A Banner Moment

Multitalented artist David Banner plants seeds of wisdom at Good Soil Forum

By Eva D. Coleman
Lifestyle & Culture Editor
Texas Metro News

Tall. Statuesque. Dark brown skin. A smile that lights up the room. There was so much applause as David Banner entered the stage at the Good Soil Forum in Dallas, Texas on June 13, 2025 that he turned around and walked off to enter again.

Banner was a featured panelist for the breakout session, “Mind Over Momentum: The Health Playbook for Founders” that also included Dr. Jill Waggoner, Dr. Joynicle Martinez and moderator Dr. Jay Barnett.

From menopause and andropause, mental health, dealing with past traumas and more, the discussion among the panelists elicited a variety of responses from the audience. There were multiple charges delivered for attendees to take care of themselves as they seek to become and along their journey as entrepreneurs.

“There is a power when you name a thing,” Dr. Martinez said, which brings us back to David Banner who spoke one-on-one with Texas Metro News before the panel discussion.

Born Lavell Crump and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Banner’s performance name was pulled from “The Incredible Hulk” television series. When asked about being called Lavell, he shared that his birth name and stage name are reserved for the level in which a person knows him.

“I am not picky about most things,” Banner said. “I’m a pretty laid back person, but I’m very particular about who calls me what.”

“You know me because of David Banner, so call me David Banner,” he said while adding, “Pick the name that you choose, but it comes with a responsibility.”

As a music artist, producer and actor, Banner is well known for signature songs, collaborations and roles. Some may remember him appearing in the movie, Carter High, where he starred as Atty. Royce West, who represented some of the young football players who were arrested for a string of robberies back in the 1980s.

He shared a surprising fact that is somewhat hard to imagine considering his level of success.

“The honest truth is that I don’t like music,” Banner said. “I don’t like going in the studio. I don’t like your jazz. I don’t like your gospel music. I don’t like music, and it’s because of what I’ve gone through from a business perspective.”

At the Good Soil Forum, he planted knowledge regarding setting specific goals for yourself, including the importance of rest. Banner also shared the realities of the burnout that comes with success and not being able to sustain it long term. The solution he found was in empowering others.

“For me, it’s just being able to accrue the type of money where I can pay for a team that will allow me to create,” he said.

Good Soil Forum attendee Shawana Crawford is a budding entrepreneur who was moved by Banner’s advice.

“One of the things that he said is ‘Go to bed. Just because you lose the battle, you don’t win the war. It will be there tomorrow. Let that stress go,’ and that was really impactful for me because I carry that through the night and can’t go to sleep,” Crawford said. “So, for me, it just turned a light on to take better care of myself.”

As a member of The Potter’s House church, Crawford was encouraged to be a part of the Good Soil Forum experience.

“Something Bishop Jakes said, ‘If you’re in the room with greatness you should stick around it because it’s contagious,’ and so I’m here, I want to catch that greatness,” Crawford said. “I want to get that entrepreneurship in my spirit, and so that’s why I’m here.”

The greatness of David Banner and many other presenters, including Oprah Winfrey on opening night, during the three-day event was on full display for attendees to glean information, motivation and inspiration. Although Banner admits that he doesn’t like music, he mentioned that “most people don’t like the job that they work on,” and that it does not define success.

“I am great at music. I am a genius at that. I don’t have to like it. All I have to do is be good at it.”