MADEFEATURE
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definitely reflected that. The things that I once held in
high regard, I couldn’t care less about today. So I had
to make sure this latest project was excellent enough to
transcend the dramatically different tonalities. Much like
a parent raising their first child, despite my fear, I had
to learn to give all that I could and hope that once I set
it out into the world, it would represent me well. I became some kind of monk. I wanted to stay true to
my roots and remind people that I am part of the trap
movement. I also wanted to tie in all of the elements
of my grown manhood. I like to spend time meditating
but I also like to party. I like to praise the intellect of a
woman and I also like to have sex. I wrote that song to
show the dichotomy of an urban sophisticate.
MADE: What was that ‘a-ha’ moment that pulled you
back into music after being away for five years? MADE: How’d you come up with The God Box as the
title for the album?
I BELIEVE THAT IF
YOU FULLY GIVE
INTO THE
UNIVERSE,
IT WON’T
LET YOU FAIL.
- DAVID BANNER
DB: A few years ago, I was scrolling through Twitter
and came across a young man that asked why I had
been away from the industry for so long. He then said,
‘what if I need your music--what if I need to hear the
music more than you need to make it.’ It was at that
moment that I realized I was being selfish while focus-
ing on pulling myself out of depression. My artistry isn’t
just about me.
MADE: When was the moment that made you want to
pull yourself out of your depression?
DB: My spirit was dying. That’s when I said at this
point in my life and career, it’s about doing the things
that make me feel good and will make an impact long
after I’m gone. I have a mentor that introduced me to
transcendental meditation, which truly transformed the
way I looked at life. It forced me to look at life as it
happening. It taught me how to truly practice gratitude.
Essentially, it taught how to feel ok about being happy
again.
DB: I decided to call it that because that name directly
correlated with my life. To be honest with you, when
I found out where God was my life became so much
easier. I panicked less. I lived more. The name just
made sense.
MADE: Your remarks at the recent Revolt Music
Conference about being grateful for Trump sparked
a lot of conversation about how our community is
dealing with the effects of his administration. What did
you mean by that statement?
DB: My people are complaining about Trump, but
America has always been a racist country. I’m actually
grateful that he’s being used as a vessel to fully expose
it and as a result we can rally together to discuss ways
to remedy the divisiveness.
MADE: What are some key takeaways that you hope
listeners will get from the album?
MADE: Let’s circle back to The God Box for a second.
You’ve stated that Cleopatra Jones was one of your
favorite tracks from the album. Why is that
particular song such a standout? DB: We’re all created in the divine image of God and
our lives are a reflection of what we do with that
knowledge. I want them to regard the album as the
piece of art that it is and take that journey to
transcendence with me while listening to it.
When I became outwardly conscious, people thought For more information, visit DavidBanner.com
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