Club Shay Shay - David Banner part 2

Summary

Club Shay Shay - David Banner Part 2
Released on June 18, 2025
Host: Shannon Sharpe
Guest: David Banner

In the second part of his engaging conversation on Club Shay Shay, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe delves deep into the multifaceted life of David Banner, a renowned producer, rapper, and actor. This episode offers listeners a profound exploration of David's personal journey, challenges in the music and entertainment industries, and his unwavering commitment to his community.

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1. Embracing Self-Worth and Greatness

David Banner opens up about his struggle with self-worth and the journey toward embracing his true potential. He reflects on a pivotal conversation with Samuel, which inspired him to stand firmly in his greatness.

David Banner [02:15]: "Sometimes we hide behind gratitude because we really scared… Cause we really don't believe that we deserve to be here."

This introspection highlights David's realization of the importance of self-acknowledgment and the influence of mentors like TI in fostering his self-belief.

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2. Navigating the Music Industry: Ownership vs. Talent

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the dynamics of the music industry, particularly the balance between ownership and talent. David emphasizes the importance of artists owning their work and the pitfalls of chasing quick financial gains.

David Banner [12:33]: "The money in music is stop begging people and get your own companies and sell your own shit."

He critiques the tendency of artists to prioritize immediate profits over sustainable ownership, advocating for long-term creative and financial control.

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3. Collaborations and Influences

David shares insightful anecdotes about his collaborations with legendary figures like Quincy Jones, TI, and Lil Wayne, underscoring the mutual respect and influence they share.

David Banner [16:45]: "Quincy Jones told us that when we were producing for his album, we were the only ones brave enough to take his music and digest it and spit it back."

These collaborations have not only shaped David's career but also influenced his approach to music production, emphasizing authenticity and respect for the artists he works with.

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4. Challenges as a Black Producer and Artist

The conversation delves into the unique challenges David faces as a black producer and artist in predominantly white-controlled industries like Hollywood and mainstream music.

David Banner [54:03]: "Hollywood is no different than America… The slave house has always been in direct proportion to the slave master house."

He draws parallels between historical and contemporary racial dynamics, highlighting systemic issues that persist within the industry.

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5. Personal Struggles and Mental Health

David bravely discusses his battles with depression, the pressures of acting, and the lack of support systems for black men dealing with emotional turmoil.

David Banner [45:35]: "I shot in the middle of my biggest depression in my life… But Samuel Jackson, he relieved me of that."

He underscores the importance of mental health awareness and the need for robust support networks within the black community.

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6. Spirituality, Meditation, and Self-Discovery

Spirituality plays a crucial role in David's life. He shares how meditation and spiritual practices have aided his personal growth and healing.

David Banner [64:24]: "I've started understanding meditation and made T. Pain come to my house to just sit and process life."

This section highlights David's commitment to self-improvement and his desire to help others navigate their personal struggles.

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7. Reflections on Fame and Influence

Towards the end of the conversation, David contemplates the responsibilities that come with fame and his influence over millions of followers. He expresses a deep sense of duty to uplift his community and serve as a positive role model.

David Banner [67:55]: "I've given my teachings to my fans and followers… How many people have I influenced? 4 million and 1."

He emphasizes the impact that artists can have beyond entertainment, advocating for meaningful contributions to societal progress.

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8. Closing Thoughts and Future Projects

In his closing remarks, David Banner reflects on his journey, the importance of staying true to oneself, and his aspirations for future projects, including his acting career and production endeavors.

David Banner [73:25]: "I just knew I wasn't… if I wanted our children to see a superhero, I would have to believe in myself at that level. So, shoot it. Just shoot it."

His determination to continue creating and inspiring serves as a powerful message to listeners about perseverance and self-belief.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Self-Worth:
  "You deserve to be here, I deserve to be here. And it's time to stand in that greatness."
  - David Banner [02:15]

• Music Ownership:
  "The money in music is stop begging people and get your own companies and sell your own shit."
  - David Banner [12:33]

• Collaboration with Quincy Jones:
  "If he wanted it to sound like him, like, you can't do what I do, first of all."
  - David Banner [17:03]

• Mental Health Struggles:
  "I shot in the middle of my biggest depression in my life… But Samuel Jackson, he relieved me of that."
  - David Banner [45:35]

• Influence on Community:
  "How many people have I influenced? 4 million and 1."
  - David Banner [67:55]

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Conclusion

This episode of Club Shay Shay offers a candid and heartfelt glimpse into David Banner's life, revealing the complexities of his career, personal battles, and heartfelt dedication to his community. Shannon Sharpe skillfully navigates the conversation, allowing David to uncover layers of his persona and share invaluable insights with listeners. Whether you're a fan of David's music, his production work, or his acting endeavors, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and understanding of the man behind the art.

