BLACK SNAKE MOAN An Interview with David Banner
By Wilson Morales

If you are the film world, the name David Banner may be familiar to you because of the comic book character that was brought to the big screen in “The Hulk”, but for others, David Banner is not a character, but a real person, born Levell Crump who’s also a rapper from the South (Jackson, Mississippi). Through his rap music, he talks about many issues from sex to religion to politics. Like many rappers before him, David is expanding his talents and entering the film business, and unlike others, Banner has been preparing for this transition for some time. His first role is in the film directed by another guy from the South, Craig Brewer. Brewer, whose last film, “Hustle and Flow” featured the Oscar winning song, from Three 6 Mafia, put Banner in his next film, Black Snake Moan”. In speaking with blackfilm.com, Banner goes over his character, his desire to become an actor, and what lies ahead for him.

What role do you play in the film?

David Banner: I play Tehronne in the film, a person who takes advantage of Christina Ricci’s character’s sickness, which is nympho, but doesn’t necessary takes advantage of her. He hit her, but everyone else beats on her and treats her like trash besides Ronnie, played but Justin Timberlake. He’s the only person in town that she can talk to and understands her and her condition. She’s not just a slut. She’s got problems.

How did you get the role?

DB: Perseverance. I found out about it. Tried out, tried out and tried out. I stopped doing rap and everything and concentrated on that role and got it.

Craig Brewer also mentioned that one of the reasons he cast you was because he wanted to add some folks from the South in his film and you’re from the South.

DB: It’s funny because I hear that from a lot of people; that I embody the qualities of the South, both good and bad. I would like to think I got it because I’m a half way decent actor. Regardless of what the reason is, the chemistry between me and Craig is cool because I think what Craig is doing is bigger that what he understands. In order for a Southern movement to be solidified, you have to be understood both sonically and visually. The West coast was finally solidified once you were able to see “Colors” and “Boyz N The Hood” and “South Central”. A lot of stuff we talk about in our music you don’t understand until you see it. We didn’t understand the situation between the Crips and Bloods until we saw a glimpse of it on film. There are movies that show the pain and the struggle, but they also show the love and the happiness, and it finally gives people something to grasp on.

Outside of the music videos that you have done, had you done any acting before?

DB: What happened is that I always wanted to be an actor. From my first hit, I had flying myself to LA to get lessons. I had always been in acting school because the one thing I always heard was that rappers were getting opportunities without being properly trained and without really deserving the part and that’s something that I didn’t want to do. I actually turned down several films. When I thought I was ready I wasn’t quite ready, but it was a blessing that Sam Jackson decided to be my acting coach. He helped me through the whole process.

What do you think your fans will say when they first see you on screen with Christina?

DB: They will go, “Yeah dawg, do it for the hood! Bring it on!”(Laughs) The one thing I really want to do as actor is that I really want my acting to be away from David Banner. One thing I don’t like is that they want rappers to be actors but yet they don’t give them the opportunity to act. If you put me in a movie and I’m standing in a corner, well, that’s some of us did all our life. That’s not acting to me. I want to play and upper or middle class father who’s struggling to feed his family; similar to what Will Smith’s film, The Pursuit of Happiness, is all about. That’s the only way we will be respected as actors is if you give the opportunity to act. No matter what people say, it’s a struggle to get those sort of roles.

A role in “Black Snake Moan” is different from your persona. When your fans see you in this film, they won’t see anything different from what you sing about?

DB: When I saw “Ray”, I didn’t see Jamie Foxx. I actually thought I was seeing Ray Charles. That’s what I want to be. When I told someone that I really became an actor is the day I stopped seeing the cameras. I don’t see the cameras anymore. I understand where they are in relation to what I have to do but I become a part of the role and really become that person, it’s when I knew that this is what I want to do for a long time.

What’s going on with David Banner in the music world?

DB: I can honestly say that being an actor has made a better rapper now. It’s because I don’t have to rap anymore. I want to rap. I have cartoons now. I’m working on my third movie. I’m a producer for Chris Brown, Lil’ Wayne, Snoop Dogg; so now when I’m doing my album, I’m putting everything into it and they can’t rush me. You can’t flash a million dollars in my face and expect me to jump.

Do you think there is lifespan for a rapper? Once the money is made and some of you have moved into finer places, is there anything left to rap about that’s still real and present in your life?

DB: Well, I think that’s a better question to ask other rappers. If you have listened to David Banner, my scope and my range that I talk about goes from struggles in the hood to God to politics. People know that I’m not just talking about dope, pimping, guns, religion, or politics. A lot of times my records contradict each other and what I try to get people to understand is that life is direct contradiction. You go out partying on Saturday, and then you are still smelling like Hennessey while in church on Sunday. In saying that, we have to be honest with each other and allow people to live vicariously through your life and get them to understand that they are not the only ones going through these things. That’s what I try to do with my music and that’s what has given me longevity. One thing I can thank God for and I thought I would never say this – I’m actually glad that I didn’t super, super blow up and the reason is when you blow up like that you don’t have room for growth. I’m constantly going up and getting better. I’m constantly expanding. The fact that I didn’t super blow up, people don’t look at me as a character. You come into the acting doing whatever you want to do. Now, I’m actually able to take all of this as if I’m starting new. It’s a blessed situation.

How big do you want your next album to be?

DB: What I can say about this album and I don’t want to jinx it, but since my first album, I haven’t had the opportunity to take time, because after your first album, everybody is rushing you, and you can’t tell a full story if you haven’t lived it yet. This is the first time that I had in-between 5 months of an album. It’s been a year and some change since I put up a record now. When I first came out, I had 2 albums out in one year. Now, I’ve given people a chance to miss me and I think that’s a cool. It’s the first time in my career, people from all over the states are waiting for new music from me. It’s probably the best situation I’ve been in.