As he hung out on his tour bus with rapper Talib Kweli, David Banner talked to the Avenue about his Friday show at The Venue, hip-hop, politics and life in general. Since the success of his song "Play," Banner said he has been "working hard on the music, enjoying life - trying to get through."
AVE: I know you've been outspoken on hip-hop issues before. As you see it, what's the general status of hip-hop right now?
DB: Number one, hip-hop is survival. Regardless of how good or bad things are, it's something that's important and needs to be acknowledged. They said hip-hop wouldn't last 10 years in the beginning. If you look at the highs and lows of hip-hop, it's almost directly connected with America. Look at what happened to rap sales. They plummeted. But look at what America's economy has done. When America becomes more violent and is at war, what's rap music? When America was ballin' and had money, it's the same thing. Hip-hop's going to go up and down just like the motions of America.
AVE: Is there a "too far" in rap, or should artists have no boundaries?
DB: First off, who has the qualifications to draw that line? My personal feelings are that you should be able say what you want. If anything, there should be a self-check, or a code of ethics amongst ourselves. We shouldn't have to be regulated by the state and government because what's the state's and government's motivation for giving us restrictions? We should be able to say what we need to. Look at this presidential election. It's the biggest beef-war I've seen in my entire life.
AVE: Would you rather be producing songs or performing?
DB: To be honest, I like 'em both. It's a blessing to be doing either one of them. Beats are the way to keep your name out there until you decide to do the other.
AVE: Who's someone you haven't worked with that you'd like to?
DB: Andre Benjamin.
AVE: Whom have you been listening to lately?
DB: Devin the Dude.
AVE: If you had to make that one great biopic, who's David Banner playing?
DB: Hopefully, someone who's still alive and successful … I guess I'll play Obama.
AVE: For someone who's never been at a David Banner show, what can they expect Friday?
DB: I think my show's more of an experience. If there was a thesis that could be written on music and given, I would have to try and embody that. Whether it's rock, gospel, blues … We've even got some country and western in our show.
The Venue doors open at 10 p.m., and tickets are $30. Banner will perform with local Gainesville artists Gemini Soundz, Mr. V and Boogs-Milli.
