David Banner: White Rappers Getting More Lyrical — and We're Mumbling
White rappers are stealing the lyrical crown, while Black rappers are too busy “mumbling.” This is the state of hip hop, as told by David Banner in a VLAD TV interview, discussing his upcoming album, The Gold Box, and more.
As hip hop matures, Banner sees the genre separating from its roots in black culture. “If we don’t do something as a culture hip hop is not gonna be ours anymore," he explained. "People don’t even know that the founders of rock 'n' roll are Black people, we created that sound but now people don’t even connect rock 'n' roll with Black people... and soon they won’t be connecting them with R&B.”
He continued, "In 15 years, Black people might not even be connected with hip hop, so it is up to us. Not just the artists but the fans too, ‘cause if you don’t buy it, it don’t matter. We gotta push hip hop to another level... I’m even watching lyrically, the white boys are getting more and more lyrical, while we basically mumbling."
Banner added that there's a need for Black artists to "reclaim our music" and he discussed how rappers are giving their “power away” by signing to major labels.
For his own album, Banner wants to raise hip hop's sonic and lyrical expectations. His Big K.R.I.T-assisted single, “Uzi,” for example, includes original work from composer John Debney, known for Iron Man, Spider-man, and other big-budgets flicks. “I know this is one of the best hip hop albums ever,” said Banner. “I’m proud of myself.”
Watch the full interview here.
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(Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)
