me?" But like that's. what I'm saying like Shannon, bro. Like. it's it's it's in us, bro. And I know.

for a fact, man. with a AI and all of this technology, the one thing you can't fake is. authenticity. That was the reason why. them folks jumped on you. It's more. country folks than it is city folks, dog. Always remember that. Like, it's. more of us. It's more struggling people. That's the reason why the blues and. black music resonates so well. The only. thing that makes us relatable is all of. us are going to die. Mhm. So pain is the.

only common denominator with all human. beings on this earth, bro. That's what. makes us special. Wow. I saw the viral. video where you so your dad told you. say, "Son, do what?" You know, you. smiling and your dad called you and. said, "What are you smiling for? Stop. smiling.". Did you understand? Did you understand. at the time why he didn't want you to. smile? I didn't. But what I do I don't. hate I I what I do hate is I don't like. people talking about my dad. Like I wish. I would have explained it a little bit.

better and this gives me the. opportunity. Yeah. What happened was was. my dad knew that he had to raise a. certain type of man especially in the. south. Correct. Like my dad told me this. story once. Do you know one of the. reasons why southern people beat their. children so violently? Because in the south at one time by law. if you raised up to a white person they. could kill you. Absolutely. So what they. did was break you so that when they beat. if somebody beat you while you was in. town with them white folks, they.

wouldn't kill you. So they got you used. to being beat. Do you know how much that. would hurt a parent to have to beat. their child up and the child doesn't. deserve that? That's what I'm saying, man. Like when people judge black. people, there's a reason. There's a story. That's why our movies and our music, we. got to get out of commercialism, bro. And we got to get back to telling these. stories of why when they see black. people and they see us mad and they see. us do certain things, bro, we've been.

conditioned to be this way. Bro, I'm on. this really big tour and yeah, I'm. talking about it. People a lot of people. get scared of me, bro, because I tell. the truth, man. like I'm I'm on this big. tour and um the sponsors are coming at. me because I told them white folks I. said uh. I said your grandparents taught you how. to be racist, you know. And if I said I don't need you. I don't need no white savior. What I.

need you to do is for you to check your. racist uncle. The people who you know. that's saying the word [ __ ] The people. that make you feel uncomfortable because. you love my music. So I know you know. better. Go back and check your. grandfather, your mother, your cousins, your sisters, your uncles. That's the. reason why like when we become. judgmental or some black black people. You know your uncle so dope. Why you. treating somebody else kid like that? Cuz they selling dope. You know your. uncle so dope. Out your grandmama house,

[ __ ] Stop that. We become other people. because we trying to impress folks. Bro, I don't ever want to do that, Shannon. I. don't I don't ever I want to give the. message. I want to give God's message. It's God's responsibility to judge you. Now, if you do something to me, I'm. going to have to get your ass off of it. You're funny that you said that. You. said that people judge. My grandfather. said that very same thing. He said, "Boy, if you're not careful, you'll. become the very thing you despise the. most in a person." If you hate a liar,

if you're not careful, you'll become. one. If you hate a thief, you'll become. one. Well, write a book, D. And I I No, I'm dead serious. That [ __ ] That's. simple [ __ ] Is that not bars though? Look at everybody. Every time you say. some [ __ ] it can be sh. My sister like Sh. But I I I I swear to. my sister I would never cuz everybody. always said that. But you know at the. time No, but no, no, finish that though. You told your sister that I told my my. sister cuz every everybody tell my. sister they say Shannon always saying. things that your grandfather, your.

grandmother, like you know, Miss Mary, Mr. Barney would tell him. I was a kid. I was 8 years old when my grandfather. passed, but I can tell you everything. he's ever said in my presence. I was 43. when my grandmother passed and I can. tell you every time she'd been upset at. me and I hung on everything that they. said. They didn't know it at the time, but I I worship. I idolized. I didn't. know the idolatry. You know, you weren't. supposed to do that, but for them to. take raise their nine kids and then take. my mom's three and love them more than. they did their own. So, I hung on.

everything they said. But I always told. my sister and she said, "Shannon, please. don't." I told my sister I wouldn't. because a part of me wants you wouldn't. what? I wouldn't write a book. Why not? I wouldn't write a book. But why not? But listen listen. There are some things that she probably. You She's still alive. Yeah. But talk to. her. I'm only telling you to to give the. wisdom. Yeah. Cuz I know I know from. where we from. Oh, yeah. We got a bunch. of Oh, bro. But I will tell you this. though, bro. There are certain things.

that happen in the south that I don't. think that we should talk about on. camera, but we definitely got to get in. the room and talk about because. that's the reason why we keep. malfunctioning. cuz we won't talk about those things. And I say that with white folks. We got. to have those young white people who. really want to make this a better place, this America that y'all say that y'all. want. We got to have some uncomfortable. conversations. And that's what I didn't. finish the last statement. That's the.

thing that people don't understand about. our music is people want our music. They. want the blues. They want the rap, but. they don't want the pain and the. responsibility that comes along with it. That's what the blues is. That people. was talking about the pain and the hurt. that they had experienced. Um, but I read this and uh and this this. brought back so many memories because my. grandfather had one. Um, the bullhip. Actually,

my dad got beat with a bull whip. Uh my. grandfather called it a flowat whip. Yeah. Or coach whip. Yeah. And people don't understand. I mean, you. see the cowboys and they That [ __ ] look. funny. Yeah. Yeah. It ain't It's not. much on this earth that hurts worse than. a bull, right? Yeah. And that was one of. the things that made me and my dad. closer once I un like I thought my dad. was the meanest person on this planet. I. really did. I didn't like my dad, bro, until I was 23. I didn't like that. And.

I thought he was so hard on me. But in comparison to what he went. through, yeah, he was soft on me. So in. his head, he thought, yeah, he was. And. he actually was. But see, people can't register. Like all. the slave movies that you think you saw, slavery was nothing like that. It was 30. times worse than any movie that you ever. seen. Yeah. And we've never had therapy, Shannon. No. And that trauma just got.

passed down through generations. It did. And so, man, for us to even be here to. and you know that from an epigenetic. standpoint, bro, we still suffer from. what our great great grandparents, the. stuff that Jewish people have gone. through, Native Americans have gone. through, black people have gone through, bro, that stuff, we still clicking, bro. We still tripping. It's funny. My mom. said it. My mom said that she don't want. me to drink. She said, "Cuz I was drunk. when you were born." She says, "So much. alcohol in my blood for my family. I.

don't need to take one drink." Sorry, mom. I'm good at everything else. But. were you a good student? Were you good. in school? Okay, that's that's a strange. question. Um, I'll tell you why. Um, honestly, um, I was near a genius growing up. Really? Yeah. Um, you going to laugh at. this, Shannon, but it's the truth. Um,

people talk about how smart I am now. I'm just catching up to where I was when. I was in kindergarten. I ain't really I. never had to work hard. Like, this ain't. [ __ ] [ __ ] easy to me, bro. I um I talk. about this all the time. I read on a. junior in college level when I was in. the third grade. I could count to a. million when I was in kindergarten. The. only reason we had a counting contest, I. counted all day. The only reason why I.

messed up is because everybody else was. outside playing and I wanted to go. outside and play. So I was like a. million and one, a million and two, a. million and 12 cuz I wanted to go. outside. Everybody else had already been. outside for three, four, five hours, bro. Um, Shannon, this this is very. personal to me. I think I've only said. this in a maybe one or two interviews, but um, when I was young, I used to have anxiety. attacks about existing forever. I wasn't.

scared of the devil. I wasn't scared of. good or bad or Dracula, the things other. kids were scared of. I was scared of. like existing and never cutting off. That still me up. think of I don't want. to put that on y'all. Maybe that was too. heavy for this medium, but like bro, my. mind has always been and that's why I. understand. Do you sleep well? I just. started. Not well, cuz this if you don't. turn if you can't turn your mind off, look at my eyes. You know the answer to.

that. That's the reason why um I. understand Wayne. I understand Pac. needing to smoke cigarettes, bro. I. understand n like bro like. it's impossible not to be angry. It's. not a pos it's impossible to not be. afraid. Like bro, I'm I'm just I'mma say. something and I don't want to put this. on your show. Like bro, I know what they got out for. us. I just got back from Colombia from.

doing Stem Cell. Shout out to Biox. Rampage, the UFC fighter. He hit me to it. bro, to know what they doing to our. bodies, bro. To understand that, man, and to to be able to read and. spiritually really know God in a way. that most black people, I can't even. talk to him about it. That's a lonely. place to be. That was the reason why I. decided when I came on here, bro, I. wanted to come.

as a man of comfort, not judging. Again, like I told you, I. don't agree with everything, bro. But. that ain't my place. But what I do know. is, bro, some of the things that you've. done, bro, it's gonna take generations. for people to catch up. But we can't. lose you, good or bad, right? The [ __ ]. other [ __ ] we we can fix off camera, right? Bro, we got to figure out a way, man, to be loving to each other. And we. can't ask these kids to stop banging and.

loving each other if we can't find a. common ground to agree. See, one of the. things, and I know a lot of Christians. going to get mad at me, but I'mma tell. you this, just like Santa Claus don't. exist. Sorry kids. Um, I don't think. that there's one way to heaven. Really, I don't. God is everything. And they. they they teach us to have fear just. like I don't believe in the devil, man. Devil, you the devil. The reason why.

they give you something exterior is so. you'll never fix you. If you keep. blaming on the devil, you won't fix your. black ass. You the problem. Go fix you. If you didn't make the team, the devil didn't do it. You didn't do. your reps. You didn't stay in the gym. That ain't. the devil. That's you. But they tell you. the devil. So you will never fix the. devil in your black ass. And if you. really believe in God and think that God. is omnipotent, how you put anything next.

to God? If God created the devil, you. shouldn't even put the devil in the same. conversation. But I know that our people. can't like our mothers can't digest. that. But that's what I got to sit with, bro. In my mind, that's why my life is. so crazy, bro. And me being from the. south, it was hard for me to explain. Like my mind was moving faster than my. lips could, right? And I had the. southern draw. I couldn't say the [ __ ].

as eloquent as them did, but I knew I. knew the truth, bro. And I got to sit. with that [ __ ] alone, Shannon. Let me. get another drink. I'm serious. Right. That ain't easy to deal with. You say. you don't believe in the devil, but in. in Job in in the book of Job where he's. telling the story about Job, do you not believe that the devil told. God to say the reason why Job Job is so. faithful and so loyal and so subservant. to you? Like you give him everything,

man. My home, my uncle told my cousin, you see that badass bride over there. know you got a mother wife, man. But. look at that big ass. You need to get on. that. Ain't that the same thing? You can have. a [ __ ] sitting on the side. talking [ __ ] but you got to make the. decision. Nobody make you do nothing. If. somebody made you do it, then it. shouldn't be no hell. That's why I don't. believe that things are destined to be. If I'm destined to be a thug ass, why. I'm going to hell? You predestined that.

