Interview: Rapper / Producer David Banner Talks About His New Album

Mississippi is resting on David Banner's shoulders. Literally and figuratively. The Jackson native who put Mississippi hip hop on the map has a tattoo on his upper back signifying the home team. Not to mention he's running the rap game in his home state. Banner is set to reach the plate for his October 9th release, The Greatest Story Ever Told. The producer/rapper is set to lace fans with a new kind of hip hop album; one full of hits. Banner uncovers the heavily anticipated album, his humanitarian efforts, and life as an actor.

Andrew Bess: First and foremost, congratulations on the success of your last album "Certified."

David Banner: Ahh man, I appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Andrew Bess: Why did you name this album, "The greatest Story ever told"?

David Banner: I named it The Greatest Story EverTold because of everything I've been through. From not having any major label behind me to Mississippi not being a state of hip hop. I'm carrying Mississippi on my back. From where I started not having anything to where I am today. For me to be in the position I am in; it's the greatest story ever told.

Andrew Bess: How do you feel the events in the last two years have shaped your outlook on music, let alone life?

David Banner: It made me respect what I have so much more. I have a tendency to notice what other people are doing and wonder why they get the opportunities they do. They get all the interviews and sign all the autographs. I'm always working hard. So why is it always the idiots that seem to get further [in this game]? Why can't the good guy get the number one pick? I used to do really bad things, but it just seems the harder you try to do right the more it backfires. God revealed to me that wherever you try to find your heaven- whether it is spiritual, financial or physical, there is always going to be adversary. Like in football; the closer you get to the defenses goal line, the harder they are going to try to stop you.

Andrew Bess: In 2006 you appeared on DJ Shadow's The Outsider entitled "Seein' Thangs". The track features comments on the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina. A lot of rappers from the south talked about the disaster. Do you feel that other artists helped out as much as they should?

David Banner: I see a lot of people in the rap game squealing like bitches. It's not my duty to have them report to me. I don't really care what other people do. I just try to be an example. I made sure thousands and thousands of dollars went to the families that needed it. I dedicated 7 months of my whole life to doing relief work trying to make sure people got what they deserved. But I can only say what I did. I try not to focus on what other rappers and entertainers do. The real question is did Bush and the government do enough? That's the real question. Did they do enough, fuck no.

Andrew Bess: Talk about your charity "Heal the Hood." How did it get started and how is it going?

David Banner: It originally started out as a health program in Mississippi. There really isn't much for kids to do in the metropolitan areas. We are top ten in the U.S. as far as murders are concerned. And you wonder why kids rob and steal. But it's because they don't have anything to do. So I set up this program. I had this friend who did a really big favor for Eminem, so I asked Eminem to come to Mississippi to throw a concert. The money raised was used to build in the years to come with companies that keep the same idea alive. That's how it became what it is today.

Andrew Bess: How do you feel southern hip hop has grown over the past years?

David Banner: I think we've been doing basically what we've always done. We've always told it like it is.

Andrew Bess: Do you feel like this album touches base on recent events you've endured?

David Banner: Hell naw! I think that was part of my problem earlier, I was doing albums for me. This album is straight hits. I'm giving the people what they want to hear. It's not so much of a personal album because I went through hell last year and I don't want people to feel the way I felt [last year]. I'm more focusing on giving hits.

Andrew Bess: On a different subject, what's up with your acting career? What are you future plans?

David Banner: Yeah, I'm gearing up for my fourth movie. I'm constantly working and trying to take my acting career to the next level. To be honest with you, that's what I want to do with the rest of my life. I love acting. It's creative and it's so far away from David Banner. I don't want to play a rapper, that's already my act. I got a Christmas movie coming out soon. It's a family movie so it's something to look for.

Andrew Bess: But back to the album, how does this compare to your previous efforts? What is this album bringing to the table?

David Banner: To be honest wit cha brah, I want this album to be like a southern 'Chronic.' I wanted it to be quality. Most the time when you get a rap album there might be 3-4 songs on there. But that's not the case with my album. The interludes on my album are better than most people's singles. I stepped it up lyrically too. It's all hits.

Andrew Bess: You had some rock sounds on your last album. What was that about and do you follow that on this new album?

David Banner: If I had my choice, I would much rather do rock music. I try to slowly move it in on my album. I have a track that I think will shake a lot of people up.

Andrew Bess: Who's featured on the album?

David Banner: You got your calculator out? I want you to count how many features we got. I got Chris Brown, Akon, Lil Wayne, Snoop, Billionaires, Carl Thomas, UGK, Young Joc, and Jim Jones. I should just stop right there it might be an overload.

Andrew Bess: Along with you producing, who else gets behind the boards on this album?

David Banner: Cool and Dre, Akon, Diddy and Nitti.

Andrew Bess: Besides your album, do you have any other projects coming up in the future?

David Banner: Yeah, basically everyone I just named. [Producing songs for] Jim Jones, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, T.I., and Shop Boyz next single.

Andrew Bess: What can fans expect from you in the years to come?

David Banner: I just hope fans really go out there and support this album. But I'm working on a cartoon with the Cartoon Network on adult swim and the soundtrack for that as well. Kids SHOULD NOT watch my cartoon [laughs]. Also thanks for the love and support of all my fans. Be sure to check me out at myspace.com/davidbanner