Club Shay Shay - Club Shay Shay - David Banner part 2

Episode Date: June 18, 2025

Welcome back to part 2 of our conversation with David Banner!   In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Club Shay Shay, Shannon Sharpe sits down with Grammy-nominated rapper, producer, actor, and cultural thought leader David Banner for a raw, vulnerable, and wide-ranging conversation. From his roots in Jackson, Mississippi, to his rise as a pioneer of Southern hip-hop and a visionary in media and activism, Banner opens up like never before. From selling mixtapes at Kroger’s to producing hits for T.I., Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Maroon 5, and more, Banner recounts his rise in the music industry and the painful realization that fame isn’t what it seems. He reflects on how hip-hop wasn’t just an escape, but an education and empowerment. Inspired by Brand Nubian and The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Banner stopped eating pork in the 8th grade and began a lifelong journey toward purpose and spiritual grounding. “Rap taught me something,” he says, recalling how music, and later, therapy, helped him confront childhood trauma, grief, and the weight of being a voice for the people. Banner speaks candidly about battling depression, the heartbreak of the music industry, and the painful realization that fame is often a lie. “I loved music, and music broke my heart,” he admits. But instead of folding, he evolved. Now the CEO of Banner Vision, he’s produced campaigns for Gatorade, Disney, Marvel, and acting in films —playing a god in an upcoming superhero movie. His mission? Use his platform to rebuild what the industry won’t. He opens up about his faith, his genius-level reading skills as a child, and how Samuel L. Jackson gave him life-changing acting lessons on the set of Black Snake Moan. He reflects on his HBCU experience at Southern University, corporate racism, tough conversations, politics, and even why he built his grandmother a house as the first thing he did with his music money. From deep conversations with Erykah Badu and LL Cool J, to producing "Rubberband Man" and learning from Jay-Z, to giving insight on Nelly’s “Tip Drill” and the truth about how money is made in music, this episode is a masterclass in growth, purpose, and legacy. He challenges peers to invest in their communities: “I invest in me. I put my money back into what I stand for.” He shares wisdom passed down from his father and lessons from losing friends to gang violence. The conversation digs deep into spirituality, accountability, masculinity, and systemic racism in both America and corporate culture. Banner pulls no punches: “Hollywood is no different from America. The police just took the hoods off.” He urges honesty in our communities and calls for an end to performative shock when abusers or injustices come to light. In one of the most moving moments, Banner opens up about being tired, not just physically, but emotionally, from pouring so much into Black culture.He honors his hero, Ice Cube, and praises Ryan Coogler and the movie Sinners for reconnecting African Americans with lost spirituality, and celebrates Shannon Sharpe for defying the odds and doing it his way. “You’re the only one who did it the way you did. You showed the world what country really means.” As the episode closes, Banner leaves us with this charge: “Just shoot it. Keep clicking, keep believing. God conspires with those who believe.” Whether he’s talking to LL Cool J, scoring for T.I., or building legacy from the South to the screen, David Banner is proof that faith, fight, and freedom are the true measures of success. This is an episode that you don’t want to miss! #volumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Buy runs in the family wherever books are sold. Thank you for coming back. Part two is underway. Samuel told you that you were terrible. No, but I'm asking you what was the question. I was going there for a reason. I'm trying to you great content. Shana. Help me. I'm drunk fight night on peacock What was your question that made me go there though you know, we was riffing at the time, you know

You remember the question do you? This means that this is great shey shey, 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, because sometimes we hide behind gratitude and all 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. Tip tell me that all the time, bro. Period. Everybody good or bad. Tip telling 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, 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 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 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 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. Ask your fans. The females. Shannon, don't be afraid of this, bro. It has just happened. You gotta get back. Don't lose that. With it. Bro, just, you know who you are.. You gotta get back, don't lose that. What?

Bro, just check, you know who you are. Come on, you clear? Yeah. Don't lose that. Absolutely. Yeah. All right, just know it. The song, Like A Pimp.

Mm-hmm. Tyrese. Hold on, wait, you came straight from what I just said to Like A Pimp? Yeah. Did you do that on purpose or was it just serendipity? Serendipity. Okay, then.