No, I made a choice. You got two. brothers that was raised the same exact. way. One end up being a maniac and the. other end up being one of the best. persons in life. We make a choice. You. always have two ways to look at things, bro. And I'm serious, man. That's why I. believe what we're going through in. America is a choice. I really believe. that God wants us to be better. The only.

way for you to be refined is through. pain. Bro, you have made it. You don't have to. train the way that you train, but you. understand there is a direct connection. and correlation between pain and. freedom, bro. I I wake up every morning, people say I'm crazy. I train like I'm a. football player, bro, because I know the. freedom that comes along on the other. side of that, bro. Right. And I. understand, bro, if it go down to if it. come down to it, Shannon, I could tell.

in your eyes, bro, you wouldn't like it. cuz you're a little spoiled now. But if. he came back to it with your big ass, bro, you get on the train tracks and. beat that railroad till that get. straight. If you got to eat. Yeah, for. sure. You ain't got no problem with. that. No, we blessed, bro. We actually. free, right? Yeah. You worked at Kroger. How? Hold on. How. you know that? You worked at Kroger and. selling mixtape. So you like, hey, you. know, you put the jars, you put the. heavy stuff on the bottom, you put the.

eggs and the bread on top so they didn't. get squashed. So you that's over me up a. little bit, man. I'm going to try. Hold. on, man. Yeah. Yeah. Doing some. research. All right. Sh. Well, let's go. get it then. Damn it. I'm trying to. figure out how you how you taking the. bag to the car and sell the mixtape. Is. it the same? All right. That That's probably Let me. calm down. All right. Um Shannon, what's. crazy, bro? They could never understand. why I didn't want to um What's the. people that check you out? Cashiers. They didn't they didn't understand why I.

wanted to be a why I didn't want to be a. cashier. No, because you couldn't pass. your you couldn't pass your mixtape. I. was making so much money, dude. I'm I'm. tell I was killing them, bro. And bro, like that's again, man, and I'm I'm. talking to these kids to show you how. spoiled you get, man. I used to clock I. used to clock in and go home. I was so cocky, bro. And I had the. perfect job, bro. And I knew that they I. had un I understood the hustle. I stud I. studied the hustle. Mhm. And I just.

slipped up. We had the hustle and slipped up. You. feel me? Um and that's the same thing I. did, bro. And I end up getting fired and. I had the blessing right there for me, bro. Bro, let me tell you this. This is. something I never said on nobody else's. show before, man. Like. I remember my parents got got behind on. their mortgage, man. And only thing I. ever cared about in life is getting a. pair of J's, right? I give me a pair of. Jays, I put the rest of it in the bank,

bro. And I had enough money, you know, early, bro, to without selling. dope, without disgracing my family's. name, bro, to be able to help my parents. get out of peril, financial peril. And, bro, my father being as tough as he he. didn't even want to take it, man. I. could now that I know and I'm a man what. that put him through to have to take. that from his son, bro. But the fact. that I was able to do it, man, from. music, come on, man. In Mississippi.

early Yeah, man. I I I I I thank God, man. I And I um. Shannon, I know that people don't. understand me and I really believe, man. And do you want people to understand. you? I want them to pay me. I'm serious, Shane. I want the same. thing you get in white folks. I want. your money and your attention. I want. your flowers. I don't like flowers. I want your money and your attention. That's it. Think about this. I asked a.

group of black people one time if they. thought I was the antithesis of Trump. and they told me, "Yeah." I said, "Then. why don't you take care of me like white. folks take care of Trump?" M the reason. why our kids don't want to be king is. because you let them kill the last one. That's why kids don't want to be. upstanding gentlemen. We got to start paying upstanding. gentlemen. So that's one of the reasons why, bro, no [ __ ].

I'm I'm going just get this to you. because I feel comfortable and I put you. in a position of vulnerability and I. have to do the same if I'm a real man. Right. Right, man. The reason why I do. most of the stuff that I do, like, bro, I'mma be honest with you, man. I got a. lot of money, bro. But this jewelry and. all this [ __ ] this ain't me. But I know. this with these kids. Like, so if I am a. conscious black man, oh, you could be. fly. Oh, you can make money being. conscious. Then maybe I consider it.

David. Oh, David better drive a Ferrari. Oh, you I didn't know you them two. things went together. America has. marketed being a revolutionary with. death, pain, and suffering. Correct. I'm. changing that, bro. Killer Mike is. changing that, bro. TI is changing that, bro. You know what I'm saying? So, like, for for me to be in a position, bro, to. to to do that, bro, I'm I'm honored.

Hear you talk now. You leave high. school. You go to Southern University in. Baton Rouge. Was it all was it you don't like the. term pre-ordained, but did you always. know you wanted to go to an H.B.CU? What. led you to an H.B.CU? I never wanted to. go to college. Okay. My mother, my dad was a country dude. Like I said, he ain't give [ __ ] about that rap [ __ ]. Boy, you need to go work in a bank. My. dad was not playing. But let me tell you. about my dad. I got a $70,000 check from.

Southwest Distribution in in Texas. And my dad saw that check and he looked. at me. and said, "All that noise you be making. back in my house, you get paid that much. money. I'm not bullshitting you, Shannon. I'm dead serious. Look at me. when I say this." He said, "That's what. you get from that?" My dad you and he. don't say the word. My dad say, "Why you. outside rapping now? Why you ain't.

outside rapping right now? Get the I'm a. rap." No. No. He was dead serious. He. like, "Rap right now." And what that. taught me is that our parents did the. best with what they had. And as they. learn more, they wanted, "Oh, you make. that much money playing football? Go.". Yes. I want you to go. And they only. dealing with what they deal with. You. know what I'm saying? Right. But um what. was the question? And I forgot the. question. H.B.CU. What led you to an. H.B.C.U.? You didn't want to go to. college? No, I didn't want to go. I I.

remember. Um, but my mom used to put up. her house and [ __ ] for talent shows. And. again, my mom like, man, rap wasn't. promised, especially people in the South. at the time, right? So, for my mama to. do that, she sat down and she asked me, she said, do you think that your talent. is original? And I said, "Yes, ma'am." She said, "Well, it'll be original in four years, then.

go to college." She walked into that. one. Yeah. And day. She won't get She. knew I was a smart. Yeah. Yeah. She had. to put it in a way. But but but. seriously though, I did it I did it for. my mom. And what's crazy was, bro, like I I never studied until. because I was so smart until statistics. And I had a friend named Buds. His name. is Aaron, Chicago gangbanger. Uh, he. taught me statistics while smoking weed.

in his car on and so that was the first. time I ever had to study because. statistics just didn't come easily. Everything else came easily for me for. for some reason statistics didn't. But. my mom, man, um. my mom asked me, she's like, "Billy, this the only thing that I asked you to. do." And I did it for her, man. And I'm. Shannon, I ain't lying, bro. I'm so. proud because show you how God works. The leader that you see in me that came. from Southern Bro, I have accomplished.

so much, made millions and millions of. dollars, but being SGA president at. Southern University because I never. believed in politics. I thought politics. was some [ __ ]. And what I end up learning is that. power will never invest in poor people. unless poor people invest in power. See, what we don't understand in the in the. community that we from is that you have. to invest with your money in politics. You got to buy these politicians. And.

Shannon, this ain't on you. You stay. away from this [ __ ] Let David Banner. talk this [ __ ] Okay, man. These. politicians are bought, bro. So, unless. you buy them the same way these. pharmaceutical companies buy them, they. ain't gonna never do [ __ ] for you. Just like I'mma take this opportunity to. tell you I found out, man, most of these. lawyers that we invest in, them lawyers. work for them same companies. We can't. pay our lawyers but two, three, four, $5,000. Them company them companies get. them lawyers hundreds of thousands of.

dollars and it make us feel like they're. doing something for us them same like. Yeah. No, I'm serious. They they need to. hear this. Like the cool thing about me. and the cool thing that we being from. the c country is that we got to go back. to the country and the way that we did. we can deal with that most other people. would break right like bro if I think. that's a sellout to me man like I've. been blessed to see things and other. people. Shannon this went really viral bro like.

I really believe that not all people I. think some black people don't want to. free the slaves. They want their chance to hold a whip. I want to free my people. I'm going tell. you something, bro. That's going to mess. your head up, bro. I could be, especially as a southerner, I could be. one of the richest people in southern. rap if I sign artist. Have you ever. noticed I never put an artist out? Really? Never. You want to know why? Why? Because the music game is. predicated and built on signing as many.

artists as you can and throwing up. against the wall. I care about people, bro. I won't sign nobody if I know I can't. help your family. This [ __ ] up, bro. And. it don't matter how talented you are. It's about time. It's about luck. It's. about money. It's about opportunity. It's about where the markets are. It's. so many things that you cannot control, bro. And I don't want to do that to. people. I rather teach you how to fish. and you get your own [ __ ] right? Yeah.

You leave that. So, how old were you. when you left? I guess you left after. college and went to New York. How old. were you then? 22, 23, around that. My uncle Swack, you. going to like this story, man. My uncle. Swag. Well, now I can't tell you now cuz. I said his name. Um, my uncle Swack, um, let's just say I went to New York. Um,

I didn't know that there was a um. firearm law in New York. And I took a. pistol to uh New York with me. That's. all. My uncle didn't have money to give. me nothing. My mom gave me as much money. she had in her bank account. And uh I. moved her to New York homeless. That's. why like a lot of people think that I'm. cocky, but most of these can't tell me. nothing about rap. Most of these white. folks can't tell me [ __ ] about rap. Man, I put everything in my life ignorantly.

