Bishop-Lamont.com, together with HipHopDefined.com, got the chance to talk to Bishop Lamont himself. We talked about his music, his view on today’s hip hop, Eminem’s upcoming album, Dre’s Detox, his relationship with The Game, and a lot more. Read on below.
Listen to Bishop’s shout out to Bishop-Lamont.com/HipHopDefined.com here.
Interview conducted by FLOJO.
Bishop-Lamont.com: What up Bishop? How you doing man? First of all, let me say I’m a huge fan and I can remember back in the day when Fuzzy Fantabulous was on the radio sayin’ “Oh man, Big Boy, this dude Bishop Lamont … that dude is THE TRUTH!”
Bishop: *LAUGHS*
Bishop-Lamont.com: So you ready to go?
Bishop: yeah it’s all good dog
Bishop-Lamont.com: First off let me say zzzzzz Noize is CLASSIC, and “Feel On It” and “No Stopping Carson” are 2 fu*ken DOPE ass songs that need to start blowing the fu*k up already! I mean for real what the fu*k is up with stations not playing this sh*t like it needs to get played …? These stations need to realize that they are sitting on two gems over there that’s 100% better than anything else that’s on the radio right now …
Bishop: *Laughs*
Bishop-Lamont.com: I’ve been telling people that the only album that will rival Detox next year will be The Reformation…
Bishop: I Agree! haha
Bishop-Lamont.com: haha yeah everybody is looking forward to it, and lord knows I’m putting in my share of the hype all over the place…
Bishop: Yeah my man
Bishop-Lamont.com: So with that being said, I think it’s time we get into some questions… Speaking of The Reformation, everybody wants to know about the album, what can you tell us about it and when can we anticipate it to be out?
Bishop: sh*t, first quarter man that’s where I’m racing to now, to finish up in the studio got a few uuummm couple more ingredients we going overboard Dre’s just ya know … he crazy anyways wit it … it’s gotta be over the top. So we getting ready for first quarter umm ya know i’m saying the video and all that sh*t all the stuff in the can i’m just getting ready to drop on peoples heads so… it’s, it’s been a crazy trip man. It’s a lot of fun and it’s just you know, making preparation to really put something fresh down not just for the westcoast but for hip hop period man, you know what I mean?
Bishop-Lamont.com: Hell yeah man, and since I guess we can call both of these singles (”Feel On It” and “No Stopping Carson”) “street singles” what can we expect as the official first single?
Bishop: “I DOMINATE” …
Bishop-Lamont.com: I dominate?
Bishop: Yeah me and Dre Hahahahaha
Bishop-Lamont.com: Damn man, that sounds really major, and with the other two singles already being FIRE, It only makes me anticipate the fu*k out of this next single.
Bishop: AWW yeah Hahahaha
Bishop-Lamont.com: There are some artists that solely rely on their production to get them past the mediocrity of their lyrics, but you really got it all down… Both sides of the music… and that’s impressive because you seem to understand what people want as well as making music YOU like to make as well too.
Bishop: Yeah….. I say bless you hahahaha
Bishop-Lamont.com: So now that you are in this “zone” and you are continually building a bigger buzz, and putting all of this great “free” music, do you feel like you are still growing as an artist, because when I listen to the latest tracks it seems to me that you’ve come a very long way…
Bishop: sh*t, I appreciate that man, it’s getting better you know what I mean? We keep improving on the motto we keep improving on the Kung Fu so we going to take it over the top and ya know keep on high from there so I appreciate that you know this is just scratching the surface you know what I mean? That was just a street single it’s even bigger than that sh*t that me and FOCUS been working on so… it’s crazy… I’m proud of the work ya know?
Bishop-Lamont.com: So (speaking of Focus) that brings me to the next question, how about the production? What producers can we expect to see on the album?