Transcript

[David Banner]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Michael Kasson]

I'm Michael Kasson, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Su, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming.

[David Banner]

What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There's so many stories out there, and if you can find a way to to curate and help the right person discover the right content. The term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen.

[Michael Kasson]

Listen to Good company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Sarah Spain, host of Good Game with Sarah Spain and the co author of the new book Runs in the Family, an incredible true story of football, fatherhood and belonging, written with and about Las Vegas Raider running backs coach Dylan McCullough. It's the story of a football coach and father of four who sees his life forever changed by the unsealing of his adoption records. And it's got a twist you won't believe. Based on the viral ESPN story I did a few years ago, this book will blow your mind and bring you to tears by Runs in the Family. Wherever books are sold.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Thank you for coming back. Part two is underway. Samuel told you that you were terrible at this?

[David Banner]

No, but I'm asking you. What was the question? I was going there for a reason. I'm trying to give you great content. Shannon, help me. I'm drunk.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Fight night on Peacock.

[David Banner]

You got to tell it, though.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Black Snake Moon got the story.

[David Banner]

No, but what was your question that made me go there, though? 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 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. Cause sometimes we hide behind gratitude and all of that kind of stuff because we really scared, right? Cause we 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 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 shit go and live, bro. And I just got to the point in my life where I'm doing it, man. I'm so happy. And, bro, I gotta be honest with you, man. I'm probably one of the few people on this planet that look at me. I don't. I actually. Bro, one thing that I am proud of, man, and I don't even know that after this interview is actually gonna be power. And it's actually gonna 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 into pure light. I think I'm gonna transcend the physical form and just turning 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 Brolic thing. It's a little bit more than that. It's mental, too. You gotta add that to it, dog. And I think you'll just let it all go. I am. I look that good. Action fans. The female ones. Shannon, don't be afraid of this, bro. Has this happened? You gotta get back. Don't lose that, bro. Just. You know who you are. Come on. Can you clear? Don't lose that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Absolutely. Yeah, Abundantly.

[David Banner]

All right. Just. Okay. Just know it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The song. Like a Pimp Tyrese.

[David Banner]

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?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Serendipity.

[David Banner]

Okay, then. See, that's a humble man. He did that on purpose. He's a genius. Go ahead, I'm listening.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like a Pimp Tyrese said that song did for you with a Coca Cola commercial. Did for him. It opened the door. It got you to the cause you were David Banner. But this song. And then, you know, people call you. We gonna get to how people call you and wanna sample your song. Like a pimp, bro.

[David Banner]

Tyrese is a slick. Cause I saw him right before on the plane before that interview, okay? He told me that, bro. Tyrese said bro. He said, banner, you gotta think about it. Sometimes in life, all you think about how many nos that we all see. And I'm saying this for everybody.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Absolutely.

[David Banner]

All you need is one. Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's it.

[David Banner]

And he told me that. 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 gangsta rap, right? And no matter how blessed I am, no matter how smart I become, I'm still a gangster rapper. Because I'd rather you keep me at my lowest. So no matter how hard I fall, then I can just say, hey, Snoop does that very well. Yeah, I'm still a gangster rapper. You know what I'm saying? Cause they try to make you, you know, this highfalutin political person. And really, Shannon, you are a great example that they just really. And it goes back to something you love so much. They just really want to fatten the pig for the slaughter. 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 tell my PR team this sometimes. I up on purpose. I'd rather up and me control it. Cause I know what I'm doing. I know why I'm doing it. So that they can't make me into this caricature. They try to make us into a caricature. So they can literally assassinate our personalities, our lives. And what they don't understand, man, is like, our grandparents see that shit. Our mothers see that shit. Our children see that shit, bro. And that shit hurt. And a lot of times, we not enough men. We're not men enough to admit that that shit didn't feel good, bro. There was somebody, man, and I'm gonna say this. Cause I want that person to see it. She said some shit about me, bro. It didn't feel good. And then they called me to a show. And I told the people, I told them white folks, like, I just wanna be clear. And I want her to know that she hurt my feelings. Cause 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 gonna do nothing. I'm not mad at you. I don't judge you. Shit wasn't cool, though. And that shit hurt me. And I want you to know that it hurt me. Cause 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 shit. 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 shit. We wouldn't have done that shit 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 and 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. Cause, 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 shit, bro. And I'm just so grateful, man, to be alive during these times. This is the best time in history, man, to change the world, bro. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Beyonce incorporated like a pimp into Cowboy Car Detour. Let me ask you this. When someone. And I've had two chains. I've had LL I've had a couple of guys, a couple of people on. There's like. When people say. I'm like, well, how do you.