And bro, I went to New York homeless. I. had never been to New York in my life, bro. I slept on the floor. And my uncle. gave me a pistol. And the day that I. realized I didn't need a pistol. The day. after that, I was with John Forte. I. don't know if y'all know who John Forte. is, but we ended up getting shook down. by the FZ. Bro, if I would have had that. pistol on one more day, I may still be. in prison right now, dog. That's how I. know that God is with me, bro. I've been. through so so so much, bro. And so,

like, when people say and do things to. me, Shannon, it don't it don't fade me. I just What I didn't tell you, what I. was trying to tell you earlier, though, bro, is I really think I supposed to. been in physics or something, bro. I I really think sometimes I my talent. is being wasted with rap and. entertainment, bro. I really think I. could do something to help the earth. I. really think I'm that type of person. I'm that type of thinker, bro. But we. didn't have access to that in the places.

where we from. You don't think you. helping now by your words and what. you're doing, your platform that you. have? You hear me? You could possibly. have asked Bob Marley that. And I'm not. saying that I'm Bob Marley. I'm not. saying that. Jimmyi Hendris. Like, bro, I know Malcolm. There's only one person. that I've I met in my life who I think. know who they are. tip. Ti is the only. person that know who he is. Like, but. most of us Pac didn't know Pac was Pac, right? Nipy didn't know that Nipy was. Nipy, bro. And so, man, like I it's.

cool, but like, bro, I'm serious, bro. I see. things in a way that's so clear to me. and I don't even expect humans to. understand, man. But like man like to. not like the difference between me and. most entertainers bro is I always wanted. to be married. I always wanted to have a. big family. I'm from the country bro. But I never. like if you look at everything in the. Bible, everything in the Quran, everything in the in the Torah for the.

most part it's about what you're willing. to sacrifice. Yes. So my sacrifice is a. huge part. Yeah. So sacrifice, not. having a family, not having a wife, the. loneliness that we go through. And so we. drink some of the greatest kayak I've. tasted in history. The awardwinning. Come on, bro. Come here. 13 times. Yeah. Yeah. Talk that [ __ ] dog. Time award. Yeah. See that smile? I got him to. smile. As much as that paid for them.

teeth, we need this to smile again, dog. the pearly whites. I know you show them. damn teeth. They used to be crooked, dog. Then there was a couple missing on. the side. Yeah, that's all. Yeah, we got. it. You signed a $10 million deal with. Universal. Talk that [ __ ] What What was. the I mean, look, we have a very similar. background. You grew up in Mississippi. I grew up in rural South Georgia. Um, man, boy, I just Man, if I ever give me. some money, I want a house with running.

water, indoor plumbing, air. conditioning. Woo, that sure be nice. What's the first thing you got with that. buddy? All right, so get ready now. You. got some y'all got some tissue. All. right, so I never told this full story. before, man. My mind. Imagine becoming conscious in 11th grade. and realizing the person that you love. the most on this planet, which was my. grandmother. Ain't nobody on this earth. I love like my grandmother. I know the. feeling, man. My grandmother,

she spent more time with them white. folks, raising them white folks so she could. feed us. That [ __ ] didn't she ain't. never say well with me. But what my. grandmother did say, and I'm man enough. to say it on camera. Once I got. conscious, I went to my grandma like, "I. don't like that grandma." She said, "One. thing I can tell you is my white folks. show up when I call them.". And I'm a great debater, bro. I debated. with Congress and won. They literally.

wiped me off the internet. Look up David. Banner debates Congress and you'll see. fuzz. They wiped me off. I wiped them, bro. Cuz they weren't expecting a black. man who does research. They thought they. was going to get an emotional [ __ ] And. they got a very articulate black man. I. outdeated Congress about our First. Amendment rights. A lot of these rappers. don't know I'm probably the reason why. you still can rap. But anyway, my. grandmother, man, and bro, I was able to get that deal.

And my grandmother's stubborn, bro. You. know how grandparents. So, my grandmother would go to Chicago. every summer. So, I pre-fabricated a. house and I tore my grandmother's house. down and I built her cuz I knew she. wouldn't move. I built her a brand new. house in the same spot. Wow. So, like. that was one of the greatest things in. my life. And then my grandmother, man, this is very funny. My grandmother, she. had a, you know, one of her, one of her. friends had got out of Mississippi and.

became a judge. She was talking to my. mom and ended up moving in to be able to. take care of her. My mom said, "Yeah, my. grandson bought me a brand new house and. his mama my. bro, that was Shannon." I'm serious, bro. Like, as as much as we get into. that other [ __ ] bro. Oh, nothing feel. like that, bro. I show I showed my. grandmother freedom. They don't, you. know, man. And and and.

my grandmother died happy and was. probably one of the most oppressed. people in Mississippi. And she died with. a smile on her face. And I got all this. money and I ain't happy worth [ __ ] I am. now, but you know, I'm just saying, right? But I think the thing is that. like what. money? What do you do it for when what. you did it to achieve this to get my. grandmother out of that situation? My my my thing was a little bit. different though, Shannon. Like.

I'm a revolutionary, bro. I am. I always. did it for Mississippi. But revolutionary didn't make no money, Dave. Yeah. But but the thing is is that. I'm I'm sexier than most of them. What can I do? No, seriously though, Shannon, but like bro, like I think. where people get it wrong with God is. God give you pain to refined you. I. always say this, bro. If God is pushing. your face, all God is saying is, "Son, go this way." So like I saw what.

happened. I just adjust. People get. upset with me cuz I live a great life. It's cuz I'm obedient. God gave me the plan. I ain't got to be mad and run my mouth. Like Shannon, like if you notice, bro, most people think this is when you. should talk the most. You notice you. don't really hear me no more, right? Cuz. it's happening to us now. We need to be. doing something like we need to be doing. the work, man. And now I just realized,

man, with me being blessed to do movies. and television, man, like I had a. conversation with Samuel Jackson, man, it changed my life, bro. We did Fight Night and um I don't know. if it still is, but it was the most. viewed show in Peacock history. Okay. And um. what people don't understand was that. when I first met Samuel Jackson, I'm. going to give you the the bridge story. It's a real personal one. So, you gonna.

have to open up some more. Um people. don't remember that I did Black Steak. Moan with Samuel Jackson. Okay. Okay. And if y'all remember, that's when. Samuel Jackson was telling was mad cuz. rappers, he felt like some rappers were. getting jobs over real deserve, right? And um, bro, we showed up in Memphis. We. were doing a table read in front of. everybody, bro. Again, I was a maniac. Samuel Jackson said,

"Who's your acting coach?" and pointed. at me. You looking around? I told him. He said, "Fire them. They suck, bro." So much anger came over me and I. was embarrassed. But something in my spirit said, "Ask. him this.". I said, "Sir, if I'm so bad and would. you be my acting coach?". Samuel Jackson said, "Humble rapper.

Meet me in my house next week. So I met him at his apartment. Bro, we. trained and then he was like about a. week later, two weeks later said, "Banner, I got to go to New York." Now. Shannon, I know your staff may not want. to hear this. I done flew to Paris, for less, let's say, right? Ain't no way. in the hell I'm not going to be at New.

York for Samuel Jackson to teach me how. to be a better actor. I said, "Sir, what's the address?" He. said, "You serious, huh?" Like, "Hell. yeah. Samuel Jackson back the coach. I'm. going to be there." Absolutely. Samuel. Jackson said, "You going to be all. right, son, but you ain't got to come to. New York, but you going to be all. right." No, I'm serious. No, serious. When you show up, you better. Hell yeah. You know, and so, um, this story is so.

great. I don't remember where I was. Where Where am I? What was the question? Samuel told you that you were terrible. No, but I'm asking you what was the. question. I I was going there for a. reason. I'm trying to give you great. content. Shannon, help me. I'm drunk. Fight. Fight night on Peacock. Though Black Moon Black got the story. Yeah, but what was your question that. made me go there though? You Oh, we was. riffing at the time. You don't even. remember the question, do you? All. right. Me either, dog. This means that. this is great. Shay Shay, bro. I'm just.

saying. No, but but but what ended up. happening, bro, was that I remember what. it was. Samuel basically ended up. telling me later on in life, man, that I. deserve it. He's like, stop being cuz. sometimes we hide behind gratitude and. all of that kind of stuff because we're. really scared, right? Because we're. really shy. Because we really don't. believe that we deserve to be here. And. like, bro, you deserve to be here. I. deserve to be here. And it's time to. stand in that greatness. That's one.

thing that TI has helped me with, man. Like Tip tell me that all the time, bro. Like, man, period. Everybody, good or bad. If we. really believe that God is the only. thing that can judge us, what you do is. you not you don't be so ego driven that. you don't listen, right? But you fix it. And if you know that you fixed it, you. know that you've repented, let that [ __ ]. go and live, bro. And I just got to the point in my life.

where I'm doing that, man. I'm so happy. And bro, I'm gotta be honest with you, man. I'm probably one of the few people. on this planet that um. Look at me. I don't I actually, bro, one. thing that I am proud of, man, and I I. don't even know that after this. interview is actually going to be power. and it's actually going to be possible. Shannon, I'm actually slightly at demigod level. And if I get any more sexier than I am. right now, I think I'm gonna bust in a.

pure light. I think I'm gonna transcend. the physical form and just turn in the. light. And I think you can understand. that you were really close to it at one. point, but I think you got too much into. the brric thing. It's a little bit more. than that. It's mental, too. You got to. add that to it, dog. And I think you'll. just let it all go. I am. I look that. good. Ask your fans. The female ones. Shannon, don't be. afraid of this, bro. Man, has this. happened? You got to get back. Don't. lose that. Where at, bro? Just You know.

who you are. Come on. Clear. Don't lose. that. Absolutely. Abundantly. All right. Just Okay. Just know it. The song Like a. pimp. Mhm. Tyrese. Hold on. Wait. You came straight. from what I just said to Like a Yeah. Did you do that on purpose or was it. just serendipity? Serendipity. Okay. See, that's a humble man. He did that on. purpose. He's a genius. Go ahead. I'm. listening. when like a pimp Tyrese said that song. did for you what the Coca-Cola. commercial did for him. It opened a.

door. It It got you to the cuz you was. David Banner. But this song and then you. know people call you. We going to get to. how people call you and want to, you. know, want to sample your song. like a pimp. Bro, Tyrese is a slick bro. cuz I I I I saw him right before on the. plane before that interview. Okay. He. told me that, bro. Tyrese said, "Bro,". he said, "Banner, you got to think about. it. Sometimes in life, all you think.

about how many nos that we all see." And. I'm saying this for everybody. Absolutely. All you need is one yes. That's it. And he told me that he. brought he said, "I'm still living off. the Coca-Cola commercial." He said, "And. you still living off like a pimp.". That's why I don't let people separate. me from gangster rap, right? And no. matter how blessed I am, no matter how. smart I become, I'm still a gangster. rapper. Because I rather you keep me at. my lowest. So no matter how hard I fall.

that I can just say, "Hey, Snoop does. that very well." Yeah. I'm still a. gangster rapper. You know what I'm. saying? because they try to make you um. you know this this high flutin political. person and really Shannon you are a. great example that they just want and it. goes back to something you love so much. they just really want to fatten a pig. for a slaughter they don't really love. you ain't really proud of you let's get. them as high as we possibly can so we. can get more ratings off the fall right. I don't do that I told somebody today.