See, that's a humble man. He did that on purpose. He's a serendipity? Serendipity. Okay then. See that's a humble man, he did that on purpose, he's a genius, go ahead, I'm listening. With Like A Pimp, Tyree said that song did for you with a Coca-Cola commercial, did for him. It opened a 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 then you know, people call you, we gon' get to how people call you and wanna sample your songs. Like a pimp. Bro, Tyrese is a slick b****, bro. I saw him right before on the plane before that interview. 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 no's 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 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'd 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 this highfalutin' political person. And really, Shannon, you are a great example of that. They just run and it goes back to something you love so much. They just really want to fatten the pig, put a slaughter. They don't really love you.

They 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, excuse me, I know you don't want me to say this, but I tell my PR team this, sometimes I fuck up on purpose. I'd rather fuck up in 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 mothers see that shit. Our children see that shit, bro.

And that shit hurt. And a lot of times we're not enough men, we're not men enough to admit that that shit didn't feel good. Bro, there was somebody, man, and I'ma say this because 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 want to be clear, and I want her to know that she hurt my feelings. Because 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. Shit wasn't cool though. And that shit 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 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 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 had 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. Because, bro, to be honest with you, we got an opportunity, 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 a 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 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. Beyoncé incorporated like a pimp to Cowboy Cartatory.

Let me ask you this. When someone's... And I've had... I've had two chains. I've had LLL I had a couple of guys a couple of people on it's like when people say I'm like well how do you do? 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 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.

Y'all think I'm joking but I really did call LL. I was like, hey bro, like cuz I'm used to street shit. I'm like, bro this sexy shit is actually cool. And we had a whole... and he actually, bro me and I'll tell you brought I think he cooled this bro He told me he said better It 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 gonna 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 they have to play it for you, play what they're going to do over your track? Yes. Or do you like, okay, cool, send the check? If you just send the check, then you saw your soul. What I try not to do is judge children, because our parents judged us, but it's just certain shit that I don't want you

to say over my music. 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. See, when people hear the word soul out,

bro, if you would do anything for money, you soul your soul. 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 just becoming the second highest grossest thing, grossing thing in my life, man. And that's just a testament, shit.

Right. 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, I always wondered, like, why did you put that song out after like a pimp? You could have put another like a pimp out and just will right I prayed to God, bro 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 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, God, I know that we pimp. God, I know that we wrong. God, I know I should talk about more than all of my songs. I know these kids are listening. I know I'm here for a mission, but it's hard to get them in 22s rhythm to listen. Cadillac's on 22s. I ain't did nothing in my life but stay true.

Pimp my voice and mack 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.

I wanna know, what about that music? Cause everybody say ain't what money in music? Because everybody say, ain't no money in music no more. Is it in writing? Is it producing? Is it, what is it? What money is it? 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 Shani, you don't want to talk about this shit, bro, and I'll be trying to be kind because 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. Got to. Bro, man man so put

your own stuff out create your own stuff fans are looking for fans will listen to you bro are they afraid because it's easy it's easier somebody go cut me a check because you have to look at it are you talent I cut you a check or are you in my situation, this is me. All right, watch this. You gonna answer the question for me? Yeah. 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, 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 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. 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. It's always quick. You can be talent, you can be owner. But even from a tax perspective, bruh, CeeLo tried to warn us. CeeLo said, that little money be gone.

Didn't he? Yeah. Didn't he? 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. And 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 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 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 in the 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, because 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, 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. We appreciate you coming. You produced for Lil Wayne, T.I., Chris Brown, Maroon 5, Quincy Jones, Snoop Dogg, Pimp C, Luda. Hold on, man. How you just gonna go past Quincy Jones like that?

Help me out, Shannon, say Quincy Jones again. Quincy Jones? Didn't he do Thriller for Michael? Man, he was Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles. Talk that shit! Man, when it comes to, I mean, there are a lot of producers out there, but it's hard to be-

Ain't too many people on this planet producers for Quincy Jones. That's what I said, I said, if we were to do a versus, who would we put against Quincy? Man, I heard somebody talking that shit, bro, like, to even think you worthy of that. The shit that Quincy Jones has done, bro.

Now, he got his range, he got too much of a range in between. Yeah, from classical music, bro, to scoring movies. Most people don't know history. TV shows. Yeah. Sanford and Son of God. Sanford, yeah, talk that shit.

Yeah. You better stop playing with that now. But what I will say, man, is that me and Warren Campbell, you should go to this church, Warren Campbell. But 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, 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 Cote Boumaier. And this dude is much younger than me, but this dude is, bro, he's way beyond his age. He talks like our grandparent, like your grandparent. 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 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.