[David Banner]

And I call LL Just so you know, because I needed some leadership and me being this sexy. Cause 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 L.L. i'm dead serious, right? Y' all think I'm joking. But I really did call LL I was like, hey, bro. Cause I'm used to street shit, right? I was like, bro, this. This sexy shit is actually. Yo. 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 it makes you laugh, Then women gonna chuckle, right? He said, bro, don't take yourself so seriously. But go back. I just want to say thank you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ll, when people sample your music.

[David Banner]

Do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They have to play it for you? Play what they gonna do over your track? Or do you like, okay, cool, send a check.

[David Banner]

If you just send a check, then you sold your soul. Like, what I try not to do is judge children. Cause our parents judged us. But it's just certain shit that I don't want you to say on my music, okay? And you gotta 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 to a certain degree, we have to have some type of morals, right? See, when people hear the word sold out, bro, if you would do anything for money, you sold your soul, right? But what I will say, man, I'm 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 becoming the second highest, grossest thing grossing thing in my life, man. And that's just a testament shit, man. Tell you a quick story. 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 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[David Banner]

I prayed to God, bro, that if God would allow me to make it without selling dope or without having to have a dope dealer 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, especially being from the South. And so I said, I better pay God back. So if you remember Cadillac on 22s, it was like Cadillac on 22, 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 I'm here for a mission but it's hard to get him on 22's rims with glisten Cadillac's on 22s. I ain't did nothing in my life but stay true Pimp my voice and make these beats and pray to the Lord for these Mississippi streets 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, I want to know what. What money in music? Because everybody. Everybody say, ain't no money in music no more. Is it in writing? Is it producing? Is it what is it where the money at?

[David Banner]

The money in music is stop begging people and get your own companies and sell your own shit. Look at you, bro. Like, I know Shannon, you don't wanna talk about this shit, bro. And I be trying to be kind. Cause I know that you have sponsors and stuff, bro, but, like, they would've crushed you if you didn't have your own show. Yeah. You know that. They would've crushed you. So, like, that's where it's at. And the thing is, bro, is that people just want that quick cash out, dawg. That don't exist, bro. You still gotta work.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got to, bro, man.

[David Banner]

So put your own stuff out. Create your own stuff. Fans are looking for it. Fans will listen to you, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Are they afraid because it's easier somebody go cut Mitchie? Because you have to look at it? Are you talented? I cut you a check. Or are you in my situation? This is me.

[David Banner]

All right, watch this. You gonna answer the question for me?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

I was on a plane back, and I ain't gonna lie, bro. I almost whooped this white boy for what I'm about to tell you, okay? This high, high level Xerox. At the time when Xerox was really popping, 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 for a 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 now, because I'm black, I wanted to put my hands on it. 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 them 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. Yeah, it's always quick.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You could be talent or you could be owner.

[David Banner]

But even from a tax perspective, bro, Cee Lo tried to warn us. Cee Lo said that little money be gone, didn't he? Yeah.

[Michael Kasson]

Didn't he?

[David Banner]

Yeah, bro. And so, like, man, for me Bro, I just. I'm just grateful. And, Shannon, I'm not joking. 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 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[David Banner]

And I really, really think. Cause 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 people will allow me, like yourself. Because I know, bro, and 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 whores, bro. In the streets, bro. He went into 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. Cause I can't. But that's the only thing that helped me sleep at night is helping others. Yeah, bro, it was at one point in this interview, bro. Cause 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, we appreciate you coming. You produced for Lil Wayne, T.I. chris Brown, Maroon 5, Quincy Jones, Snoop Dogg, Pimp C, Luda.

[David Banner]

Hold on, man. How you just gonna go past Quincy Jones like that? Help me out, Shannon. See Quincy Jones again.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Quincy Jones?

[David Banner]

What did he do? Didn't he do thriller? 4 Mike Gold, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles. Talk that shit, man. When it comes. I mean, there are a lot of producers out there, but it's hard to be.

[David Banner]

Ain't too many people on this planet produce for Quincy Jones.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Big. That's what I said to say. If we were to do A versus, who would we put against Quincy?

[David Banner]

Man, I heard somebody talking that shit, bro. Like to even think you worthy of that. The shit that Quincy Jones has done, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now he got his range. He got too much of a range.

[David Banner]

And in between classical music, bro. To scoring movies most people don't know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

History, TV shows. Sanford and Son.

[David Banner]

Yeah, Talk that shit. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Y' all better stop playing with that, man.