sometimes people think and excuse me I. know You don't want me to say this, but. I I I tell my PR team that sometimes I. up on purpose. I rather up and me. control it cuz I know what I'm doing. I. know why I'm doing it. So that they can't make me into this. characture. They try to make us into a. caricature so they can literally. assassinate uh our.

personalities, our lives. And what they. don't understand, man, is like our. grandparents see that [ __ ] Our mothers. see that [ __ ] Our children see that. [ __ ] bro. And that [ __ ] hurt. And a lot. of times we not enough men. We're not. men enough to admit that that [ __ ]. didn't feel good, bro. There was. somebody, man, and I'mma say this cuz I. want that person to see it. She said. some [ __ ] about me, bro. It didn't feel. good. And then they called me to her. show.

and. I told the people, I told them white. folks like I just want to be clear and I. want her to know that she hurt my. feelings cuz I'm enough man and I'm. tough enough to be able to say it now. But I'm not coming on your show smiling. in your face and you said what you said. about me. I'm not going to do nothing. I'm not mad at you. I don't judge you. [ __ ] was cool though. And that [ __ ] hurt. me. And I want you to know that it hurt. me because as men a lot of times with. gang violence, with a lot of stuff, a. lot of times it be over stuff. We play.

like it's over dope and street [ __ ] But. a lot of times our feelings just be. hurt. And we're not articulate enough. We haven't been taught enough. We don't. have enough men to process the fact, man, that you hurt my feelings. I just. had a like 20 year relationship come to. an end. It's because we both couldn't. say, "Hey, bro, I misunderstood you. I'm. sorry, bro." We both gotten so high and. was bosses and all this kind of [ __ ] We.

wouldn't have done that [ __ ] when we was. in college, homie. Right. But like, man, I'm trying to be the example of a black. man, bro, that can say, "Bro, I made a. mistake.". Or to be the black man that be able to. say, "Hey, bro, I may not agree with. some of the decisions that you make, bro, but it's good. We still here for. you, bro. Let's talk about it." Cuz bro, to be honest with you, we got an. opportunity, man, while we still living. And you know this, bro. Our grandparents. told us we on this side of the dirt, bro. Man, somebody asked me, man, how does it. feel that hip hop is in the situation.

that it's in, you know? I said, man, I'm. still living. I'm still living. You. still living, bro. We got an opportunity. to do this [ __ ] bro. And I'm just so. grateful, man, to to be alive during. these times. This is the best time in. history, man, to change the world, bro. Yeah. Uh Beyonce um incorporated Like a Pimp. into Cowboy Carter. Let me ask you this. When someone and I had I've had I've had. uh who? Two chains. I've had uh ll I've.

had a couple of guys a couple of people. on that's like when people say I'm like. well how do you I call ll just so you. know because I needed some leadership. and me being this sexy because I hadn't. always been this. I was a country dude. and you know with rusty lips and you. know just I didn't understand much about. fashion. But once I got it together I. actually literally called LL. I'm dead. serious right? Y'all think I'm joking. but I really did call LL. I was like hey. bro like cuz I'm used to street [ __ ] I. was like bro this this sexy [ __ ] is.

actually. and we had a whole and he actually bro. and I tell you bro I think he cool with. this bro. He told me he said banner he. said like bro if it makes me if it makes. me laugh then do it right and I never. thought about that bro like think about. it bro if if it makes you laugh then. women going to chuckle right he said bro. don't take yourself so seriously but go. back I just want to say thank you ll.

when people sample. your music. do you ha do they have to play it for. you play what they're going to do over. your track or do was like, "Okay, cool. Send the check." No, if if you just send. a check, then you sold your soul. Like, what I try not to do is judge. children cuz I ch our parents judged us, but it's just certain [ __ ] that you I. don't want you to say over my music, okay? And you got to understand who I am. and the things that I've said. So, I'm.

not as judgmental as most people, but. it's still a spiritual thing. And it it. it to a certain degree we have to have. some type of morals, right? See, when. people hear the word soul out, bro, if. you would do anything for money, you saw. your soul, right? But what I will say, man, I am so grateful for these. children, bro. Because like a pimp. wasn't where I made most of my money. from. But now, bro, it's it's just. becoming the second highest grossest.

thing grossing thing in my life, man. And that's just a testament. Shannon, um, tell you a quick story. Um, the song. that came after Like a Pimp was Cadillac. on 22s. Okay. And I'm a hit maker and a. lot of people don't I always wonder like. why did you put that song out after Like. a Pimp? You could have put another Like. a Pimp out and just Right. I had prayed. to God, bro, that if. God would allow me to make it without.

selling dope. or. without having to have a dope dealer. u behind me that I would praise his. name, bro, I did it. And so when Like a Pimp. came out, I didn't know if I would ever. have another song again, right? Especially being from the South. Mhm. Um. and so I said I better pay God back. Mhm. So if you remember Cadillac on 22s,

it was like Cadillac on 2. It was like. God I know that we pimp. God I know that. we wrong. God I know I should talk about. more in all of my songs. I know these. kids are listening. I know it's here. I. know I'm here for a mission, but it's so. hard to get them between 22 rims. Cadillacs on 22s. I ain't did nothing in. my life but stay true. who pimp my voice. and make these beats and pray to the. Lord for these Mississippi streets. Wow. That song was actually a prayer. Wow. And like David. and like Psalms, that was my prayer to. God. And that was me repaying God back.

for hearing my prayer, bro. You know, I want to know what where the money at. music cuz everybody everybody say ain't. no money in music no more. Is it in Is. it in writing? Is it producing? Is it uh. what what is it? Where the money at? the. money in music is stop begging people. and get your own companies and sell your. own [ __ ] Look at you, bro. Like, I know. Shannon, you don't want to talk about. this [ __ ] bro. And I be trying to be. kind cuz I know that you have sponsors. and stuff, bro. But like, they would.

have crushed you if you didn't have your. own show. Yeah. You know that. They. would have crushed you. So, like that's. where it's at. And the thing is, bro, is. that people just want that quick cash. out, dog, right? That don't exist, bro. You still got to work. You got to, bro. Man, so put your own stuff out. Create. your own stuff. Fans are looking for it. Fans will listen to you, bro. Are they. afraid? Because it's it's e it's easier. Somebody go cut me a check because you.

have to look at it. Uh, are you talent? I cut you a check. Or are you in my. situation? This is me. All right. Watch. this. You going to answer the question. for me? Yeah. I was on a plane back and I ain't going. to lie, bro. I almost whooped this white. boy. For what? I'm about to tell you. Okay. This high highlevel. Xerox. at the time when Xerox was really.

popping. Um like he was on the high end. part of Xerox. He said, "David, I know. what you stand for, but I want to ask. you a full question. I want to ask you a. question.". He said, "Are you a slave or a slave. owner? Make your choice.". Now, he did preference it by saying, "If. you're a slave owner, then you can. release other slaves." And I never. thought about that. And I because I'm. black. I wanted to put my hands on it. Yeah. But what I realized is if you.

listen to what somebody is trying to. tell you and feed you, bro, it's like, "Yeah, we do want that check, bro." But. it's sort of like when 50 told folks I'd. rather take that stock option that ended. up being what 20 million $30 million. bro I'm starting to realize bro I don't. want it on the front end it's always. quick you could be talent you could be. owner but even from a tax perspective. bro tried to warn us said that little.

money be gone didn't he? Yeah didn't he? Yeah, bro. And so, like, man, for for. me, bro, I just. I'm just grateful. And Shannon, I'm not. joking. Um, it's somebody in this room, bro, that. tried to get me on this show really, really early. And I'm actually glad that. I waited. The only reason why I didn't. come then is because, bro, people cha cha chase the light when.

what they don't know is you are the. light. And so if I would have took that. opportunity when I didn't have nothing. to sell, I would have blew my load. Right. And I really really think because. I'm I'm looking at you. I think you. needed me to be here. Yeah. You know. what I'm saying? And I'm glad that I. took it now, man. But like to be real. with you, man. I'm just grateful, man, that that that people will allow me like. yourself cuz I know, bro. And I I tell. my team this all the time, bro. Like I.

know I'm edgy. I know I'm a lot to deal. with, man. But like, as much as people. talked about Christ, man, the same people that y'all say that. y'all love was the people that Christ. fought against. Same people that put him. up on the cross. Jesus didn't mess with nothing but. [ __ ] bro, in the streets, bro. He. went in church to flip tables over, bro. But the crazy thing about our community. is anytime somebody act like Jesus,

we'll put him on the cross for them. folks. And so, man, I just try to find a happy. medium in between telling the truth cuz. I can't. But that's the only thing that. help me sleep at night is helping. others. Yeah, bro. And it it was at one. point in this interview, bro, that I saw. that you needed it, bro. And whether. it's my ego or it's the truth, bro, I'm. just happy to be brave enough to do what. I'm told, you know? Well, we appreciate. you coming. Yeah. You produce for Lil.

Wayne, Ti, Chris Brown, Maroon 5, Quincy. Jones, Snoop Dog, Pimp Cy, Luda. Hold. on, man. How you just going to go past. Quincy Jones like that? Help me out, Shannon. Say Quincy Jones again. Quincy. Jones. What did he did? Didn't he do. Thriller for Michael? Man, he with Frank Sonatri. when it cut I mean there are a lot of. producers out there, but it's hard. I. mean, ain't too many people on this. planet produce with Quincy. Big That's. what I said. I say we if we were to do a. versus Mhm. Who would we put against.

Quincy? Man, I heard somebody talking that [ __ ]. bro. Like, to even think you're worthy of that. The. [ __ ] that Quincy Jones has done, bro. No, he he he got his range. He got too. much of a range. And in between from. classical music, bro, to scoring movies. Most people don't know his TV shows. talk that [ __ ] Yeah. Stop playing with. that. Um, but what I what I will say, man, is that me and Warren Campbell,

um, you should go to this church, Warren. Campbell. I don't but. we. we had a production company together and. Quincy Jones told us or said to one of. his his liaison that when we were. producing for his album we were the only. ones that were brave enough to take his. music and digest it and spit it back. He. was like if he wanted it to sound like. him like you can't do what I do first of.

all and that's how we looked at it. It. would be disrespectful for me to try to. do what Quincy Jones did with his music. And so, man, that's that's that's one of. the things I There's an artist from. Mississippi. His name is K Bouay. And. this dude is much younger than me, but. this dude is, bro, he's way beyond his. age. He talks like his like our. grandparent, like your grandparent. Yeah. And he told me, he said, "Banner, you got to start popping your shit." He. said, "People will forget about you.". And the way that this culture is, bro, they'll take your [ __ ] from you, bro.