Bishop: Yeahhh I wanna keep most of it a surprise, but of course ya know… I got my partners in crime are gonna be on there you know what I mean? And I’ll just say I’ll leave it to Busta …. You know what I’m saying? Did I say Busta’s on there? There’s a few more pimps on there but I’m gonna leave it a surprise of course Dre’s all over it, and a few other people, people are going to be surprised to see on there, I hate to say anything I want it to be fresh cause I just want the album to be about people buying it for me know what I mean?.. not like “I GOT T-PAIN ON IT, I GOT CHRIS BROWN ON IT… I GOT….” Ya know what I mean? Cats try to sell other people to sell their thing and its like… you wanna make yourself ya know… your own fella that you own, ya know what I’m sayin’? like like the FIRST thing to push so, just know it’s going to be a thrill, man from features to whose producing on it you know what I mean? Besides Dre know what I’m saying? Besides Focus… Besides Scott Storch know what I mean… there’s a lot of mega mega players on there so I’m just trying to body the work.
Bishop-Lamont.com: What about Glasses Malone and The New West Dudes… You guys still kicking it, still all love?
Bishop: That’s all my family man you know what I’m sayin? We ride together know what I mean? They [got] their record deals you know what I mean? Me and Glasses walking through New York, I was there every step of the way. That’s always family even outside of rap know what I mean, we not friends cause we rap know what I mean?
Bishop-Lamont.com: Yeah I really like Glasses music too, I’m a fan of his and it seemed like he was all over the place for a minute, but I haven’t seen him aside from a few guest appearances here and there ….
Bishop: I mean that’s the next dude too, know what I mean, a good dude, big heart, you know what I’m saying smart beyond what he acts like cause that nigga the nigga likes to play stupid sometimes and he knows what the fu*k I’m talking about when he read it, that dude…that .. ya know… that is an amazing dude. Ya know what I mean… Mykestro is the next dude up, and def there are so many fresh niggas that’s coming that’s all family that’s a part of the movement, you know what I mean… Trek Life you know what I mean… It’s a lot of dope dudes so I’m happy to see it all coming together and everybody’s buzzing’ … Young Blood you know KAMS little brother you know what I mean it’s a lot of fly niggas Young Dre, Maylay its so much so I’m loving what’s going on.
Bishop-Lamont.com: And so with all of the hot collabos and all of the recording session you go through … it must be hard to determine what songs go on The Reformation, and what songs go on a mixtape… Do you feel pressure from Interscope and Jimmy to go more commercial on your new album?
Bishop: Naaaah cause at the end of the day what I do with my underground sh*t is what I do for the underground there is sh*t in the underground, that can be singles on the radio its just about doing what you do best, at the end of the day I have to please myself but I also have to please Dre. And putting them minds together is going to be amazing I don’t even pay attention to what Interscope is going through you know what I mean? Jimmy is the boss, but Jimmy is in his office doing his thing. That’s like Jimmy paying attention to how I feel about how he is supposed to distribute this that and the other, its like Motherfu*ker …I’m gonna do MY JOB …. So hahahaha DO YOURS! ..so …
Bishop-Lamont.com: Are you worried that the album will be pushed back like many other Aftermath artists albums?
Bishop: I don’t even worry about none of that you know what I mean, cause I understand how it all works but the way the love is in the street and where its at its going to come when its supposed to come cause there is so much beaurocrosy when you deal with the labels cause I’m not the only cat over there when people look at Aftermath they forget about Interscope, you know what I mean? You got a Snoop Dogg coming out, Mary J. Bilge, you got this that and the third so its like you just do what you do and make sure the streets is ready and the streets is happy and content and waiting for that everything else makes it self you know what I’m sayin? … apparent, God goes to work… I just put down the engine you know what I mean? *laughs*
Bishop-Lamont.com: So how about like a zzzzzz Noize 2 … or even a Caltroit Part 2? What you think, cause I know I’d LOVE to hear a zzzzzz Noize Part 2?
Bishop: Ya know … I really don’t believe in sequels the Only thing… ya know… cause for me I never look back, know what I mean? I haven’t listened to zzzzzz Noize since I did it know what I mean?
Bishop-Lamont.com: Really? Oh man …
Bishop: Yeah …. I don’t go back cause it’s about progress if you get caught up in the past that’s where you going to stay. Even while time is passing you by so my thing is to always not to be about the future but to be ahead of the future so I’m always looking beyond even the present. You know what I’m saying even when I kinda expect what I kinda want to see in the future, I’m even going beyond that. What I can imagine is what I’m trying to be about write about and rhyme like you know what I mean… so I never I never keep listening to old sh*t. Once I’m through with it I’m done with it you know what I mean, so there aint gonna be another zzzzzz Noize but a Caltroit…
It was too long to post the whole thing here, so please go here to read the rest of the interview.