[David Banner]

But what I will say, man, is that me and Warren Campbell. You should go to his 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 liaisons 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 one of the things. There's an artist from Mississippi, his name is Coke Bou Maye. And this dude is much younger than me. But this dude is, bro, he's way beyond his age. He talks like our grandparents. Like your grandparents.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

And he told me, he said, banner, you gotta start popping your shit. He said that people will forget about you and the way that this culture is, bro. They'll take your shit from you, bro. So, like, I just started learning how to tell people a little bit more. 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

But I believe, because 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?

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's factual.

[David Banner]

That's factual. It's stats.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Absolutely.

[David Banner]

I am great. I just hate that my people don't know how great I am. It hurts, bro. Cause, bro, 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. And wasn't nobody there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

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?

[David Banner]

I don't know, bro. Bro, I'm from Mississippi, bro. I just started loving myself. 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. It's funny. Cause somebody on your staff Knows a mutual friend of Billy Hume who ran a white guy, bro, Celtic white guy, bro, who boned like fuck Lil Jon. Like a lot of us, bro. We went through his studio. And, bro, when I got that $10 million deal, bro, this little short, white, long haired 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, dawg. And I was just standing there, bro, and mumbling like I couldn't stop, bro. They teach us, bro, to work. We will correlate our success with how hard we work like slaves, dawg. We gotta learn how to think. We gotta learn how to set up systems, bro. You ain't gotta 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 didn't get this body, bro, until I was in my senior year. I would have played. 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 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 shit that I speak. And I be trying to tell my friends 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 weak, bro. That's it. People that come from places we come from, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How'd you beat TI because it's interesting because you have such an eclectic group. I mean, you got rappers and you got Snoop Dogg. Excuse me. You did Quincy Jones, rest his soul. And then you got Snoop Dogg, too. Snoop Dogg, Yeah. You got Snoop 2 Chainz, Akon. But if you look at it, okay, you got Lil Wayne, T.I. but you got Maroon 5. Maroon 5 and T.I. and Lil Wayne ain't the same. And then you got Q and then you got Neo.

[David Banner]

Yeah, well, me and TI 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. 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. Cause 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. Cause the reason why I put my tag on my beat, bro, and I think this is.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So what is the tag?

[David Banner]

Tag is like when you put your name before the beat, ok? You know what I'm saying? Like David, David, David Banner. The only reason why I did that is cause I noticed Jay Z would say, kanye, you a fool, fool, fool. Just blaze. You did it again. Every time he would say their name, they could charge $10,000 extra, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[David Banner]

Southern rappers hid their producers. Like, bro, like, it hurts me to this day. KLC from Beats by the Pound. As big 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 Beats by the Pound as big as Timbaland and Pharrell. Cause they change music in the same way that us people do, but we don't know who they are. And since I saw that, I said, I'm not gonna let him, like, look over me. I'm gonna 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 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 shit 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 so appreciative of who he is. And my bro, actually, they tried to put him on the cross and they tried to crucify him. And he stood, bro. 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 shared his whole career and became conscious in front of everybody and put a conscious album out. He didn't just talk that shit. A lot of did that shit, bro, to be cool. Cause it was the woke moment. TI did that shit and put his career on the line, bro. When he first came out with. With his first album. I'm serious, bro. He told them motherfuckers, 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 tries so hard all the time and he's so tough. You would never be able to see that part of a bro try. And for the first time in his life, I think he care. Yeah, he not used to that. He didn't come from that environment. And I'm watching him process the fact that he care about shit. And then that make you human again. What the you do with that shit, right? Like what? I'm serious, dawg. That's how I feel now. Like, why in the am I getting depressed? Hey, dawg, the shit we used to do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What the.

[David Banner]

What that shit is feelings, right? You know, And I'm just grateful, man, that me and him still friends, right? And that I called bruh. There 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 death of Auto Tune, I never knew. And T Pain 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. Trump can say the dumbest shit on this planet. White folks gonna protect them. They may have another conversation with him later on off Carp. 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 shit. When you look at when they used to hang black folks from trees, didn't 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 shit. You coward. How dare you praise his name when he did. And 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 whole. 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 friend. 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 had an opportunity. My best friend lived in Portland, bro. They don't like black people being around 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 life. And I'll look at any one of these cameras. I have not met anybody more talented than that young man, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[David Banner]

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 an infinite amount of things you don't know, right? He knew.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[David Banner]

And, bro, like, the reason why Chris Brown. I'm not saying this, and I gotta 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, bro. I never talked to. That was hard for me to deal with. Like, I'm not used to. I'm used to hunting. Don't make it easy for me, woman. You know what I mean? And we don't have therapy for that. Cause most people from where we from ain't never seen what we seen, bro. Chris from the south, bro. People forget that. That boy from the south, dawg, from the country too. He dealt with that shit 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. Cause I was coming and I remember telling him, bro, you a kid. Be a kid as long as you can. And I'm serious. I told him this, bro, get that Disney money. Cause once you're grown, you can't ever come back. But he wanted to be a man, and he chose that, bro. And I can't blame him for that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow. You mentioned Nelly's Tip Drill. When you first heard that song, do you know, like, when you hear a beat, do you know it's a hit?