So, like I just start learning how to. tell people a little bit more. And I and. I'm grateful that you brought that up, man, because I've done things that. nobody has ever done in history, but our. parents taught us, man, to so-called be. humble. Yeah. But I believe cuz you in. sports. I don't believe in being humble. if it's stats. If Jordan told you he had. six rings, is that popping or capping? That's factual. That's factual. It's.

stats. Absolutely. I am great. I I just. hate that my people don't know how great. I am. It hurt. It hurts, bro. Cuz, bro, when I when when when I got my. Grammy nod with Wayne, I literally came. home, Shannon, and I'm serious, bro. I'm. not bullshitting you. I said it out. loud. We did it. And want nobody there. Let me ask you this. If you did something that you thought.

was special and nobody told you it was. special, would you still feel special? I don't know, bro. Bro, my I'm from. Mississippi, bro. I just started loving. myself. I I never, bro, I never thought. I made it. I'm serious, Shannon. I'm not. joking. I never ever thought I made it, bro. Like it's funny cuz somebody on. your staff knows. a mutual friend of Billy Hume who ran. white guy, bro. Celtic white guy, bro. Who bone like [ __ ] Lil John? Like a lot.

of us, bro. We went through his studio. and um. bro, when I got that $10 million deal, bro, this little short white longhaired. dude, he just hugged me. He said, "Banner, go buy you a car, bro. I'm still renting cars, fronting. Buy you somewhere to stay, man. Get you. some clothes. You made it, dog." And I I.

was just standing there, bro, and. mumbling like I couldn't stop, bro. They. teach us, bro, to work like like we will. we will correlate our success with how. hard we work like slaves, dog. We got to. learn how to think. We got to learn how. to set up systems, bro. You ain't got to be here every day. no more. But we addicted to that. feeling, bro. We've been trained in that.

trauma, bro. And it's the hardest thing. for me, bro. I really think God put me. in Mississippi for that reason, bro. I. think I had this bully body, bro. Like, I I was I didn't get this body, bro, until I was in my senior year. I would. have play I'm serious. I would have. played football. I didn't get big, bro, until my senior year. And I think God gave me this body. because I've been a victim for so long, bro. I fight. I beat up the bullies. Can't stand no bully, homie. I really.

think that's why God gave me this body. is to protect the weak. And I think. you're a sucker, bro. If you've been. oppressed all your life and then you. take this power and use it against the. same people that God has blessed you to. protect, bro. I'm so fortunate, bro. That's the. reason why I don't do VIP. That's the. reason why I go out in the crowd. It's. the reason why I speak the [ __ ] that I. speak. And I be trying to tell my. friends that. that I be trying to tell. people that, man. Like one of my friends.

told me, he was like, "Banner, you just. seem like you're so angry all the time.". And then I digested it and I thought. about it. Shannon, the only time I get. upset is over when people mistreat black. people. I made it, homie. I got a lot of. bread. Like, I only fight for the week, bro. That's it. People that come from the. places we come from, bro. How'd you beat How did you beat TI? Because it's interesting because you. have such an eclectic group. I mean, you. got rappers and you got Snoop Dogg. I.

mean, excuse me. You got you did Quincy. Jones, Rest Your Soul, and then you got. Snoop, too. Snoop. Yeah. You got Snoop. Two Chains, Acon, but uh but if you look. at Okay, you got Lil Wayne Ti, but you. got Maroon Five. Mhm. Maroon Five and. Ti. And the Wayne ain't the same. And. then you got Q and then you got Neo. Yeah. Well, well, me and Tia is a little. bit different because he came early. Like if you think about it, bro, like I. was so blessed because what people don't. know was is I produced Thug Holiday for.

Trick Daddy, right? But nobody knew who. David Banner was at the time. Okay. So I. wasn't able to take advantage. I was. even in the video. But TI. is the person who allowed me to be a. million-dollar producer. Like Rubber. Band Man changed the texture. He's also, and people won't admit this, he's the. reason why producers can put their tags. on their beat on the radio because my. tag was on my beats way before rubber.

band, man. But the radio stations would. shave it off. TI called up the hot in. Atlanta and said, "Don't touch my music. That boy work hard." Cuz the reason why. I put my tag on my beat, bro, and I. think this is So what what is the tag? Tag is like when you put your name. before the beat. Okay. You know what I'm. saying? Like David David Banner. The. only reason why I did that is because I. noticed Jay-Z would say, "Kanye, you a. fool. Fool, fool. Just Blaze, you did it. again." And every time he would say. their name, they could charge $10,000.

extra. Right. Okay. Southern Southern. rappers hid their producers. Like, bro, like, it hurts me to this day. KC from. Beats by the Pound, as big as as No. Limit was. Don't nobody know who they. are, bro. And they're some of my. mentors. And I hate the fact, bro, I. really think Beast by the Pound is big. as Timberland and Forel because they. change music in the same way that those. people do, but we don't know who they. are. And since I saw that, I said, I'm. not I'm not going to let them like look.

over me. I'mma put my own name before my. beat, right? And bro, it got so hot at. one time, bro. And people don't even. give me credit for that. Like people can. say whatever they want to. You first. I. I think I was one of the first people to. put my name before a beat, but nobody. made it hot in contemporary America like. I did, bro. So when everybody put their. name before they beat and they don't say. nothing to me, that's what I'm supposed. to do. But I am still in the flesh. It. would feel good for you to acknowledge.

the person who allowed you to do the. [ __ ] that you do to this day. But TI, man, like he changed. And for some reason, man, every level of. my life, we keep coming back together. And man, I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm so. appreciative of of who he is. And like. my my bro actually they tried to put him. on the cross and they tried to crucify. him and he stood. Bro, I have like if if. there was one person on this planet.

that I could say. resilience, I don't think there's no man in the. music industry that's as resilient as TI. is, bro. And every day this get up and. he keep going. People don't even think, bro, he shed his whole career and became. conscious in front of everybody and put. a conscious album out. He didn't just. talk that [ __ ] A lot of did that [ __ ]. bro, to be cool cuz it was the woke. moment. Ti did that [ __ ] and put his. career on the line, bro. When he first.

came out with with his first album, I'm. serious, bro. He told the [ __ ]. "Let me go." He went back to the streets. and built himself back up again, bro. My. bro ain't perfect, bro. But Tip tried, bro. He tried so hard all the time. And. he and he's so tough you'll never be. able to see that part of but bro try and. for the first time in his life I think. he care. Yeah. And he not used to that. He didn't come from that environment. And I'm watching him process.

the fact that he care about [ __ ] and. then that make you human again. What the. you do with that [ __ ] right? Like what? I'm serious dog. That's how I feel now. Like why in the am I getting depressed? Hey dog I the [ __ ] we used to do. What. the. what this [ __ ] is feelings, right? You. know, and um I'm just grateful, man, that me and him still friends, right? And that I called, bro, ain't.

been one time that I ever called Tip and. he didn't show up for me, bro. Wow. And. I'm grateful to him. Like when they did. the the the the death of Auto Tune, I. never knew. And T Payton is my friend, bro. They were children. And I'm not. saying that you right or wrong, but you. don't do a child like that, bro. And. what I'm saying is even when we wrong, look at how white folks do Trump. What? Trump can say the dumbest [ __ ] on this.

planet. White folks going to protect. them. They may have another conversation. with him later on. Why we can't do that? But it's like now black media has got to. the point where the same way and it's. from the places that we from. And I'm. looking you in your eyes, Shannon, when. I say this [ __ ] When you look at when. they used to hang black folks on trees, then you see black folks on the. outskirts. Same thing they did to Jesus. You say that you knew that he was the. son of Jesus and you didn't do [ __ ] you. coward. How dare you praise his name.

when he did. You let him sit up there on. that cross. The same thing with that. child. You let them crucify that child. and you did nothing. You a hoe. That's what I believe and. that's why I don't really believe in the. music industry. I don't really believe. these folks are my friends. As much as I. care about the situations that I'm in, bro, I know these folk don't care about. me. Understand that? Because if they did. that to Jesus, what you think they do to. my Mississippi country ass dog?

So what I realized, man, is that the. thing that I did realize is though, man, is that like. the men, those of us who were around, bro, we could have stepped up more, right, bro? Think about the NFL players, bro. How strong you all are, but they. put y'all in a situation, bro, where. y'all be in cities where the most. impoverished black people are, and they. don't even let you around with your. people, bro. I see that more in the NBA,

bro. Like, bro, I I had an opportunity. My best friend lived in Portland, bro. They don't like black people being. around they the hood, bro. Basketball and what we done for. basketball, but I don't never see no. Black kids in NBA cares. I don't. I'm. honest with what I see, bro. There's no. artist I've ever worked with in my in my. life and I'll look at any one of these. cameras. I have not met anybody more.

talented than that young man, bro. Wow. I am a producer. I am not a beat maker. When I would stop the beat for Chris. Brown, Chris Brown to say I know how the. you know, you know, it's a it's an. infinite amount of things you don't. know, right? He knew. Wow. And bro, like. the reason why. Chris Brown, I'm not saying this and I got to be. careful with my words. The reason why he's not on.

a Prince Michael Jackson level is. because he chose his manhood over his. music. And you can't blame him for that. Bro just wanted to be respected as a. man, bro. Never really had men around. him, dude. I don't blame Lil Bro, for. that, bro. And it's hard, dude. Like, that's one thing, man. Like, it's the. craziest thing for me as an entertainer, dude. Like even from a woman. perspective,

I remember when I made play, there's a. difference between you being a hunter. and then all the women decide you sexy. and then they after you and then you. become an object. But I never talked to. that's hard for me to deal with. Like. I'm not used to that. I'm used to. hunting. Don't make it easy for me, woman. You know what I mean? And we we don't have therapy for that. cuz most people from where we from ain't. never seen what we seen. Bro, Chris from. the south, bro. People forget that.

Yeah. That boy from the south, dog. From. the country, too. Mhm. And he dealt with. that [ __ ] alone. So, however it was, bro. Like, and I just wish, man, I never forget. when Chris got his first tattoo, bro. Some of the people in the label knew me. and his relationship and they called me. up there. Chris hid under the desk, bro. Cuz I was coming. And I remember telling. him, "Bro, you're a kid. Be a kid as.

long as you can." And I'm serious. I. told him this, "Bro, get that Disney. money cuz once you grown, you can't ever. come back." Mm-m. But he wanted to be a. man and he chose that, bro. And I can't. blame him for that. Wow. You mentioned. Nelly's Tip Drill. Mhm. When you first. heard that song, do you know do like. when you hear a beat? Mhm. Do you know. it's a hit? Um, my song Play was the only song that when.

