BANNER ON BALANCE
David Banner – “Cadillacs On 22’s (Acoustic)“
from ??
T.I. – “Still Ain’t Forgave Myself“
from I’m Serious (Arista, 2001)
HipHopDx: I definitely understand what you’re saying, about the balance. That balance is there with you, but it doesn’t seem to be there in the music industry—
David Banner: I disagree. I think that the music is there. When I listen to T.I., I hear those songs. [imitating T.I.] “I can’t forgive myself.†I hear it in Jeezy, I hear it in Snoop, I hear it in Scarface, I hear it in Too Short. Too Short said something that was so monumental. He said, “I did songs about the ghetto, I did songs about uplifting people. But all America remembers is ‘Biiitch’!†Snoop made a song about Tookie [Williams]. Nobody pumped that, nobody really embraced that song. The truth is that it’s there. It was easier for Pac, because Pac was coming right out of the Public Enemy movement, he was right after that movement so he could slide it in. But the truth is, America doesn’t want it. I put out “Cadillac on 22’s†[as a single] did people gravitate toward that? No! The truth is, these artists have it in their songs. But most people don’t do it; an artists’ thing is to gravitate toward [customers]. People don’t criticize McDonald’s for putting out unhealthy Big Macs, because that’s what America wants. Truth is, you can tell rappers to start making it, and when they break, you aren’t going to help them. If I kept doing [songs like] “Cadillac On 22’s,†I wouldn’t be talking to you now. They’d be wanting to hear “Play.†As much as people talk their shit, they want it. So you’re going to give it to them, just like McDonald’s continues to give you those greasy-ass fries, and you’re going to keep eating them. People said that Oprah, at her last party, talked [negatively] a lot about rap. But as soon as 50 Cent’s song came on, she was shaking her ass. We know the truth. It is what it is.
July 9th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
yea, he makes a good point, but i still do not buy that as an excuse. you sort of touched on this in on of your xxl posts some time ago about all the unnecessary boasting and how it’s related to a American idea of bigger is better/ whopper with a super frosty life. yea they have to eat, but if people are not responding to “cadillac on 22’s,” is it because people don’t want to be uplifted or because the beat (as i recall, and listening, i remember) is ass? rappers need to stop turning to solely to strings and r/b singers when the want to talk about “real life.” as chris rock said in rolling stone, people like ignorant beats, so why can’t T.I. et al. do a song with a beat like “what you know” or something that, you know, MOVES you. that is not to say songs that use a laid back vibe will always fail, but if these guys know the music market is driven by dancing (people don’t care what the lyrics in, on the whole, even at a place like Swarthmore College), why not just say what they really want and leak the song out to us nerds? that’s the only way they get buzz now anyway? whatever, i am tired of this lame and lazy argument put forth by people who i side with. step your intellectual sophistication game up, rap nerds.
oh, and T.I. sure sounds different back then in terms of writing style. when did this “leap” occur exactly? it sure wasn’t “24’s.”
July 10th, 2007 at 7:48 am
that version of “Cadillac on 22s” is reeeeal nice.
sincerely,
mississippi till the day that i die
July 10th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Banner speaks the truth.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:16 am
bding – i understand what you’re getting at, but I think it’s also the responsibility of the artist for the tone of a track to reflect the subject matter.
unless you are suggesting socially and politically charged dance crazes. i am all for “pop lock and malcolm.”
July 10th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
1.) I don’t count 2 or 3 “introspective, remorseful thug” joints as balance. These songs are just as uncreative as the typical videogame coon shit.
2.) For most people, the message is irrelevant. When PE still meant something to black rap fans, they were popular on the strength of their dope music (and to a lesser extent their image). dead prez’ “hip hop” still gets burn because of the beat, not their confused politics. If it’s true that most people don’t care about such messages, why worry about them at all? I would be happy (or happier at least) if rappers just put out albums full of good beats and good rapping, but they can’t even get that shit right.
I have a serious problem with people expecting rap, or music, TV, etc. to uplift anyone, though.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
what did public enemy use to say…
“food for the brain, beats for the feet”
July 11th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Speaking of triple stacks, I copped Gucci Mane ‘ Hard To Kill’ and Noz…wow I think you missed out on some fire with that one. Truly entertaining, I see why Jeezy had to borrow the swag
July 12th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I call bullshit. I like what Banner stands for, but give me a fuckin break. Balance? There won’t be balance until we get rid of the misogyny, exploitation, and ignorance. Can we really take any sentimental tune or reflection from Snoop or T.I. seriously, given their violent approach or treatment of women? Sorry Banner, I don’t give a damn if you or anyone else is “misunderstood.” Join Linkin Park for fuck’s sake.
July 13th, 2007 at 1:17 am
“There won’t be balance until we get rid of the misogyny, exploitation, and ignorance.”
But if we did that what would be left to preach about?
July 14th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
noz- to get back to your point about socially/politically charged dances, at some weird level, i would not mind all that much, even though i personally hate to dance. but, like eauhellzgnaw, i just want rappers to do their job well first so that people enjoy the total package presented and not try to salvage only little bits and pieces.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I’m not trying to be Sage Francis up in here, don’t get me wrong. If you are contributing to greater societal problems, that’s how people will remember you. let’s not cry about it.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
blah
July 16th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
What is the greater societal problem in question?
August 6th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
For the record, I’m pretty sure people do criticize McDonald’s for putting out unhealthy Big Macs. I think I saw a movie about it.