[David Banner]

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'd have kept it for myself. I can't even lie to you. I gotta be honest. I didn't know. 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. Cause he's a genius, bro. When it comes to hearing it, I just make a bunch of shit, right? And some of that shit is great, some of it sucks. I can tell the shit that ain't good. Like, I just gotta 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 make 10 beats, four of them dope. But, like, that's just part of it. You just gotta keep making it, right, you know? But nah, bro, I had no idea, bro. What I will say is that Nelly is the only artist that I made a beat for, and he took it. Cause you gotta think when you make a beat for an artist, the only thing you can go off of is what you heard from, 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 I don't want to talk about it because some things are not meant to talk about. But I never really got into, like, petty shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

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, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I ain't having an opinion on that.

[David Banner]

Yeah, man, 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 don't hear that shit. I that mother, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[David Banner]

You know, and I just got caught off into a lot of that shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

PMC said you looked out for his family when he went in. You don't mind. I mean, why did you do it and what did you do?

[David Banner]

I don't know what I did. It was so long ago.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Why'd you do it?

[David Banner]

I don't know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You don't know why you did it?

[David Banner]

No. Just let me ask you, okay? If you really led by the spirit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

It 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 it. Make them guns, get down on the flow 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? 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 what Issa Rae 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 that I'm proud that I never did. Snoop is actually my friend, bro. Be clear. But he's still Snoop.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

And I never allow myself to stop being a fan. Pimp C was my friend, bro. But that's still Pimp C. 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 L. 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 wanna know something crazy? A lot of the people that I look up to look up to me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[David Banner]

They come to me for guidance. Especially spiritually.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[David Banner]

You know what I'm saying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[David Banner]

And sometimes I have to remind myself that I can't take that away from them too. So I still gotta stay up. But I gotta also realize that these are people that I look up to and love and respect too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You worked with Wayne after he got outta 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 did I mean? And I still think Wayne, when they talk about goats, the way he can put words together, he's. I mean, he.

[David Banner]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What is it like watching him create a masterpiece?

[David Banner]

This is not gonna 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. Like that early cash money where 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. You know, one thing Erykah Badu 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 the early cash money before the universal deals. Like, I can't imagine a focused Little Wayne who has to still listen to somebody. You gotta think Lil Wayne ain't gotta listen to nobody no more.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[David Banner]

No producer, no engine, nobody.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[David Banner]

But there's a certain think about Eminem with Dr. Dre.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

You say whatever the you wanna say. But when he With Dr. Dre, it's special.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

Jadakiss 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'm a fan of, bro. Like, I would just love to hear that just one more time, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think he got an album out now. Oh, it's coming out.

[David Banner]

It's coming. I didn't announce yet.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

But I will tell you something, bro, that I don't think I. I don't know if I said this any 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. Cause 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 until they pay for it, right? But it was Wayne, so I ain't really give a shit. Put that shit out, Wayne. Cause if Wayne do one of your.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Beats, they gonna ask who is yeah.

[David Banner]

And then gonna pay you. Cause you produce. So I never tripped. Wayne could do whatever the he wanted to do, right? But Wayne told me something. He called me, man. It was really strange. He said, banner, now that I'm a businessman, I can't promise you that you're gonna have a spot on everything on Young Money. But I can promise you that I give you an opportunity to fight for your spot. And that's all you can ask for as a man, bro. And the thing that I would wish and hope for Wayne, man, is that that man really loves music, bro. I talked about this today, bro. Like, Wayne would light a blood, put his head in a speaker and ask me to play all my beats. Not to sell him, 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. Cause 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. Just wanted us to be in the studio again, bro. I got money. Let's just get back to doing it. Cause, bro, if we do what we do naturally, the money coming right, you can have 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. Oh, yeah, he is special, man. And I just wish, like, Chris Brown, bro, that we just get back in and with each other and work again, bro. Like, just get in the studio. Like, a group of us that really care about this shit. And I think people would come back to it if they felt something broke. And Wayne got that. Wayne really love music, bro. Really, really loves music, bro. There's another artist I want to shout out. Cause 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 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's 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 can say a lot of dope stuff, bro, but, like, to be able to put it in and guide it a little bit, not much, bro. 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. Cause to be real, Jill does seven songs in one session. Wow. You just gotta be man enough to let her play and move out of her way and then realize, okay, it's time to move on now, right? But let her get as much of it out as you possibly can. But there ain't much producing. Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, they're geniuses.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Idris Elba, Regina King, Loretta Devine, Laurence Fishburne, Taye Diggs, Forest Whitaker, Boris Kojo, Oprah, Cuba Gooding, Jr. Don Cheadle, Taraji Queen Latifah. What is the most fun you've had on set or each of those individuals that I read off brings a different banner out?