I heard that, I knew that was him. I. didn't like Like a Pimp. If I knew. Rubber Band was that dope, I do love. Tip. I would have kept it for myself. I. can't even lie to you. I got to be. honest. I didn't know. I I can't even. sit here and tell you that I had that. As a matter of fact, Tip is like now my. ears for me, bro. Cuz he's a genius, bro, when it comes to hearing it. I just. make a bunch of [ __ ] right? And I'm. Some of that [ __ ] is great, some of it. sucks. I can tell the [ __ ] that ain't. good. Like, I just got to be honest with.

you. Most producers wouldn't tell the. truth about this, but I will. When I. first started, if I made 10 beats, two. of them were dope, right? Now, if I made. 10 beats, four of them dope. But like, that's just part of it. You just got to. keep making it, right? You know? Um, but. no, bro. I I had no idea, bro. Um, what. I will say is that Nelly is the only. artist that I made a beat for and he. took it. Because you got to think when.

you make a a a beat for an artist, the. only thing you can go off of is what you. heard from them, right? But if they're. really an artist, they 10 years ahead of. that now, right? So, you're usually. behind them trying to cater. What you. should do as a producer is give them the. future instead of being in their past, right? And Nelly was the only one, bro. Every beat I sent to Nelly, he got on. that. And um I don't want to talk about it cuz. some things are not meant to talk about,

but um. I never really got into. like petty [ __ ] Yeah. Like, bro, I. don't watch the news, right? As smart as. I am, people will be surprised. I don't. News is depressing. I don't get into. people's beef unless we grew up. together, right? Like I'm trying to. bring the community together. I ain't. have an opinion on that. Yeah, man. Um. I got into a lot of rap beefs that I. didn't know about, bro. And it hurt my.

money because I was always trying to. bring people together, right? Negroes. that [ __ ] that mother, bro. Right. You. know, and I just got caught off into a. lot of that [ __ ] Sh Pimp said you. looked out for his family when he went. in. You don't mind? I mean, why did you. do it? What did you do? I don't know. what I did. That was so long ago. Why'. you do it? I don't know. Um, you don't. know why you did it? No. Just Just let. me ask you, okay, if you really led by. the spirit. Yeah. That ain't your.

business. Just do what you told, right? All I knew was that Pimp C's voice. changed my life. I don't give a how dope. like a pimp beat was. People were. attracted to make them guns get down on. the floor. On the floor. Like, bro, I. sampled that man voice and didn't know. him and it changed my life. How dare I. not feed back into his family. Wow. The. problem is us as black folks, bro, is. that we get money and we start catering.

to people that don't like us instead of. um what Issa Ray say, networking side to. side. You know what I'm saying? And so. if his voice blessed me that way, why. not bless him? And one thing I don't, and Shannon, I. think you do a good job at this, bro. One thing, and I'm proud that I never. did, Snoop is actually my friend, bro.

Be clear. But he's still Snoop. Yeah. And I never. allow myself to stop being a fan. Pimp C. was my friend, bro. But that's still PMC and I'll never take. that away from me. The fact that the. people that we look up to the most, Samuel Jackson is now my friend, bro. But don't ever get that up. That's. Samuel Jackson. And that allows me to. stay grateful for each day in my life,

bro. But those are still the people that. I looked up to. Do you know want to know. something crazy? A lot of the people. that I look up to look up to me. Wow. They come to me for guidance, especially. spiritually, right? You know what I'm. saying? Yes. And sometimes I have to. remind myself that I can't take that. away from them, too. So, I got to I. still got to stay up, but I got to also. realize that these are people that I. look up to and love and respect, too. You work with Wayne after he got out of.

jail. Wayne's been at this thing for a. while. I mean, I think Wayne started. probably 12 or 13 and Harry probably in. his 40s now. So, he's been at this thing. for a minute. What is I mean I and I think I still. think Wayne when they talk about goats. the way he can put words together. he's I mean he I what is it like. watching him create a masterpiece.

this is not going to be popular what I'm. about to say. what's funny to me only my opinion. I think Wayne was more of a problem when. he was 12. Mhm. Like that early cash money. Mhm. Were he. focused in like a lot of people became. fans of Jay-Z and you know keeping it in. your head and I think that's cool right.

if you know one thing Erica Bou taught. me was that you don't ever judge how a. person. reveals or creates their music right. but I remember the stories that he used. to give bro back on them BGs and and in. the early Cash Money before the. universal deals. Like I can't imagine a. focused. Lil Wayne who who has to still listen to.

somebody. You got to think Lil Wayne. ain't got to listen to nobody no more. No. No producer, no engine, nobody, right? But there's a certain Think about. Eminem with Dr. Dre. Yeah. You say what. the you want to say, but when he with. Dr. Dre, it's special. Yeah. Jedakus. with the Alchemist early. Bro, there's. just something about having somebody. that you have reverence to. Bro, I just think that the world doesn't know.

because they're not privy to the Lil. Wayne that I was that I'm a fan of, bro. Like, I would just love to hear that. just one more time, bro. I think he got. an album out now. Did uh Oh, it's coming. out. It's coming out and out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but I will tell you something, bro, that. I don't think I I don't know if I said. this any maybe maybe one other time, but. Wayne said the most admirable thing that. anybody has ever said to me in history,

bro, as a producer. Wayne told me, cuz what a lot of people. don't know is some of the beats, some of. the most historical freestyles that. Wayne did, they were over David Banner. beats. But I would send him so many. beats, I don't put my tag on my beat, right, until they pay for it, right? But. it was Wayne. So I ain't really give a. [ __ ] Put that [ __ ] out, Wayne. Because. if Wayne do one of your beats, they. gonna ask who Wayne who gonna pay you. because you produced. So I I never trip. Wayne could do whatever the he wanted to. do. Right. But Wayne told me something.

He called me. Man, it was really. strange. She said, "Banner, now that I'm a businessman, I can't. promise you that you're going to have a. spot on everything on Young Money, but I. can promise you that I give you. opportunity to fight for your spot. And. that's all you can ask for as a man, bro. And the thing that I I I would wish. and hope for Wayne, man, is that. that man really loves music, bro. Mhm. I.

talked about this today, bro. Like Wayne. would would light a blunt, put his head. in a speaker and ask me to play all my. beats. Not to sell them, but because he. was a fan of my production. Ain't about I don't give a about like, bro, just play the music, bro. And I just wish. that we could all make music again, man. Like I've been talking about this a lot. cuz I want people to know that it ain't.

about music. The last last thing I. produced for TI that came out. I didn't. charge him. I just wanted us to be in. the studio again, bro. I got money. Let's just get back to doing it cuz bro, if we do what we do naturally, the money. coming, right? You got AI and all that. stuff. The thing that you can't. replicate is, bro, like real live heart, bro. real music, something that touches. people's soul. One of my friends told me. when they created the television, we.

lost our minds. But the one thing they. couldn't take away from us is our spirit. and our soul. We still got that Shannon, right? And like Wayne, bro, Wayne is a. Wayne is special, bro. Yeah. He He He is. special, man. I just wish like Chris. Brown, bro, that that we just get back. in and and with each other and work. again, bro. like just get in the studio. like a group of us that really care. about this [ __ ] and I think people would.

come back to it if they felt something, bro. And Wayne got that. Wayne really. love music, bro. Really really loves. music, bro. There's there's another. artist I want to shout out because when. I was thinking about Wayne, I thought. about him. Devin the dude in Houston. Like I work with him, right? And he reminds me of that fiend from New. Orleans. Remind me of that, bro. Like. people Yeah. who just dropping them.

zones, bro. And they love music so much. that everything else melts away. And I. think people feel that. People feel. Wayne suffering. And that's what people. really relate. And he don't mind putting. his heart on the track. I just wish, man, it was enough of us around to focus. that because you could say a lot of dope. stuff, bro, but like to be able to put. it in and and and guide it a little bit. Not much, bro. I am um I am one of the. executive producers of Jill Scott's new.

album, okay? And she's a great example. of that, bro. Like Jill don't need no. producers, but like to be honest with you, man, to. even be in the space to just give a. little nudge. A little nudge here. Cuz to be real, Jill. does. seven songs in one session. Wow. You. just got to be man enough to let her. play. Uhhuh. And move out her way and. then realize, okay, it's time to move on.

now, right? But let her get it as much. of it out as you possibly can. But they. ain't much producing. Lil Wayne, Chris. Brown, Jill Scott, they're geniuses. Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Idris Ela, Regina King, Loretta Divine, Lawrence Fishburn, Tay Diggs, Forest. Whitaker, Boris Cojo, Oprah, Kuba, Gooding Jr., uh, Don Cheeto, Taraji, Queen Latifah, what is the most. fun you've had on the set or each each. of those individuals that I read off.

brings a different banner out? No. So, let me tell you this. Like, no, no lie, Shannon. I just started. learning how to enjoy my life, bro. I've. been so serious. I've been so scared of. dropping the ball. And I didn't enjoy. this [ __ ] bro. Like, think about having. a football, bro. You never throw that. cuz you scared somebody gonna intercept. it, right? That ain't fun. Part of it is. letting that fly. Correct. Nobody ever. taught me that. I was from Mississippi,

man. So, like. I'm going just be real with you, bro. Like, most of the stuff I go through, I ain't. got nobody to call, bro. Like, ain't nobody ever done no. [ __ ] that I done from where from, bro. I. just got to the point where I can call. Samuel Jackson this year, bro. And. people don't understand the pressure. Like, it's easy to do some some dumb. thug [ __ ] Like, I'm used to that [ __ ]. I got homies that do that [ __ ] But bro, I didn't got to a point in my life where.

ain't nobody really to call. And so. I always been nervous, bro. Like last. year, bro, I was shooting in the middle. of my biggest depression in my life. Bro, I was shooting. uh Fight Night and Family Business New. Orleans at the same time and didn't. nobody know it. I couldn't tell them. folks, right? And I was doing both of. them at the same time. But I had. accepted family business first. And. ain't no way I'm not gonna do fight.

night with Kevin Hart, Samuel Jackson, Taji, Terrence Howard, Don Cheetel. We. gonna figure out a way to make that [ __ ]. happen. [ __ ] that. Right. And bro, I. like I never really had a chance to talk. about this, bro. That that [ __ ] fried. me, bro. That's a lot. Cuz I was. starring. I'm a star in Family Business. Yes. And then the pressure of every. night I go to work, it's almost like. you got you got seven games, but all of.

them are allstar game. You only play one. all-star game a year when you're playing. football, but imagine all like that's. what fight night was. So the pressure of. every time I go to work, I got to talk. to my friends about acting in front of. Samuel Jackson, bro. Right. you know, and so it it just but but I'mma tell you. this, bro. Samuel Jackson, um, he. relieved me of that, bro. After I got. done with Fight Night, man, Samuel.

