If Dr. Dre was the "Steven Spielberg" of Hip Hop than Bishop Lamont would hold an equally legendary position as the doctor's new "John Williams". While two of the aforementioned legends retake the box office with the upcoming final "Indiana Jones" film, Dre and his new protégé have big plans to retake the Hip Hop industry along with their fellow Aftermath troopers! In part 2 of our exclusive two-part interview, Bishop Lamont discusses Aftermath, his Aftermath label-mates, DETOX, Eminem's 5th solo Aftermath record, his debut "The Reformation" and more!
Aftermathmusic.com:
The world now knows about your historic signing to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. Have there been any significant changes to the way you record songs since the deal?
Bishop Lamont:
Oh yeah because we are definitely working so much harder and so much more in the studio. So yeah because we got a bigger world and you got a bigger stage to work in with more tricks and techniques to make the music sound bigger and better. With the technology you know Dr. Dre; he'll build spaceships with his music, ha-ha. It's crazy in that aspect and the quality goes up as it should and it will continue to go up. That's it really so no other real changes.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Let's talk about your eagerly anticipated debut, "The Reformation". What can fans expect from the album as far as the vision behind the music?
Bishop Lamont:
That's a very good question, pimp. They can expect a complete journey into my world. With the street albums and mix-tapes fans can get bits and pieces and certain themes from certain parts of my brain. But with the album you'll get the right and left sides.
Aftermathmusic.com:
When can fans expect to purchase the album?
Bishop Lamont:
First or second quarter of '08!
Aftermathmusic.com:
Has a single been picked yet to lead off until the album's release?
Bishop Lamont:
Ah man there is so many records and so many singles. As you see I'm out here in London working on some top secret magic out here and I'll get back and cut some more so it's hard to choose, man.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Will Dre be producing your lead single?
Bishop Lamont:
Oh yeah! I can't say too much but you already know that, ha-ha! But Focus gave me some monsters that are off the hook for singles. DJ Khalil, Chad Hugo and Mark Batson gave me some stuff that's off the hook for singles, you know? It's hard to choose, man.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Aftermath has been known to release a behind the scenes cd or DVD with an artists' debut. Can fans hope for an exclusive "a day in the life of Bishop Lamont" type video to accompany your LP?
Bishop Lamont:
Absolutely, man… that's a very strong possibility.
Aftermathmusic.com:
With the state of Hip Hop as it is right now, what will make "The Reformation" stand out from everything that's out there?
Bishop Lamont:
The honesty, lyricism, the production and the sound. The sound and feel of it is nothing like people have done before and there's nothing out there now that can match it. No ego shit just the construct, approach, the energy and the time put into it. It has a direction, a goal and it has a mission. We've entered "The Matrix" and we're about to unplug the people from it, man!
Aftermathmusic.com:
Can you give the fans a tease on any guest artists or producers appearing on your record?
Bishop Lamont:
Let's see… I hate to let cats out the bag, you know? I'll give them an easy one; Busta is definitely on there for the album. We have some crazy shit together for the album, man. You know Dre is on there, that goes without saying and I think I'm going to stop there, ha-ha.
That's big enough honestly. I'm excited to have Busta! He's a big brother of mine… he's family. To be able to work with him was a dream and he blessed me mentally. It's going to be a jewel when people see what we did together. The chemistry was just automatic and for years I've been a fan. I've always imagined how it would be to work with him so when it happened, unexpected as it was, we just graced each other in the studio and Dre and I, well… that's just pure magic.
Aftermathmusic.com:
What are some of the craziest experiences that you and Dre had in the studio? Like one of those studio sessions where the music and vibe came together perfectly!
Bishop Lamont:
Man that's like almost every time we get in there! It's just stupid like that, man. You already know before he gets somebody in the studio he's already ready to blow minds and take shit to another level. Then I come in with my idiot self on some Starbucks double shots to have that cracked out energy! You have to pinch yourself in situations like that sometimes, you know what I mean? You can be in the moment but forget that you're really in that moment.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Aside from "The Reformation", Aftermath plans to release albums from 50 Cent, Stat Quo, Eve, Eminem, Joell Ortiz, Busta Rhymes, Marsha Ambrosius, Tiffany Villarreal and possibly Raekwon. Will you be featured on any of your label-mates' releases?