[David Banner]

No. So let me tell you this. No lies, 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 that I didn't enjoy this shit, bro. Like, think about having a football, bro, and you Never throw that. Cause 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 gonna 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 shit 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 dumb thug shit. Like, I'm used to that shit. I got homies that do that shit. But, bro, I done 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 Fight Night and Family Business New Orleans at the same time. And didn't nobody know it. I couldn't tell them folks that 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 L. Jackson, Taraji, Terrence Howard, Don Cheadle. We gonna figure out a way to make that shit happen. Fuck that, right? And, bro, I. Hey, I never really had a chance to talk about this, bro. That shit fried me, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's a lot.

[David Banner]

Cause 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 seven games, but all of them are All Star 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, like, I talk to my friends about acting in front of Samuel Jackson, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[David Banner]

You know, and so it just. But I'm gonna tell you this, bro. Samuel Jackson, he relieved me of that, bro. After I got done with Fight Night, man, Samuel Jackson, I went to him and I was like. Cause I really didn't talk to him. Cause I didn't really want to be all up under him if I didn't make him proud. And Samuel Jackson said the dopest shit ever. He said, man, stop that shit, man. I 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. Stand up and be the man. You and Erykah Badu used to tell me that all the time. She used to always say this was strange. Cause, you know, she floating. She always say, we waiting on you, Mr. Banner. People are waiting on you to see the God in you. And I never did, bro. Until recently.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow. Yeah. Ride along with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. K. Hart shot you? Cube interrogated you? What's it like to be on with Kev? Cause I can just imagine I've been around him a little bit and talked to Cube, had Cube on here. What's. What's it like to be on the set with Kev? With Kevin Hart?

[David Banner]

Can I take one of these home?

[Shannon Sharpe]

You sure can.

[David Banner]

Okay. Thank you. I want to say this, bro, and I'm serious. Say whatever they want to about Kevin Hart. With the exception of Tyler Perry, I ain't seen nobody work as hard as him. Hey, bro, like, he inspired me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, he work. He work.

[David Banner]

I mean, like, to be honest with.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You, bro, like, he either writing, he starred in it. Commercials, movies, tv.

[David Banner]

And people don't see he facetiming his kids over here on the side, talking to his wife. He got a dialect coach. Cause 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 shit, bro. I ain't lying, bro. I saw Kevin Hart back. Ain't no way. No, I won't say it the way. Ain't no motherfucker go out do me, bro, if you don't play no sports, right? I'm dead serious when y' all see my back. That was cousin Kevin Hart. That motherfucker look like he had a backpack. Motherfucker, you ain't gonna outdo me. And I got more time than you, right? But Kevin Hart, man, he works so hard, man. And to have some similar. Like to have some form of still being human and learn how to smile, and he hear all the shit people throw at him. He does like, bro, that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How can you not. Cause 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.

[David Banner]

Yeah. And, bro, that boy work his ass off. And whether you agree with what he do, it's always a month. Have you ever noticed most people who talk the most shit don't have nothing? People who have what you have, regardless of whether they like your art form or not, they know how hard it is to get. So they usually don't talk shit about you. Like, Kevin, work hard, man. Kevin, man. And I was inspired when we did, you know, fight night. I just didn't tell him. But 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 watched 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. But we don't need but a year of that, dog.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[David Banner]

But Kevin Hart didn't done this shit for four, five years. Oh, yeah, he all right. And 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Is there an audition you've gone on and you didn't get?

[David Banner]

Yeah, there's a lot of them. Most of them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what people say. People say.

[David Banner]

Channel let me change that. There was an audition that I smashed that I got it. And the director said I look too young.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[David Banner]

And I wouldn't be here in front of you right now. I ain't gonna even bullshit you. If that would've happened, I wouldn't be here, right? I was supposed to be the black guy in Walking Dead. The 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. Cause what they did was unacceptable. But it was dope. Cause they did it for me, right? The lady walked out after I did my audition and said, I found him. Imagine it's 30 people in a room. And somebody come out and say, I found him. And you gotta come after that, right? She said, I gotta 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. 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. And you got that check. But that was one thing, bro. That I always. I don't regret anything. Cause everything is in God light and God pale. But I look at how well Walking Dead did.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

And, bro, what that would have done for me. Ooh, shit. But you never know, bro. Could have been dead or anything. Like, I don't ever wish for what I don't have.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[David Banner]

But that's one of the ones, though.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Bro, do you prefer producing, rapping or acting? Is there one? Is there a preference?