But I believe, because you in sports I don't believe in being humble if it's stats If Jordan told you he has six rings, is that popping or capping? That's factual. It's stats. Absolutely. I am great. I Just hate that my people don't know how great I am It hurt it hurts bro cuz 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 there wasn't 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, 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, 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, because somebody on your staff knows a mutual friend, Billy Hume, who ran it with white guy, bro. Celtic white guy, bro, who bonked, like, fuck Lil Jon.

A lot of us, bro, we went through his studio. 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 was still renting cars, frontin'. Go buy you somewhere to stay, man.

Get you some clothes. you made it, dog. And I was just standing there, bro, and mumbling. Like, I couldn't stop. Bro, they teach us, bro, to work. Like, we will correlate our success with how hard we work, like slaves, dog. We gotta learn how to think. We gotta learn how to think. We gotta learn how to set up systems.

But you ain't gotta be here every day no more. But we're addicted to that feeling, bro. We've been trained in that trauma, bro. And it's the hardest thing for me, bro. I really thank God put me in Mississippi for that reason, bro. I think I had this bully body, bro. Like I was, I didn't get this body, bro. I really think God put me in Mississippi for that reason, bro. I think I had this bully body, bro. Like I was, 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'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. That'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 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 Dogg too?

Snoop D, yeah, you got Snoop 2 Chainz, 8Kon. But if you look at it, okay, you got Lil Wayne, TI, but you got Maroon 5. Maroon 5 and TI and Lil Wayne ain't the same. And then you got Q, and then you got Neo. Yeah. Well, me and T.I. 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 time. So I wasn't able to take advantage. I was even in the video.

But T.I. is the person who allowed me to be a million dollar producer. Like Rubberband 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.

T.I. called up to Hot in Atlanta and said, don't touch my music. That boy work hard. Because the reason why I put my tag on my beat, bro, and I think this is- So what are the tag? Tag is like when you put your name before the beat. OK.

You know what I'm saying? Like David, David, David Benner. The only reason why I did that is- So what are the tag? Tag is like when you put your name before the beat. Okay. You know what I'm saying? Like David, 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 play it, you did it again. Every time he would say their name, they could charge $10,000 extra, right? Okay.

Southern rappers hit their producers. Like bro, like it hurts me to this day. KLC from Beats by the Pound, as big as No Limit was. 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 is big as Timbaland and Pharrell, 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 gonna let a f***ing f***ing look over me. I'm gonna put my own name before my beat. And bro, it got so hot at one time, bro, and people don't even give me credit for that. 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, 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 a 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 T.I. 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 n****s did that shit, bro, to be cool, cause it was the woke moment. T.I. did that shit and put his career on the line, bro. When he first came out 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. He told them, I thought, 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'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, I'm serious, dog.

That's how I feel now. Like, why in the am I getting depressed? Hey, dog, the shit we used to do, what the? What this shit is, Femance? Right. You know, and I'm just grateful, man, that me and him still friends. Right.

And that I called, bruh, it 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 Otto 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. What Trump can say to a dumb as shit on this planet? White folks gonna protect him. 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 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 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 folks don't care about me. Understand that. Because if they did that to Jesus, what you think they'd 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've stepped up more. 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 and NBA players, 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 don't 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 would say, I know. Well, how the fuck you know? You know, 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 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. It's the craziest thing for me as an entertainer, dude. Even from a woman perspective, I remember when I made play, 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. Bruh, I never talked to that. That was hard for me to deal with. Like, I'm not used to it. 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. Because 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, dog. From the country, too. He dealt with that shit alone. So however it was, bro. 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. So 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 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. Wow. You mentioned Nelly's tip drill. When you first heard that song, do you know like when you hear a beat? Mm-hmm. 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'd have kept it for myself, right. 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 it. 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. 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 made 10 beats, four of them dope. But like that's just part of it, you just gotta keep making it. Right. You know, but no 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. Because you gotta think, when you make a beat for an artist, the only thing you can go off of is what you heard from him. Right. But if they're really an artist, they 10 years ahead of that now. 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. And Nelly was the only one, bro. Every beat I sent to Nelly, he got on that. And I don't wanna talk about it because some things are not meant to talk about, but I never really got into petty shit. Like, bro, I don't watch the news. As smart as I am, people will be surprised. News is depressing.