Bishop Lamont:
You never know because cats are working so much that we don't see each other all the time. I do see Busta a lot of course so he and I are always doing music. We see Eminem when he comes out here from Detroit so we are all getting even closer. Stat's my man so you know we keep it rocking. Joell and I haven't hooked up yet but we're trying to get something going. He's doing his thing over there in Brooklyn and I'm loving it! Marsha is a whole other dimension and level of music so that would be dope. Tiffany is so fly; she's been in the paint with some magic! She's about to take over R&B and whatever else you want. And of course Dr. Dre; you'll definitely be seeing me on "DETOX". But outside of that, who knows?
Aftermathmusic.com:
Dre has brought out many artists in Hip Hop but fans see your relationship with Dre stand out like Snoop Dogg's and Eminem's did. When you first started working with Dre, did you know your relationship with him would reach such a level?
Bishop Lamont:
Nah, man… you never know what to expect. I think it had a lot to do with my relationship with Warren G. That's Dre's little brother and he's like my big brother so we're all family. Dre will see Warren and me together all the time and be like "what the hell"? So Dre saw that and was like "Ok… the dudes not just trying to get on". He's known most of the people I've known my whole life; you know what I'm saying? Plus Warren always reps me so thoroughly with Dre and Dre's relationship would just open up to a whole other level. Snoop would show me love because Snoop and I have known each other for years. We knew his friends and Daz, Kurupt and Rage. So when we get together it's always bigger than the music.
Before the music can be anything there has to be some kind of relationship, personally. That's how I feel because I just can't get in the studio with a stranger. We have to have some kind of meeting of the minds and a kindred spirit. Since Dre is crazy and I'm crazy it works. We're both idiots, we have fun, we're disciplined and we've sacrificed everything for the commitment to excellence. So that relationship comes across in the music. For some reason a lot of people will try and put together a relationship. It's like they would try to force a friendship, a fake unity or a movement. With Dre and I or Dre and Snoop or Em it's "what you see is what you get".
Aftermathmusic.com:
That's real! Aside from Dre, you'll have the opportunity to work with legendary producers like DJ Premier and The RZA. Are there any updates on that?
Bishop Lamont:
Hmmm, that may be what the NY trip will be about, ha-ha. I haven't talked to RZA in a minute so we definitely need to hook something up but we have been planning sessions with Primo and I spoke to Just Blaze about two weeks ago so it's definitely popping off! That's why your boy will be appearing in New York, you know?
Aftermathmusic.com:
There was an article on MTV a few months back on the "Nigger Noize" mix-tape. In that article, it hinted at the possibility of you appearing on Eminem's highly anticipated album. Are there any further updates on that?
Bishop Lamont:
I'm sorry to say… BUT I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, ha-ha! I'll definitely see something happening with me and Mr. Mathers, man. Dre and Stat had hooked us up when Em was out here working on his new album with Dre. There's some magic happening so stay tuned, ha-ha. Yeah that's going to very interesting. I've been real tight lipped about that but you're going to be real happy when it comes out about that.
Aftermathmusic.com:
He's actually supposed to come out the end of this year or early next year, right?
Bishop Lamont:
Yeah that's what we've been looking at but who knows? You know how it goes with the label stuff as far as release dates. But that's going to be a fun one, ha-ha.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Speaking of release dates, who's the next artist to come out from The Math?
Bishop Lamont:
It's going to be 50 and Stat. Yeah 50 and Stat are both September right now.
Aftermathmusic.com:
You said earlier that you already recorded vocals for "DETOX". Have any of those records made the cut? Like would Dre hear something you did and be like "yeah that's definitely going on there"?
Bishop Lamont:
Of course not, ha-ha! It morphs and twists so many ways sound wise and where it's going, man. Like Dre will like the lyrics or flow but he won't like the beat anymore or someone else will want the production. As you've seen, Dre wouldn't be satisfied with some things and would give production to Snoop's album or Jay's album or Stat's. So things that may have been considered for "DETOX" initially would quickly end up being their records, you know what I'm saying? So stuff changes as the days go by but he's been locking up some REALLY amazing stuff just for "DETOX".