[David Banner]

How much they paying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you don't have a preference?

[David Banner]

I don't give a. No, honestly, Shannon, 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. I did Forbes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

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, Right? Like, that's your God power, is to create. So, bro, 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. Shit. But I'm on my way, Shannon. Just watch. I'm about to tear they mouth out. And, bro, I'm telling you, I am not joking. I'm gonna be out here with no shirt on. You gonna be like, banner. You can put your clothes on, though. I'd be like, no.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Is there a role that you won't play in a movie?

[David Banner]

Yeah, there's a lot of. I don't wanna 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'll say about that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

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.

[David Banner]

Mm.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Have you seen that side of Hollywood that he's speaking about?

[David Banner]

This is what I would say. We don't even have to go there, Shannon, where you From South 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. Wanna 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 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 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 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. Cause white folks act surprised. Hollywood is no different than America, bro. And I'm just getting to the point now that I refuse to self sabotage myself, bro. Because I've always been talking and I'm not gonna get up on your show and kill myself when I'm this close 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's certain people outside of that circle. And if you're not in that circle, you're gonna be treated a certain way or manipulated.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What made you start a multimedia production company? 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.

[David Banner]

I just knew I Wasn't. Cube is my hero. Ice Cube is my hero, okay? People never saw him as an A list actor, but he saw himself as an 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 shit was gonna pop or not. Nope. But you felt it in your spirit and you shot it. Just shoot. Shoot into 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 only saying this, bro, because you have access to our people. It's not that I'm trying to put you in a 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 a. Okay, if you say you 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 talking about negativity, hate, poverty, that's what you gonna 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. Other things that come along with that, that's what they don't teach us, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

True.

[David Banner]

But, hey, man, it's scary now, bro. Like, how much I can move the universe around. And we gotta 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 so much love to Ryan Coogler 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 gonna 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 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 not easy and it's scary. But, Shannon, you called the shit that you did. Ain't nobody ever did the shit that you did, bro. No black man in the podcast space, bro, to do the shit that you did the way that you did it, bro. Bro, 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. 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[David Banner]

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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Gatorade. You redid that 12 times, and they still didn't use it?

[David Banner]

No, they end up using it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They ended up using it.

[David Banner]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is the second biggest Gatorade. I don't know if it still is the second biggest Gatorade commercial in history. Wow. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, like, you've done. So do you ever. I mean, have you taken the time. Cause then I tell. This is what I tell people. I was like when I was playing. I don't know. I'd never smelled the roses because I was so caught. I was so focused on making sure I did right, and I was staying on top of my game. Is that now sometimes when I see stuff, I'm like, damn, I did that.

[David Banner]

And people will use you because they know you don't see yourself. Women do it. Corporations do it. Like, 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 on this white show, bro, and these white boys had studied me so hard, and they talked about all the stuff that I did, Shannon. And I can't bullshit you, bro. It made me tired. Like, I literally got tired. Like, I wanna go home and go to sleep. Like, man, I've done so much at such a high level, bro. And it hurt me, bro. Cause most black people don't give a. And I do what I do for black people. And they probably care the least what did wasn't.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I had the Bible. You remember how Jesus did who you work for?

[David Banner]

Yeah, but I mean, it's easy to say that, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is. You know. Cause you going through, it hurts. It hurts more.

[David Banner]

It does.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When it comes, like, the outside saying, whatever.

[David Banner]

And I don't want my shit when I'm dead, bro. Think about Basquiat, 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 shit, y' all. I'm not doing that, man. Look at Malcolm and Martin, bro. They family is suffering, dude. Dad, I'm not doing that, bro. It gotta be a better way. And if God gave us those examples, why go down that, man? Look, man, this is what I'm telling you, bro. We gotta do better with talking to each other, man. And pulling each other aside and being like, man, come on, bro. It's funny, man. One of my homeboys worked for the biggest shoe company in the world. And, man, they put 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Let's talk.

[David Banner]

Not even talk. That's what I did with T Pain. That fucked T Pain up, man. When T Pain was going through his shit, I brought T. Pain to my house. And this is going. This freaked him out. Cause I had just started understanding meditation. I made T. Pain 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 that motherfucker was sitting there shaking. Cause 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Have you always been a guy that wanted to help people?

[David Banner]

Yeah, but not for the right reasons. I'm starting to realize now, man, that 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 because I Had been hurt so much and my ego and like, 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. Because one thing, I actually learned this from the Spider man movie. I don't know if you remember when the Green Goblin 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 shit 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. Bet. 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. Cause Shannon, no bullshit. I said this three, two times on your show already, bro. Bro, I always wanted children. I ain't got no. Ain't no wife, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You still can have that, Bama.

