Show Notes
David Banner was one of the most popular MCs and producers of the early aughts, delivering hits for other artists like Trick Daddy’s “Thug Holiday” and T.I.’s “Rubber Band Man” while turning parties out with songs of his own like “Crank It Up” and “Like a Pimp.” He’d parlay undeniable charm and a million-dollar smile into movie roles and hosting gigs, extending the scope of his career far beyond the recording booth, but as his newest music—2017’s The God Box—more accurately reflects, Banner’s mission has always been rooted in improving the state of affairs for Black America. “Historically, America has never shown that it cares about somebody that comes from where I come from, lives like I live, or looks like me,” he says. “So all of a sudden, you know, there's this big interest in that. I don't trust it. But I really think the true solution is us taking care of us.” In this special Black History Month edition of the Message, Ebro and Banner sit down to talk about Banner's Message of Black liberation, investing in Black communities, and breaking out of the programming of white supremacy. Listen to David Banner's Message playlist only on Apple Music.
More from The Message with Ebro Darden
Rapper, actress, and author Eve joins Ebro for a new installment of the Message to share her current mantra: breathe, and believe. Their wide-ranging conversation touches on faith, motherhood, domestic violence, and of course, music. Listen to Eve's Message playlist only on Apple Music.
On this brand new conversation for The Message, Ebro sits down with two-time NAACP Image Award-winner David Oyelowo from the new Apple TV+ series Government Cheese. David shares his message of love, what he's learned since becoming a father, and the importance of Black-owned pipelines for creative content in the modern media landscape. Listen to David Oyelowo's Message playlist exclusively on Apple Music.
This year Apple Music celebrated Black History Month across the service by spotlighting the rhythms of New Orleans, home of Super Bowl LIX. After the big game festivities wrapped, two local legends found time to call up Ebro and share their own Messages straight from the heart of NOLA: Mannie Fresh and Trombone Shorty. In this Black History Month wrap-up special, Ebro compiles both interviews into one episode celebrating the heart of the Big Easy. Listen to Mannie Fresh and Trombone Shorty's Message playlists, exclusively on Apple Music.
In this brand new Message conversation, Ebro sits down with audio engineer, producer, and songwriter Ebonie Smith to talk about her new spoken word poetry album On Imagination and her Message that music is a ministry. Together, they dive deep on her journey as a Black woman in the male-dominated space of music production, and her organization Gender Amplified, which helps young women break into the industry. Listen to Ebonie's Message playlist only on Apple Music.
Her name is Thandiswa, but if you're from her native country of South Africa, you might know her better as King Tha. She's a singer and songwriter with a new album called Sankofa, a Ghanaian word that means "to go back and fetch what has been left behind." In this brand new conversation, she joins Ebro Darden to talk about Sankofa, and what it means to her in the context of post-apartheid South Africa. Listen to Thandiswa's Message playlist only on Apple Music