Aftermathmusic.com:
Dre said on Power 106 that he wanted everyone he's worked with to appear on "DETOX". He also said he was planning to put 12 or 13 songs on the album. Will there be enough room to fit such an extensive list of artists on just 12 or 13 tracks?
Bishop Lamont:
Of course not… you already know it's going to be more records than that, ha-ha! I don't want to speak for the mad scientist but common sense will tell you that if this was like "Return of The Jedi" in the whole "Star Wars" trilogy than there's got to be Death Stars, Millennium Falcons, Jabba The Hut! Yoda has got to be in there doing his thing and doing big things, pimp.
Aftermathmusic.com:
What has your reaction been like whenever Dre lets you hear some music from his final album?
Bishop Lamont:
You get the ugly face! We turn the speakers up as loud as they go and you just hear some stupid shit that you can't have for yourself, ha-ha!
Aftermathmusic.com:
Ha-ha… do a lot of your label-mates feel as if "damn! That's the best Dre beat I've heard in years and I CAN'T HAVE IT!"?
Bishop Lamont:
Shit… I FEEL THAT, ha-ha! All you can do is hope and pray that you can write for it or be featured on it, ha-ha. We got to get on it one way or the other so we can only hope he blesses us and allows us to be on it.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Have there been any further talks about a possible Aftermath tour after "DETOX" is finally released?
Bishop Lamont:
I've heard talks before but we haven't really bent on that because the main focus has been getting the records together and really getting it moving. But it's finally moving like it needs to. I've heard over the years even before I was signed about a brainstorm for there to be an "Up in Smoke Tour 2" coming with everybody rocking. So I definitely know that that's going to happen in some shape or form. It will definitely be there once "DETOX" is done. This will be Dre's last album so he's definitely going to go out with a bang. Trust me… he's going to take over all the land and all the money like Genghis Khan.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Damn… so I guess he's eyeing a summer of 2008 explosion?
Bishop Lamont:
It is definitely looking to be summer of next year. We thought we could do it at the end of this year but too many artists were coming and he was working with everybody and their mama. So he put himself to the backburner to help other artists like he always does. But now he's being selfish and focusing on getting it done to please the world because they've been waiting… and we all appreciate the patience. But on his behalf let me say that it's like fine wine. So he's getting ready to hit the cellar and dust something real tasty off the shelf.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Do you think that fans have been spoiled by so much classic music from Dre and some of his artists over the years that it has become harder and harder to impress fans today?
Bishop Lamont:
Well yeah… it's kind of like the same way it was with Jay-Z's last album. I mean the man did everything except walk on water and fly. People really went so hard at Jay for the album's sound and how he was on there. I was "Yo"… that's like he's Michael Jordan; you know what I'm saying? "Shut up"…. Like what else do you have to do? He's been doing this for how many summers? How many biters and how many people have jacked his style? How many people were thrilled when Jay came with swagger and showed mo' fuckers how to ball, be a fly MC, hustle and yet at the same time be a street individual, classy, clever and be thorough at every aspect? I mean… come on, man.
He's redefined the game so many times but on his last album fans were like "eeeh". I'm like the nigga is grown, what do you want? Ha-ha. Jigga is reppin' the United Nations and laying it up with Beyoncé! It's sort of the same kind of shit with Dre and he always supersedes that. He'll just take it to another level, understand? It's fun to because he's got the opportunity to sit back and watch all this happen be it Jay-Z's album or Nas' album or Snoop's album, you know what I mean? You know, just seeing how people react to the legendary architects. Now it's time for the dude of all dudes so it's going to be interesting. We have to check the temperature, feel me? We have to see the direction of their attitudes.
Aftermathmusic.com:
What are some projects you may have lined up after "The Reformation" and "DETOX" is released?
Bishop Lamont:
Oh yeah my second album "The Impossible Possible". I guess you could say that that's like my "Marshall Mathers LP" after my "Slim Shady LP".
Aftermathmusic.com:
Oh word? You already know that most fans of music consider "The Marshall Mathers LP" to be a modern day Hip Hop classic.