[David Banner]

Yeah, but I don't. I don't have it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Are you putting yourself in position?

[David Banner]

No.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay then.

[David Banner]

But I don't know how. Shannon.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, you can run a marathon, but you gotta get to the starting line.

[David Banner]

You sure? Yes. You might wanna recant the words. No, I'm just saying, I don't wanna run no 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like, how many rappers before you came outta Mississippi? How many people were on TV before you came outta Mississippi? Black people. Look like you talk like you act like you. Okay then.

[David Banner]

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 it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He can't show you what he don't know.

[David Banner]

I never thought about that. Touche. I've never used that word. Yeah, too Shay. But like, I'm serious, Shannon. Like, I don't know what to do. I don't know what that shit look like, homie. I don't know nothing but work. My mentor tell me that all the time. You on the hamster wheel again, ain't you? Mr. Banner tell you my. My mentor is David Moody. He told me this. Shannon, watch this. He said, son, so. Yes, sir. How many followers you got? Around 4 million. He said, 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. 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 and 1. He looked at me directly in my eyes, and David Moody said, how many people did I concentrate on? I said, just me. Damn. Wow. Bars.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's it.

[David Banner]

Hey, y' all ain't gotta say shit behind the cameras. That was dope, and you know that shit was dope. I know that y' all usually don't applaud when a on Shannon's camera, but y' all can give me a little bit from that. Come on. Yeah, clap your motherfucker ass.

[Shannon Sharpe]

White folks, too. Yeah, that was it. That was it before we wrapped it up.

[David Banner]

Shannon, how you like that chain, bro? That's a nice chain, bro. I ain't gonna bullshit you, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, a little something.

[David Banner]

Okay, yeah, just little lightweight.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, a little something.

[David Banner]

Shannon, talk all that shit about that. Now I'm running water. Oh, this chain is just so ice and watery for all the water that I didn't have anything.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got anything, you promote, you got an album, you got a TV show. What you got? Tell the people. Tell the people. Cause people go watch this.

[David Banner]

Just family business. New Orleans. You can look at it on Amazon. Bet Fight night. I got 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 shit feels. Yeah. When people come after you, folks leave you all by your fucking self, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But it gives you an opportunity, though, David, to find out who was always there, who was really there for the right reasons.

[David Banner]

I'm just asking for people not to do that 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 accrue, and they leave 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 for my people. And I know it Comes from a hurt place. I know it comes from an ignorant place. But I real, real. I love black folks. I real, real lie. 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 shit 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. The only thing that I ask, man, is for people to give me the same thing that you give Heinz 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 give them, then I'm cool.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm gonna tell you, I'm gonna get out of here on this one. I'm gonna share with you what my therapist shared with me. She said, shannon, your biggest mistake is that you see yourself in other people.

[David Banner]

Bars.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You think people is gonna treat you like you would treat them or like you would want to be treated bars? He said, that's your. She said, that is your mistake.

[David Banner]

Bars. Can't say nothing to that one, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

David Banner.

[David Banner]

Hold on. Wait, wait. Can I do this? I know this has never happened before. Shannon Sharp. You needed that, didn't you? Yeah. Paxton, quick question before we go. Yeah, bro. Did you enjoy yourself?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I did.

[David Banner]

I really enjoyed it, bro. This felt like therapy, dog.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, it did.

[David Banner]

This was actually a little spooky to me, bro. And I have to tell y' all, I don't know whether he gonna keep this, but half of the interview, I had to piss. And I was so upset that I had to piss. Cause 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.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[David Banner]

And I went and pissed. I don't know how you gonna edit that, though. But we good. And I wanted to say, piss on the. Shay. Shay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We good.

[David Banner]

Okay. Not literally, but, you know. Yeah. All my life, been grinding. All my life, sacrifice, hustle, paid the price, wanna slice got the roll the dice that's why all my life I've been grinding all my life look all my life been grinding all my life Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price, want to slice, got the rolling dice that's why all my life I've been grinding all my Sam I'm Michael Kassin, founder and.

[Michael Kasson]

CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Angeli Su, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming.

[David Banner]

What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There's so many stories out there and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content. The term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen.

[Michael Kasson]

Listen to Good company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Sarah Spain, host of Good Game with Sarah Spain and the co author of the new book Runs in the Family, an incredible true story of Football, fatherhood and belonging. Written with and about Las Vegas Raiders running backs coach D. McCullough. It's the story of a football coach and father of four who sees his life forever changed by the unsealing of his adoption records. And it's got a twist you won't believe. Based on the viral ESPN story I did a few years ago, this book will blow your mind and bring you to tears by Runs in the Family. Wherever books are sold, this is an I Heart podcast.