I don't get into people's beef unless we grew up together. I'm trying to bring the community together. Right, I ain't have an opinion on that. 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 want to hear that shit. I fucked that motherfucker, bro.

Right. You know, and I just got caught that shit. I fucked that motherfucker, bro. Right. You know, and I just got caught off into a lot of that shit, shit. KMC said you looked out for his family when he went in. You don't mind with me. Why did you do it and what did you do? I don't know what I did.

It was so long ago. Why'd you do it? I don't know. You don't know why you did it? No, just let me ask you. If you really led by the spirit, it ain't your business. Just do what you're told. All I knew was that Pimp C's voice changed my life.

I don't give a f*** how dope like a pimp beat was. People were attracted to it. Make them guzz get down on the flow, on the flow. Like bro, I sampled that man's 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 bless 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 still Snoop. 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 L. 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 know one 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 still gotta stay up,

but I gotta also realize that these are people that I look up to and love and respect too. You worked 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 here he's probably in his 40s now. So he's been at this thing for a minute. What is... I mean, and I think, I still think Wayne, when they talk about goats, the way he can put words together,

he's, I mean, what is it like watching him create a masterpiece? 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 Eric Obaidu 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. I can't imagine a focused Lil Wayne

who has to still listen to somebody. You gotta think Lil Wayne ain't gotta listen to nobody no more. No producer, no engine, nobody. But there's a certain, think about Eminem with Dr. Dre. Yeah. You say whatever you wanna say, but when he with Dr. Dre, it's special.

Yeah. 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. I think you got an album out now. Oh, it's coming out. It's coming out in and out, yeah. Okay. But I will tell you something, bro, that I don't think I, I don't know if I said this anywhere, 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, because 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. But it was Wayne, so I didn't really give a shit. Put that shit out, Wayne, because if Wayne do one of your beats-

They gonna ask who's Wayne, who you gonna beat for? Yeah, and they're gonna pay you because you produced it. So I never tripped Wayne could do whatever the fuck 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 going to have a spot on everything on Young Money, but I can promise you

that I'll 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, with light of blood, put his head in the speaker and asked me to play all my beats. Not to sell them, but because he was a fan of my production.

I don't give a f*** about it, bro. Just play the music, bro. And I just wish that we could all make music again, man. I've been talking about this a lot because I want people to know that it ain all make music again, man. Like, I've been talking about this a lot because I want people to know that it ain't about music. The last thing I produced for T.I. 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. Because bro, if we do what we do, naturally the money coming. You got AI and all that stuff, the thing that you can't replicate is, bro, Bro, if we do what we do, naturally the money coming. 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 that it couldn't take away from us is our spirit and our soul. We still got that, Shani. Right. And like Wayne, bro, Wayne is special, bro. Oh yeah.

He is special, man. And I just wish, like Chris Brown, bro, that we'll just get back in and fuck 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, bro.

And Wayne got that. Wayne really love music, bro. Really, really loves music, bro. There's another artist I wanna shout out, cause when I was thinking about Wayne, I thought about him. Devin the Dude, in Houston Houston, I work with him. He reminds me of that Fiend from New Orleans.

Remind me of that, bro. That people who just dropping them zones, bro, and they love music so much that everything else melts away. 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 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, because to be real, Jill does seven songs in one session. Wow. You just got to 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 it as much of it out as you possibly can. But there ain't much producing Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Jill Scott. They're geniuses. Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Idris Elba, Regina King, Loretta Devine, Lawrence

Fitchburn, Taye Diggs, Forrest Whitaker, Boris Kojo, Oprah, Cooper Gooding Jr., Don Cheadle, Taraji, Queen Latifah. What is the most fun you've had on the set? Or each of those individuals that I read off bring a different banner out? No. So let me tell you this. 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 that I didn't enjoy this shit, bro. Like think about having a football, bro, you never throw that because you scared somebody

going to 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 to just be real with you, bro.

Like, most of the stuff I go through, I ain't got nobody to call. Like, ain't nobody ever done no shit that I done from where I'm from, bro. I just got to the point where I can call Samuel L. Jackson this year, bro. And people don't understand the pressure. It's easy to do some dumb thug shit. 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. 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 then 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're gonna figure out a way to make that shit happen. Fuck that. And bro, I never really had a chance to talk about this, bro, that shit fried me, bro. That's a lot.