Bishop Lamont:
Exactly! It's just going deeper, darker and going harder, baby. That's how it's going to be with "The Impossible Possible" record. All the resistance, hate, doubt and road blocks that I received in getting this far and existing as an upcoming artist since getting the deal, I've seen some adversity. You know… being from the west coast and pushing what I'm trying to push. So to overcome all of this is what brings me to "The Impossible Possible". Because you know they're going to say that it's impossible to do it the second time. So it's going to supersede what I did on the first album and what I did on the "DETOX" album. NEO CAN FLY IN THE SECOND MATRIX, ha-ha!
Aftermathmusic.com:
What's your favorite song on "The Reformation" right now?
Bishop Lamont:
Ah man that's a good question, dawg; there's so many. The last song on the album is a record called "INSPIRED" which is produced by Lord Finesse. It's got my boy Bokie, Mark Ant and my sister-in-law Cy on it. It's really ill, man just going back through my life. It's the closer kind of like what "The Message" was on "Chronic 2001". It's a really innovative and "no holds barred" record that looks into my life.
Another favorite is one called "AFRICA" with my boy Sul Nana produced by Bink. I've never done any record like that one. There's a record produced by Focus called "FEEL ON IT" which is crazy. My cousin Turie is on the hook and it's a crazy club banger that's ill at the same time. Focus did another record for me called "AMERICAN DREAM" which goes deeper into some of the things we were talking about in "Nigger Noize" as far as racism and what the American dream really is. What it touches upon is that instead of living the American dream that we live for, we need to just live our lives.
There's a lot, man and I really don't want to reveal too much. Of course with records you never know if it'll make the final cut. But for sure "INSPIRED" and "AFRICA" will be on there. I don't want to say it's on there and doesn't end up on it, ha-ha. Oh! There's a record called "You Ain't Fresh" and it's produced by King Karnov. Diverse is on the hook and my boy DJ Gemini did the scratches. The song just looks at artists in rap and how they think they're fresh but they're not. Just some dumb shit, man… ha-ha. See Diverse used to rap and he was feeling real bossy one night after one too many beers, ha-ha.
Aftermathmusic.com:
That's dope! I have one more question. Can you offer a quick comment on the following Aftermath artists?
Bishop Lamont:
Dr. Dre: Ah man I love dude, you know what I'm saying? I really love that dude, man… he's a piiiimp!
Eminem: I love that dude, man. He's got a really good heart and he's a real cool person, man.
Raekwon: I've never met Raekwon but of course, thank you so much for the "Only Built for Cuban Linx" album!
50 Cent: What can you say, man? That's the dude.
Busta Rhymes: That's the homie for real, son. That's the teacher for real.
Stat Quo: That's my partner in crime, man… that's my pimp right there. We call him young Patrick and he knows why, ha-ha.
Joell Ortiz: Dope as hell. We haven't had a chance to meet yet but he's dope as hell, man. It's real refreshing to here him bring back that dope NY Hip Hop, man.
Dion: That's my dude, man… he's so fly. He's just straight bringing back depth and creativity to some real soul music, man.
Marsha Ambrosius: No words, man she's just amazing. I got to meet her but I didn't have my Floetry CD with me. But I told her next time she has to sign all that stuff.
Eve: I've never met Eve but Eve is fresh and she's classy. Plus she's a Scorpio like me so I have to give her some superior love.
Tiffany Villarreal: That's the little sister, man. She's beautiful and dope and she's got a bright future ahead of her, man.
Last but not least, Bishop Lamont: Ah man I could go on for days about that dude, ha-ha! […in Jamaican accent]… "Amazing and thought provoking, man and sex symbol and heartthrob! Ha-ha". "He's like Winston Churchill, man with such a mind", ha-ha. "A Nobel Peace Prize winner, yeah!"… Ha-ha.
Aftermathmusic.com:
I really appreciate you taking the time to do this interview, man. Would you like to add any last words to the people reading this interview?
Bishop Lamont:
When you have a cold or flu and you have cough medicine, don't just drink the bottle! It will do crazy things! But on the real, props to London, man. I've really enjoyed being here. To the fans, I appreciate the love and support. And get ready for that "CALTROIT", oh lord! I'm so afraid, ha-ha
Aftermathmusic.com:
Thanks again for coming back to knock out this exclusive interview, Bishop. For more exclusive information on Bishop and the rest of the Shady/Aftermath family, keep checking http://www.Aftermathmusic.com!
Source
props to katastrophe for the story and source