Jackson, I went to him and I was like, cuz I really didn't talk to him cuz I. didn't really want to be all up under. him if I didn't make him proud. And. Samuel Jackson said the dopest [ __ ]. ever. He said, "Man, stop that [ __ ]. Banner. Quit it." He was like, "Bro, when I started acting, bro, I was just. walking by." He said, "In your first. movie, Black Snake Moan, you was acting. in front of me and you survived." He. said, "You supposed to be here. Stop. acting like that." So basically, he was. telling me to stand in my light, bro.

Mhm. Stand up and be the man you. And. Erica Badu used to tell me that all the. time. She used to always say this. It. was strange cuz you know she float. She always say, "We waiting on you, Mr. Banner. People are waiting on you to see the God. in you." M and I never did, bro. Until. recently. Wow. Yeah. Right along with. Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. K Hart shot. you. Cube interrogated you. What's it. What's it like to be on with Kev? Cuz I. can just imagine I've been around him a. little bit and and talk to Cube, have.

Cube on here. What's What's it like to. be on the set with Kev with Kevin Hart? Can I take one of these home? You sure. can. Okay. Thank you. Um I want to say this, bro, and I'm. serious. say whatever they want to about Kevin. Hart. Um, with the exception of Tyler. Perry, I don't see nobody work as hard as him. Like, bro, like he inspired me, bro. Yeah, he he wor I mean, like to be.

honest with you, bro, like he either. writing, he starred in it, commercials, movies, TV, and people don't see he. facetiming his kids over here on the. side talking to his wife. He got a. dialect coach because he not from the. south, but he doing a southern film, bro. He wake up every morning, bro, at. 4:30 and work out, bro. I'm not playing. about this workout [ __ ] bro. I ain't. lying, bro. I saw Kevin Hart back. Ain't. no way no M I won't say it the way.

Ain't no [ __ ] going to outdo me, bro. Right. If you don't play no sports, I'm dead serious. When y'all see my. back, that was cuz of Kevin Hart. That. [ __ ] look like he had a. backpack, [ __ ] you ain't going. to outdo me and I got more time than. you, right? But but Kevin Hart, man, he. works so hard, man. And to have some. simil like to to have some form of still. being human and learn how to smile. Yeah. And he hear all the [ __ ] people. throw at him. He does. Like, bro, that.

How can you not? Cuz people, I don't pay. no attention to that. Well, you might. not, but guess what? You got family, friends, and loved ones that do. Yeah. And bro, that boy work his ass off. And. whether you agree with what he do, it's. always a Have you ever noticed most. people who talk the most [ __ ] don't have. nothing. Mhm. People who have what you. have, regardless of whether they like. your art form for him or not, they know. how hard it is to get. So they usually. don't talk [ __ ] about you. Like Kevin.

work hard, man. Kevin I man and I was. inspired when we did, you know, um, Fight Night. I just didn't tell him. But um I'm proud of him, man. And. what I want him to know is that I. studied him the same way I studied 50. Cent in music. I watch Kevin Hart. And. as hard as I work, like Shannon, I bust. my ass all the time, bro. I always. wanted to have children. Again, I tell. you that I always wanted to have a.

family, but I sacrificed that. But to. see somebody, bro, if I can work like I. work now and reach the level that Kevin. Hart is or he's at now, bro, we don't. need but a year of that, dog. Right. But. Kevin Hart didn't done this [ __ ] for. four, five years. Oh, yeah. He all. right. And I I'm I'm really proud of. him. Again, don't agree with everything. he do. Don't agree with everything that. he say, but he happy. Yeah, I'm cool.

Is there an audition you've gone on and. you didn't get? Yeah, that's a lot of most of them. That's what people say. People say. channel you. No, let me change that. There was an audition that I smashed. that I got it and the director said I. look too young. Damn. And I wouldn't be. here in front of you right now. I ain't. going to even [ __ ] you. If if if. that would have happened, I wouldn't be. here. Right. Um I was supposed to be the. black guy in Walking Dead. um the.

the um casting directors like it was. actually two ladies, right? And this was. I'm serious y'all. Listen to me. I would have hated to be in that room. cuz what they did was unacceptable, but. it was dope cuz they did it for me, right? The lady walked out after I did. my audition and say, "I found him.". Imagine it's 30 people in a room and. somebody come out and say I found him. and you got to come after that. Right.

She said I I got to introduce you to my. partner. Come here. At the time I was. raw vegan drinking a gallon of water. every day. Bro, I can't lie to you, bro. I did look like I was 24. Wow. The what. I what came back to me, I don't know how. true it is that I look too young. But. now my friend said they could have put. some gray in your beard. You got that. check? But that was one thing, bro, that. I always I don't I don't regret anything. because everything is in God light and. God pale. But I look at how well Walking. Dead did. Yeah. And bro, what that would.

have done for me. [ __ ] But you never. know, bro. Something could have been. dead or anything like you. I don't ever. wish for what I don't have, right? But. that that's one one of them ones though, bro. Do you prefer producing, rapping, or acting? Is there one? Is there a. preference? How much they paying? So, you don't have a preference? I don't. give a No, honestly, Shannon, we we we. getting to do what our parents say play,

right? I get to play every day that I. wake up, bro. It don't matter how I. play, right? Just as long as I continue. being creative. I just came off of uh I. did um Forbes. Yeah. And I talked about. that in Forbes. I said I am one of the. few CEOs. that will come up here and tell you that. I want to do less business. I make all. this money. I want to be I want to. create be creative again, bro. Like. that's your God power is to create. So,

bro, like we spend so much time working, we miss the opportunity to be in. communion with God and create new. things. That's what I want to do, Shannon. This young man, one of the. dopest minds of the younger age, his. name is Derek Grace. He said something. so powerful one time, and I didn't ask. him to say this. He said, "Can black. people, Can you imagine David Banner. with a billion dollars? What he could do. for our community?" Oh, yeah. If all he. had to do was think and create for us, [ __ ] But I'm on my way, Shannon. Just.

watch. I'm about to tear their mouth. out. And bro, I'm telling you, I am not. joking. I'm going to be out here with no. shirt on. You gonna be like, "Banner, you can put your clothes on though." I'm. be like, "Nope.". Is there a role that you won't play in a. movie? Yeah, there's a lot of them. I I. don't want to get into that, Shannon, because we can't run our mouth before we. get into positions that we need to in. order to help our families. But I do know that sometimes our black.

bodies are used to push certain agendas. and I just refuse to do that. Okay, that's what I say about that. Terrence. Howard was in Fight Night with you, but. lately he's been taking on the. establishment. He's been calling out. Hollywood for some of the things they're. doing. Have you seen that side of Hollywood. that he's speaking about? This is what I. would say. Um, we don't even have to go there. Um, Shannon, where you from? Cloud, Georgia.

Can you see that outside? America ain't no different, bro. Do you. know what's crazy about lynchings? Have. y'all ever noticed? And I'm talking to. the white people in here. When y'all saw. pictures of lynchings, and I'm talking. to the white people, what color do they. usually have on? You remember they had. on white. Want to know why? They just. got out of church. These people ain't changed. America. ain't changed. Bro, the problem that.

people don't understand is that the. slave house has always been in direct. proportion of the slave master house. The thing that we don't understand from. a mathematical standpoint is that the. slave house has grown 40 million times. So, the slave house is just bigger. We haven't we haven't progressed that. much, bro. Only in direct proportion to. how much the slave master house. So, what I'll tell you, bro, is in. Hollywood, man. Like,

we act like it's it's no different, bro. But like, be honest with you, bro. Like, you know this, Shannon. The police in our towns. just took the hood off in a lot of. cases, you know. And I'm I'm. it ain't I'm not surprised. It's not. this big thing. We always act like. that's one thing that I don't like about. our community. Like when we see certain. people fall like in entertainment, we.

knew that about them in our community. You know, we did 10, 20 years ago. Don't. act surprised because white folks act. surprised. Hollywood is no different. than America, bro. And I'm just getting. to the point now that I I refuse to. self-sabot self sabotage myself, bro. Because I've always been talking that. I'm not going to get up on your show and. kill myself when I'm this close, right, to being in control of my own life. But. what I will say, America ain't no. different than the police department.

Ain't no different than the IRS. Ain't. no different than what you've been. through in the NFL. We just understand. what it is. We play within the. parameters until we can get the freedom. that we have, bro. But you know, you. said it earlier, bro. What is this? What. is all of this stuff? It's a fraternity. And if it's a fraternity, it's a circle. And there certain people outside of that. circle. And if you're not in that. circle, you're going to be treated a. certain way or manipulated. What made you start a multimedia. production company? Why would you want.

Why did you want to do that? Seems like. you got a lot of you got a lot of iron. You got a lot of irons in the fire. I just knew I wasn't um Cube is my hero. Ice Cube is my hero. Okay. People never. saw him as an A-list actor, but he saw. himself as a A-list actor. True. So, what I realized is nobody is going to. love me the way that I love myself. Okay. And that as long as it took me to. become a rapper, I knew it would take me. longer to become Superman. So, if I. wanted our children to see a superhero,

I would have to believe in myself at. that level and I would have to shoot it. I say this to all the kids. Listen to. me. Shoot it. Just shoot it. Shannon, you didn't know if this [ __ ] was going. to pop or not. No. But you felt it. You. felt it in your spirit and you shot it. Just shoot. Shoot until the gun empty. and keep busting that. It could just be. going click click click click click. Just keep shooting and bro it'll happen. Like I really believe that God.

conspires. I think, bro, the way that and I'm I'm. only saying this, bro, because you have. access to our people. Um, it's not that. I'm trying to put you in a peculiar. peculiar situation, bro, but like I. believe that the way that we pray to God. is wrong. I think that God really want. to help us do what we want to do. But if. you say you, okay, you say you're a God and you act like. it, give you that, too. What you pray.

for you will get. And your true prayer. is what you think about and what you. talk about the most. You may pray one. time to God, but in your ordinary. everyday life, you're talking about. negativity, hate, poverty. That's what. you going to get. Shannon, I could tell. when you talked, bro, you wanted to be. successful so bad, bro. You wanted that. bread so bad, bro. That was your prayer. So you got it. Mhm. other things that.

come along with that. That's what they. don't teach us. Right. True. But hey, man, it's it's it's. scary now, bro. Like how much I can move. the universe around. And we got to stop. acting like we surprised about it, man. And start getting back in touch with the. stuff that our grandparents knew. That's. why I give give so much love to Ryan. Cougler and what he did with sinners. Yeah. because he was really trying to. introduce black people to another part. of our spirituality that we lost that.

our grandparents knew about. And I'm not. going to talk about it on this show. We. could talk about it later on, bro. But. there's another aspect of our. spirituality whether we agree with it or. not. But it's more of our culture than. what we say that we believe in and we. turn our nose up it, man. And and I'm. just starting to realize, man, that I. have more power and dominion. over how I live my life. And I just have. to stand up as a man and accept that. And bro, it's it's it's not easy and.

it's scary. But Shannon, you called. the [ __ ] that you did. Ain't nobody ever. did the [ __ ] that you did, bro. No black. man in the podcast space, bro, to do the. [ __ ] that you did the way that you did. it, bro. Bro, they they thought you was a country. bumpkin. Bro, you showed them me being. from the country means more than you. being tight ass. And then if you notice, they started to try to act like you. No, mother, you can't beat me being me. No, you better stay tight ass like you been.