Because I was starring, I'm a star in family business. 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,

I can't talk to my friends about acting in front of Samuel L. Jackson, bro. Right. You know? And so, it just, but I'ma tell you this, bro. Samuel L. Jackson, he relieved me of that, bro. After I got done with Fight Night, man, Samuel L. Jackson, I went to him and I was like, because I really didn't talk to him, because I didn't really want to be all up under him if I didn't make him proud.

And Samuel L. Jackson said the dopest shit ever. He said, man, stop that shit, man. 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 Erika Badu used to tell me that all the time. She used to always say this, it was strange, because you know she float. She always say, we waiting on you, Mr. Banner. People are waiting on you to see the God in you. And I never did, bruh, until recently.

Wow. Yeah. Right along with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. K-Heart shot you. Cube interrogated you. What's it like to be on with Kev? Can I just imagine? I've been around him a little bit and talked to Cube, had Cube on here.

What's it like to be on the set with Kevin Hart? Can I take one of these home? You sure can. Okay, thank you. I wanna 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.

Like, bro, like he inspired me, bro. Yeah, he were, he were, I mean. Like, to be honest with. Like bro, like he inspired me, bro. Yeah, he were, he were. 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, cause he not from the South, but he doing a Southern film. Bro, he wake up every morning, bro, at 430 and workout. Bro, I'm not playing about this workout shit, bro. I ain't lying, bro. I saw Kevin Hart back.

There ain't no way no mucks. I want to say it the way, there ain't no motherfucker go out do me, bro. Right. If you don't play no sports. Right. I'm dead serious. When y'all see my back, that was because of Kevin Hart. That motherfucker look like he had a backpack.

Motherfucker, you ain't gonna outdo me. And I got more time than you. But Kevin Hart, man, he worked 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's- How can you not? Cause people are like, 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-

How do you ever notice 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 worked hard, man. Kevin, man, and I was inspired when we did 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 worked, like Shannon, I bust my ass all the time, bro. I always wanted to have children. Again, I, bro. I always wanted to have children. Again, I tell you that I always wanted to have a family,

but I sacrificed it, 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. But Kevin Hart done this shit for four, five years. 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. I'm cool. Is there an audition you've gone on and you didn't get? Yeah, there's a lot of them. Most of them. That's what people say. People say he chillin' on you and you don't.

Alright, let me change that. There was an audition that I smashed, that I got it, and the director said I looked too young. Damn. And I wouldn't be here in front of you right now. I ain't going to bullshit you. If that would have happened, I wouldn't be here. Right.

I was supposed to be the black guy in Walking Dead. The... The... Cast and 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, because what they did was unacceptable, but it was dope because 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. 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 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. What came back to me, I don't know how true it is that I look too young, but now my friends said, they could have put some gray in your beard

and you got that check. But that was one thing, brother, I always, I don't regret anything because everything is in God light and God power, but I look at how well Walking Dead did. Yeah, and bro what that would have done for me. Oh shit But you never know bro. You some must come they've been dead 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 a preference? How much they paying? So you don't have a preference? I don't give a f***. 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. 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 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 wanna do, Shani. This young man, one of the dopest minds of the younger age, his name is Derrick 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. No. 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're gonna be like, Banner, you can put your not joking. I'm going to be out here with no shirt on. You're going to be like, Bounie, you can put your clothes on though. I'm going to be like, nope. Is there a role that you won't play in a movie?

Yeah, there's a lot of them. 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. That's what I said 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.

We don't even have to go there. Shannon, where you from? I'm from Georgia. Didn't 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? Because 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 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 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 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. What made you start a multimedia production company? Why would you want, why did you want to do that? It 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. 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 gonna 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 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 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 wanna help us do what we wanna 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'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. Other things that come along with that, that's what they don't teach us. Right, true.

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. 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 can 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 and what we say that we believe in and we turn our nose up at, 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 Bryce 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 no black man in the podcast space bro to do the shit that you did the way that you did it broke

bro they thought she 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, 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. 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 redid that 12 times and they still didn't use it. No, they ended up using it. They ended up using it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It is the second biggest Gatorade. I don't know if it still is, second biggest Gatorade commercial in history. Wow. I mean, like you it 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 was like, when I was playing, I don't know, I'd never smell 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, that now, sometimes when I see stuff, I'm like, damn, I did that? I like that.

