On September 25, 2007, David Banner testified in congress in a hearing about African American Media Stereotypes[[1], which was aired nationally on C-Span 2.





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Very well said!

However I doubt he wrote that speech himself.

And even more important than how much he was right, he still needs to face the facts that his "lyrics" are no less harmful than Mark Twains "lyrics" and use of other profanities. His is actually MUCH WORST because little Black children (because of the color of his skin) value his ideas much more than a Mark Twain or Don Imus.

First of all you're assuming that he's not smart enough to have written that speech.

He holds bachelor's degree and was in a master's program at U of Maryland....not sure whether he completed it but I think he did.

Regardless of his educational credentials...sounds weird to hear Black person assume another Black person is unintelligent.....Elitism is corny....
Besides book smarts..Banner is incredibly articulate.


I respect the second part of what you wrote.....

It does not matter what color you are. When you are constantly saying unintelligent things, people ASSUME that you are ignorant. Come on now. Its not like he's making CD's about ways to reform America's health care system. He's telling Al Sharpton to "suck my dick!"

The back and forth between David Banner and Rev. Al.....was about much more than that comment.

Banner appeared on several news outlets responding to Al's crtiticism by pointing out what he felt were the Rev's shortcomings as a leader(adn Al's generation's influence on today's youth and the music). The sound byte you picked up on was just a small part of it.

as far as his music...he's one of the few artists who allows himself to be a 3 dimensional person in his music....he'll talk about issues of faith. lust, ambition, regret,etc..Real human things....not caricatures. A person's mood and location on Sunday morning isn't the same as on Friday night or wednesday morning..His music reflects that.

dthothej, its almost impossible to reason with you on issues that have anything to do with rap music because you are such an avid supporter. You'll find any reason - even if its quoting one line about Jesus in a song about pimping hoes and robbing people for money- as citation for why rap music is positive.

DtotheJ, here's your man David Banner again in the media convincing people just how ignorant he really is:

David Banner (who is not afraid to speak his mind) had something to say about T.I. and his bodyguard snitchin’ situation:

“Tip was feeding this man’s family. We don’t do it like that, dog. We don’t talk to them boys. However it went down, we sit down [and do the jail time,] where I’m from. Dude, you don’t tell it. You hope the people you holding down is man enough to hold your people down. [The bodyguards] wasn’t a convicted felon, starmy dude. He could have held [Tip] down. We gotta start making the environment in our neighborhoods not conducive to snitching. How I’m doing this song, I’mma make it uncomfortable for snitches.”

Bossip » Archive » davidbanner3.jpg

GirlFrom the NC,


What is your point, exactly?

Are you gonna keep doing google searches until you dig up a comment/action of DB's that I disagree with?

I hear his point about the licensed professional bodyguard who was buying unregistered guns for his client and then turned informant on him.

I don't like the way the story went down, but I don't agree with Banner on this.....there's no way you could reasonably expect a stranger to take the weight for crime you had them do for you. Even though the bodyguard knew he was breaking the law ....only fool would think he would not tell on TI.....the setting up part kind of shocked me...but not completely...


There it is,GFTNC

I disagreed with an artist whose music I like....

The point is my Americanize Haitian David Banner nor his music is worth a shit, and most of us AA's are tired of having idiots shoved down our throats- especially by people who aren't even in our community in the first place. And to be even more exact I'm tried of your self hating Haitian ass always on the forum PRETENDING that you are AA trying to speak for AA people! I AM AFRO-AMERICAN FOOL AND YOU ARE NOT. So that means my opinion is what matters and your's ain't worth shit! If you like David Banner so damn bad then you let YOUR HAITIAN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY listen to his music and go make HIM an icon to HAITIANS.

GirlfromtheNC.... I'm not and never have been a fan of David Banner, I've heard his lyrics and he was for me the worse of the worse.... I was shocked therefore to now learn watching his testimoney that he ACTUALLY went to college [university for us in the UK] that shocked me because i never would have guessed it by the the tone of the lyrics...

However that said having heard the man speak, I must now in all honesty review my opinion of him, which wasn't much to begin with... The arguement he presented is interesting and makes many valid points that cannot be denied... Where he fell down if you listened carefully was at the back end of his well articulated speech... You cannot justify the N word and his attempt to do so was pathetic, however he was at least honest in saying that he was now MAKING MONEY from the word and did not pretend as other have done, that it is to argue reclamation of the word is somehow acceptable.. thats where i get p.issed with artist who use the word and then try to pass it off as STREET so its ok...its not..

David Banner also made the a very good point in comparing and contrasting how Hip hop is blamed in insolation, when other art forms get a free pass, he has a point and he is right to make it... He also makes the very good point that hip hop is reflective of a sick america, an America that promotes negativity he is right to highlight that this is what sells....again that cannot be denied...

However where he is wrong and he convienently dodges the bullet, is this simple fact, if his music was confined to JUST America..he would be safe in his worldview the fact is that i write from the UK, and his music his heard worldwide out of its natural context...and taken literally my many others out of its context and interpreted and internalised out of context this is a concern and a responsiblity he must share..

The fact is the culture fostered by people like him outside of the USA is negative and hugely damaging... He cannot therefore use the artist defence, the America is sick defence or the corperate America defence to abidicate his responsibility in contributed to that problem...

This is where the man's arguments fails to hold water...

Why is it that WHENEVER YOU ASK A hip-hop artist about their actions in hip-hop they NEVER EVER own up to their actions... they always start pointing the finger at other influences and organisations.. these hip-hop artist NEVER give a straight forward answer for their OWN actions... they never admit that what they say is wrong, they never admit it's degrading... they always act as if the 'parental guidance' sticker is strictly abided too and start blameing it on the parents... they NEVER OWN UP TO THIER OWN ACTIONS and it shows how they don't care about the black community because that is primarily where the influence is going... they talk about parents not observing their children but yet they come from the same background where it wasn't easy for parents to always be around when they had to work to support the family.. THEY DO NOT give a flying fukk... they point the finger at other institutions and influences and never admit their actions are wrong... a real man will stand up and admit his responsibilities... they talk about Hollywood and yes that is an issue but at the same time, hip-hop is right out there flooding the community with it's own ills and they NEVER ADMIT THAT .... They will not and never take responsibility for their actions at all

Case in point....to a point made on another thread.... did you Lilsoulful BOTHER to listen/watch the WHOLE debate on hip hop..before you went off on your likkle serve serving tirade..come on now truth did you?