Stay where you stay, bro. And again, bro, I watched how you studied, bro. You. put yourself in a very uncomfortable. situation. And it's funny now, even when. I watch when you did the intro, it's so. polished. And I was thinking to myself like, bro, you really free. That's what you choose. to do. That's fine. But, bro, you. literally at a point where you can do. what you choose to do and you did that. hard work so you can be free. Yeah. Just. understand, man, that you did that, bro. I promise, bro, I studied you. You know.

what I'm saying? So, it's a blessing. Gatorade. You did you redid that 12. times and they still didn't use it? No, they they end up using it. They ended up. using it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's the. second biggest Gatorade. I don't know if. it's still is second biggest Gatorade. commercial in history. Wow. Yeah. I mean. like you've done so. Do you ever I mean. have you taken the time because then I. tell this is what I tell people. I said. like when I was playing. I don't know. I never smelled the roses.

because I was so caught. I was so. focused on making sure I did right and. and and I was staying on top of my game. is that now sometimes when I see stuff I. like damn I did that and people will use. you because they know you don't see. yourself. Women do it, corporations do. it. Like they they smell like women are. really good at seeing our potential that. we don't see. Corporations see the stuff that we don't. see, bro. Like I,

bro, this is really hard for me to say, bro. I was I was on this white show, bro. And these white boys had had. studied me so hard and they talked about. all the stuff that I did, Shannon. And I. can't [ __ ] you, bro. It made me. tired. Like, I literally got tired. Like, I. want to go home and go to sleep. Like, man, I've done so much at such a. high level, bro. And it hurt me, bro, because. most black people don't give a and I do.

what I do for black people and they. probably care the least. What? Wasn't. that in the Bible? You remember how. Jesus did? Who you work for and who? Yeah, but I mean it's easy to say that, bro. You know, you going through it hurt. It. hurts. It hurts more. It does when it. come like the outside saying whatever. I. and I don't want my [ __ ] when I'm when. I'm dead, bro. Think about um Bosot,

bro. How much people are taking. advantage of his art and his own family. can't live off of his genius, bro. And. he died suffering, bro. He wasn't happy. Come on, bro. I'm not gonna do that. [ __ ] Y'all, I'm not doing that, man. Look at Malcolm and Martin, bro. They. suffering, dude. Dad, I'm not doing that, bro. It got to be a. better way. And if God gave us those.

examples, why go down that man? Look, man. That's why I'm telling you, bro. We. got to do better with talking to each. other, man. And and and and pulling each. other aside and being like, man, come. on, bro. It's funny, man. One of my. homeboy work for the biggest shoe. company in the world, and man, they. putting my homie through it, dude. And I. just called him. I was like, "Bro, I got. a room in my house, bro. I know you. rich, but just come on down to the crib, man. Let's talk." Not even talk. That's.

what I did with T pay. That [ __ ] that. [ __ ] T pay up, man. When T pay was. going through his [ __ ] I brought T pay. to my house and this is going this. freaked him out cuz I had just started. understanding meditation. I made T pay. come to my house and sit on my porch and. he couldn't say nothing to me for an. hour. I said, "Just sit there." And the. [ __ ] was sitting there shaking. cuz he had never been in a space where. somebody cared about him enough where I. don't need nothing from you. I just need. for you to sit there and process life, bro. And most people don't do that.

Have you always been a guy that wanted. to help people? Yeah, but not for the right reasons. I'm. starting to realize now, man, that as as. as as I have a therapist and that I. become more spiritual, I think I wanted to help more. I wanted. to help people so much cuz I had been. hurt so much. and my ego. and like I like man that preacher told.

me that Mississippi preacher said, "You. keep playing Jesus and wonder why you. end up on the cross.". Wow. It ain't your responsibility to. save nobody. It ain't my responsibility, bro. Like that was the hardest thing, bro. I thought it was my responsibility. to save Mississippi. It's not. Do what. you can and go to home. Cuz one thing I. I actually learned this from the. Spider-Man movie. I don't know if you. remember when the Green Goblin Mhm. was. on him and Spider-Man was on the top of. Toby movie and he said live long enough. hero to be the villain.

No matter how good I did, no matter how. much I worked, still talk [ __ ] about me. No matter how. much good I did, still say I ain't never. I ain't never done nothing. Never ever. ever. That's what you gonna say to me. I. ain't never done nothing. So I realized you just have to have the. resolve in yourself to do God's work and. sit in it and go to home cuz Shannon, no.

[ __ ] I'm I said this three two. times on your show already, bro. Bro, I. always wanted children. I ain't got no. wife, bro. You still gonna have that. banner? Yeah, but I don't I don't have. it. Do you Are you Are you putting. yourself in position? No. Okay, then. But I don't know how, Shannon. I mean, you can run a marathon, but you got to. get to the start line. You sure? Yes. You might want to rec.

marathon. No, I'm just saying like. Shannon, honestly, bro, like it's easy. to say it. I used to tell my dad that. all the time. Like, how many rappers. before you came out of Mississippi? How. many people was on TV before you came. out of Mississippi? Black people look. like you, talk like you, act like you. Yeah. Okay then. But what I'm telling. you, Shannon, I'm serious though, bro. It's like I used to tell my dad all the. time, just show me how to do it. I don't. know what to All I know how to do. He. can't show you what he don't know. I. never thought about that. Touche. I've. never used that word. Yeah. Too. But.

like, I'm serious, Shannon. Like I don't. I don't know what to do. I don't know. what that [ __ ] look like, homie. I don't. know nothing but work. My mentor tell me. that all the time. You He's You on the. hamster wheel again, ain't you, Mr. Banner? Tell you my my my mentor is. David Moody. He told me this, Shannon. Watch this. He said, "Son,". said, "Yes, sir.". How many followers you got? Around four. million. He said, "Um, the stuff that I. teach you,

have you gave it to your fans and your. followers?" I said, "Yes, sir.". He said, "Okay." He said, "Don't I tell. you you do too much all the time?" I. said, "Yes, sir." He said, "Well, let me. ask you this. If you. teach your fans and your people and your. followers what I taught you, how many. people have I influenced? 4 million in one. He looked at me. directly in my eyes and David Moody.

said, "How many people did I concentrate. on?". I said, "Just me." Dang. Wow. Bars. That's it. Hey, y'all ain't got to say. [ __ ] behind them cameras. That was dope. And you know that [ __ ] was dope. I know. that y'all usually don't applaud when. I'm on Shannon's camera, but y'all can. give me a little bit from that. Come on. Yeah. Clap your [ __ ] ass. White. folks, too. Yeah, that was it. That was. it. before we wrapped it. Sh, how you like. that chain, bro? That That's a nice.

chain, bro. I ain't going to [ __ ]. you, you bro. You a little something me. Okay. Yeah, a little lightweight. Yeah, a little something. Little something. Shy talk all that [ __ ] about that n. running water. Oh, this chain is just so. ice and watery for all the water that I. didn't have. Anything you got to. anything you promote? You got an album. You got a TV show. Uh, what you got? Tell the people. Tell the people cuz. people go watch this. just um Family. Business New Orleans. Um you can look at. it on Amazon, BET Plus, um Fight Night.

I have some movies coming out, man. The. main thing that I will ask my people is. just don't leave me alone. Shannon, you. know how this [ __ ] feel. Yeah. When. people come after you, folks leave you. all by your self, bro. But it gives you. an opportunity though, David, to find. out who was always there, who who was. really there. Yeah, for the right. reason. I'm just asking for people not. to do that for to me. Like I stand for. y'all. One of the things I realized with.

my success, Shannon, is that really. black people can't figure out why I came. back. Most people get the fame that I've. been able to acrude and they lead black. people. I love my people. I run towards. my people. And the thing that hurts me the most is. not I expect the swords. from the enemies or people who have. historically not loved us. I still can't register it from our. people. And I know it's it comes from a. hurt place. I know it comes from an.

ignorant place. But I realize love black. folks. I realize like people think I'm. joking when I talk about the admiration. that I have for black women. Bro, I mean. that with all my heart, bro. I love. people that look like my mama. I love. people that look like my grandmother, bro. I mean that [ __ ] with all my heart, bro. And. it hurts me to even fathom that people. don't feel the same way about me when. they may not even have the capacity to.

And I'm smart enough to understand that. But that don't stop me from being in the. flesh. Only thing that I ask, man, is to. for for people to give me the same thing. that you give Hines ketchup, that you get a gas company, that you get. a light company in southern places where. we from, you give your undying. attention. and paper to that you give Budweiser,

that you give Hennessy. That's what I. want, bro. And if you can't give me what. you get him, then I'm cool. I'm going. tell you, I'mma get out of here on this. one. I'm gonna share with you what my sh. therapist shared with me. She said, "Shannon, your biggest mistake is is. that you see yourself in other people. Bars. You think people. is going to treat you like you would. treat them or like you would want to be. treated." He said, "That's your She said. that is your mistake." Bars. Can't say.

nothing to that one, bro. David Banner. Yeah. Hold on. Wait a minute. Can I do this? I. know this has never happened before. Shannon Shark, you needed that, didn't you? Yeah. Pack. a quick question before we go. Yeah, bro. Did you enjoy yourself? I did. I. really enjoyed this, bro. This felt like. therapy, dog. Yeah, it did. This was. actually a little spooky to me, bro. And. I have to tell y'all, I don't know. whether he going to keep this, but half. of the interview I had to piss. And I.

was so upset that I had to piss cuz I'm. a man of discipline. I said, "How the. you get on this platform and have this. opportunity and have to piss and then. what I was told is like that's all right. you human. Go piss." Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And I went and pissed. I don't. know how you going to edit that though. But we good. And I wanted to say piss on. the sh We good. Okay. Not literally, but. you know. Yeah. All my life been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price, want a slice, got to roll a dice. That's.

why all my life I've been grinding all. my life. All my life been grinding all. my life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid the. price, want a slice, got to rolling. dice. That's why all my life I've been. grinding all my life. [Music].