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 just... Bro, this is really hard we don't see, bro. Like, I just... 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'm gonna 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 did, wasn't that in the Bible? You remember how Jesus did, what you worked for? Yeah, but I mean, it's easy to say that, bro. It is.

But you know, cause you going through. It hurts more. It does. When it comes, like outside saying whatever I can. 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 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. Let's talk. Not even talk. That's what I did with T-Pain. That come on down to the crib, man. Let's talk. 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. He couldn't say nothing to me for an hour. I said, just sit there.

And the motherfucker was sitting there shaking because 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 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 say nobody. It ain't my responsibility, bro. Like that was the hardest thing, bro.

I thought it was my responsibility to say Mississippi. It's not. Do what you can and go to home. Because one thing I actually learned is from the Spider-Man movie. Mississippi. It's not. Do what you can and go to home. Because one thing I actually learned is 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 work, still talk shit about me. No matter how much good I did, still say I ain't never done nothing? Never? Ever? Ever?

That's what you're gonna say to me? I ain't never done nothing? So I realize you just have to have the resolve in yourself to do God's work. Just sit in it and go the fuck home. Because Shannon, no bullshit. I said this two times on your show already, bro. Bro, I always wanted children. I ain't got no wife, bro. You still can have that, baby. Yeah, but I don't.

I don't have it. 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 gotta get to the start line. You sure?

Yes! You might wanna recap the words. No, I'm just saying. You don't wanna run no marathon. No, I'm just saying, Shannon, honestly, bro, it's easy to say it. I used to tell my dad that all the time. 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. 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 f***. All I know how to do is work. He can't show you what he don't know. I never thought about that. Touche. I've never used never thought about that. Touche. I've never used that word. Yeah. Touche, but like I'm serious, Shannon.

Like I don't know what to do. I don't know what that shit look like, honey. 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 mentor is David Moody. He told me this, Shannon, watch this. He said, son.

Say, yes, sir. He said, how many followers you got? Around four 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. 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? Four 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.

Damn, wow. Bars! That's it. Hey, y'all ain't gotta say shit behind the cameras. That was dope. You know that shit was dope. I know that y'all usually don't applaud when a mother-in-law owns Shannon's camera, but y'all can give me a little bit from that.

Come on, yeah, clap your motherfucking ass. White folks too. Yeah, that was it. That was it. Before we wrapped it. How you like that chain, bro? That's a nice chain, right? I ain't gonna bullshit you, bro.

Little something, you know, little something. OK, yeah, just a little lightweight. Yeah, a little something. You rich. You're a mother- 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 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 gonna watch this. Just, family business, New Orleans. You can look at it on Amazon, B2 Plus, 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. When people come after you, folks leave you all by your fucking self, bro. And I want- But it gives you an opportunity though, David, to find out who was always there,

who was really there for the right reasons. 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 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 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, I like, people think I'm joking when I talk about the admiration that I have for black women. But I mean that with all my heart, bro.

I love people that look like my mama. I love people that look like my momma. 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.

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. dying attention and paper too, that you give butt wiser, that you give Hennessy. That's what I want, bro. And if you can't give me what you get, then I'm cool.

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 say, Shannon, your biggest mistake is, is that you see yourself in other people. Bars. You think people, is gonna treat you like you would treat them or like you wouldn't wanna be treated.

He said that's your, she said that is your mistake. Bars. Can't say nothing to that one, bro. David Banner. Hold on, wait, wait, can I do this? I know this has never happened before. Shannon Sharpe. You needed that didn't you?

Yeah. Pass you a quick question before we go. Yeah. Bro, did you enjoy yourself? I did. I really enjoyed it. I did. This felt like therapy, though.

Yeah, it did. This was actually a little spooky to me, bro. And I had 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 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 because I'm a man of discipline. I said how the f*** you get on this platform and have this opportunity and have to piss? And then what I was told is like, that's alright, you him and go piss.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. 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 shey shey. Yeah, we good. Okay, not literally, but you know. Yeah. I been grinding all my life, all my life Been grinding all my life, sacrifice

Possible pay the price, want a slice Got the rolling dice, that's why All my life, I been grinding all my life I'm Michael Kassin, 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 Sood, CEO of 2B. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are 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. 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 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. Buy runs in the family wherever books are sold. This is an iHeart Podcast.