Listen to Bishop’s shout out to Bishop-Lamont.com/HipHopDefined.com here.
Interview conducted by FLOJO.
Bishop-Lamont.com: What up Bishop? How you doing man? First of all, let me say I’m a huge fan and I can remember back in the day when Fuzzy Fantabulous was on the radio sayin’ “Oh man, Big Boy, this dude Bishop Lamont … that dude is THE TRUTH!”
Bishop: *LAUGHS*
Bishop-Lamont.com: So you ready to go?
Bishop: yeah it’s all good dog
Bishop-Lamont.com: First off let me say zzzzzz Noize is CLASSIC, and “Feel On It” and “No Stopping Carson” are 2 fu*ken DOPE ass songs that need to start blowing the fu*k up already! I mean for real what the fu*k is up with stations not playing this sh*t like it needs to get played …? These stations need to realize that they are sitting on two gems over there that’s 100% better than anything else that’s on the radio right now …
Bishop: *Laughs*
Bishop-Lamont.com: I’ve been telling people that the only album that will rival Detox next year will be The Reformation…
Bishop: I Agree! haha
Bishop-Lamont.com: haha yeah everybody is looking forward to it, and lord knows I’m putting in my share of the hype all over the place…
Bishop: Yeah my man
Bishop-Lamont.com: So with that being said, I think it’s time we get into some questions… Speaking of The Reformation, everybody wants to know about the album, what can you tell us about it and when can we anticipate it to be out?
Bishop: sh*t, first quarter man that’s where I’m racing to now, to finish up in the studio got a few uuummm couple more ingredients we going overboard Dre’s just ya know … he crazy anyways wit it … it’s gotta be over the top. So we getting ready for first quarter umm ya know i’m saying the video and all that sh*t all the stuff in the can i’m just getting ready to drop on peoples heads so… it’s, it’s been a crazy trip man. It’s a lot of fun and it’s just you know, making preparation to really put something fresh down not just for the westcoast but for hip hop period man, you know what I mean?
Bishop-Lamont.com: Hell yeah man, and since I guess we can call both of these singles (”Feel On It” and “No Stopping Carson”) “street singles” what can we expect as the official first single?
Bishop: “I DOMINATE” …
Bishop-Lamont.com: I dominate?
Bishop: Yeah me and Dre Hahahahaha
Bishop-Lamont.com: Damn man, that sounds really major, and with the other two singles already being FIRE, It only makes me anticipate the fu*k out of this next single.
Bishop: AWW yeah Hahahaha
Bishop-Lamont.com: There are some artists that solely rely on their production to get them past the mediocrity of their lyrics, but you really got it all down… Both sides of the music… and that’s impressive because you seem to understand what people want as well as making music YOU like to make as well too.
Bishop: Yeah….. I say bless you hahahaha
Bishop-Lamont.com: So now that you are in this “zone” and you are continually building a bigger buzz, and putting all of this great “free” music, do you feel like you are still growing as an artist, because when I listen to the latest tracks it seems to me that you’ve come a very long way…
Bishop: sh*t, I appreciate that man, it’s getting better you know what I mean? We keep improving on the motto we keep improving on the Kung Fu so we going to take it over the top and ya know keep on high from there so I appreciate that you know this is just scratching the surface you know what I mean? That was just a street single it’s even bigger than that sh*t that me and FOCUS been working on so… it’s crazy… I’m proud of the work ya know?
Bishop-Lamont.com: So (speaking of Focus) that brings me to the next question, how about the production? What producers can we expect to see on the album?
Bishop: Yeahhh I wanna keep most of it a surprise, but of course ya know… I got my partners in crime are gonna be on there you know what I mean? And I’ll just say I’ll leave it to Busta …. You know what I’m saying? Did I say Busta’s on there? There’s a few more pimps on there but I’m gonna leave it a surprise of course Dre’s all over it, and a few other people, people are going to be surprised to see on there, I hate to say anything I want it to be fresh cause I just want the album to be about people buying it for me know what I mean?.. not like “I GOT T-PAIN ON IT, I GOT CHRIS BROWN ON IT… I GOT….” Ya know what I mean? Cats try to sell other people to sell their thing and its like… you wanna make yourself ya know… your own fella that you own, ya know what I’m sayin’? like like the FIRST thing to push so, just know it’s going to be a thrill, man from features to whose producing on it you know what I mean? Besides Dre know what I’m saying? Besides Focus… Besides Scott Storch know what I mean… there’s a lot of mega mega players on there so I’m just trying to body the work.
