Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr., also known by his musical moniker Berner, is an American rapper and cannabis entrepreneur. He’s a Bay Area pillar and someone who is about as self-made as they come. From a young age, he had his sights set high as he literally burned his first joint to Cypress Hill. From there, Berner knew this was the life he wanted.
From the streets of San Fran to collaborating with his idols on plenty of tracks across plenty of albums, Berner is a creative who is always itching to do something. So as the years went on, this would-be California king became a multi-hyphenate as an artist and tree-blazing renaissance man. Bringing the now leagalized psychoactive drug to the masses via his covertly named “Cookies” brand, he sits atop a confectionery hempire thinking about what’s next. You can say he’s lived the LI FE and has been getting it while the getting is good. How good, you ask? Among his many successes, he’s even been profiled by Forbes.
So what’s next? Well, enter Splash City (co-written and co-directed by Berner) from Lionsgate. This gritty drama is the first urban crime film based in San Francisco, and Milam always meant for it to be rooted in authenticity. We got to speak with him about the film and the events leading up to the film. As we ran through his career, one thing stood out even before we started recording. He’s notably and remarkably humble about pretty much everything. It could be because he’s survived cancer, that he and his wife just welcomed a new baby this week, or that he, as he put it “is high as hell right now.”
Regardless, he’s always been a people person and everything he does is focused on maximizing memorable experiences with people and bringing them together. Maybe politics is in his future? Nah, he’s just fine where he is. So enjoy our chat about film, fun times, friends and phat beats on this episode of The GoSeeTalk Podcast Experience!
In this gritty crime thriller, two brothers, Juju and Slim, struggle to survive the streets of San Francisco, where loyalty can turn into betrayal in an instant. While Slim sees basketball as his way out, Juju falls deeper into a life of smash-and-grab robberies under the control of a backstabbing crew leader. As tensions rise, the brothers must choose between fighting for a brighter future or succumbing to the violent legacy that threatens to consume them both.
From Lionsgate, SPLASH CITY will be released in Select Theaters on July 20