Bishop-Lamont.com: What about Glasses Malone and The New West Dudes… You guys still kicking it, still all love?
Bishop: That’s all my family man you know what I’m sayin? We ride together know what I mean? They [got] their record deals you know what I mean? Me and Glasses walking through New York, I was there every step of the way. That’s always family even outside of rap know what I mean, we not friends cause we rap know what I mean?
Bishop-Lamont.com: Yeah I really like Glasses music too, I’m a fan of his and it seemed like he was all over the place for a minute, but I haven’t seen him aside from a few guest appearances here and there ….
Bishop: I mean that’s the next dude too, know what I mean, a good dude, big heart, you know what I’m saying smart beyond what he acts like cause that nigga the nigga likes to play stupid sometimes and he knows what the fu*k I’m talking about when he read it, that dude…that .. ya know… that is an amazing dude. Ya know what I mean… Mykestro is the next dude up, and def there are so many fresh niggas that’s coming that’s all family that’s a part of the movement, you know what I mean… Trek Life you know what I mean… It’s a lot of dope dudes so I’m happy to see it all coming together and everybody’s buzzing’ … Young Blood you know KAMS little brother you know what I mean it’s a lot of fly niggas Young Dre, Maylay its so much so I’m loving what’s going on.
Bishop-Lamont.com: And so with all of the hot collabos and all of the recording session you go through … it must be hard to determine what songs go on The Reformation, and what songs go on a mixtape… Do you feel pressure from Interscope and Jimmy to go more commercial on your new album?
Bishop: Naaaah cause at the end of the day what I do with my underground sh*t is what I do for the underground there is sh*t in the underground, that can be singles on the radio its just about doing what you do best, at the end of the day I have to please myself but I also have to please Dre. And putting them minds together is going to be amazing I don’t even pay attention to what Interscope is going through you know what I mean? Jimmy is the boss, but Jimmy is in his office doing his thing. That’s like Jimmy paying attention to how I feel about how he is supposed to distribute this that and the other, its like Motherfu*ker …I’m gonna do MY JOB …. So hahahaha DO YOURS! ..so …
Bishop-Lamont.com: Are you worried that the album will be pushed back like many other Aftermath artists albums?
Bishop: I don’t even worry about none of that you know what I mean, cause I understand how it all works but the way the love is in the street and where its at its going to come when its supposed to come cause there is so much beaurocrosy when you deal with the labels cause I’m not the only cat over there when people look at Aftermath they forget about Interscope, you know what I mean? You got a Snoop Dogg coming out, Mary J. Bilge, you got this that and the third so its like you just do what you do and make sure the streets is ready and the streets is happy and content and waiting for that everything else makes it self you know what I’m sayin? … apparent, God goes to work… I just put down the engine you know what I mean? *laughs*
Bishop-Lamont.com: So how about like a zzzzzz Noize 2 … or even a Caltroit Part 2? What you think, cause I know I’d LOVE to hear a zzzzzz Noize Part 2?
Bishop: Ya know … I really don’t believe in sequels the Only thing… ya know… cause for me I never look back, know what I mean? I haven’t listened to zzzzzz Noize since I did it know what I mean?
Bishop-Lamont.com: Really? Oh man …
Bishop: Yeah …. I don’t go back cause it’s about progress if you get caught up in the past that’s where you going to stay. Even while time is passing you by so my thing is to always not to be about the future but to be ahead of the future so I’m always looking beyond even the present. You know what I’m saying even when I kinda expect what I kinda want to see in the future, I’m even going beyond that. What I can imagine is what I’m trying to be about write about and rhyme like you know what I mean… so I never I never keep listening to old sh*t. Once I’m through with it I’m done with it you know what I mean, so there aint gonna be another zzzzzz Noize but a Caltroit…
It was too long to post the whole thing here, so please go here to read the rest of the interview.