Aftermathmusic.com has done it again! Dr. Dre's new "partner in crime" is back for an exclusive two-part interview. In the first part, Bishop Lamont talks about his steady rise in the public eye, his spiritual views on Hip Hop, the music industry, upcoming projects and much more from the Carson native. Be on the lookout for part 2 coming soon!
INTERVIEW: July 17th, 2006
PART 1:
(Interview was conducted by Amin aka "Rebel" while Bishop was in London, England)
Aftermathmusic.com:
First off, I'd like to welcome you back with us at Aftermathmusic.com!
Bishop Lamont:
Thank you Pimp Juice!
Aftermathmusic.com:
So how's London treating you?
Bishop Lamont:
Ah man it's beautiful, man… we're having a ball.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Right off the bat, your buzz has grown pretty quick in a short period of time. Most other new artists don't build the buzz you've earned that quickly. Has this had a major effect on your personal life?
Bishop Lamont:
Not really because we keep it focused. It's always in the same direction of staying focused on the music. We're living it one day at a time, you know what I mean? So it hasn't had that much of an effect. Some people are more focused on that type of attention but I'm more attentive to the music and looking at the schedule and time and putting more into it. I don't really have the time to go out and run into the clubs like "LOOK AT ME!!!" ha-ha. I mean it has been different but not that much.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Two years ago, did you ever imagine you would gain such a following that was constantly on the rise
Bishop Lamont:
No. You know you're just doing the music, man. You're just doing music really and at the same time it's your dream. So you just have an open mind and you wouldn't expect the most to happen. So I hoped for it but I didn't expect it.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Has the pressure of having the public analyze everything you say or do been difficult?
Bishop Lamont:
Nah, man… you know? I just start laughing. A homegirl of mine saw something or heard something which was a freestyle of mine. I think she heard it in the car on her way to my homeboy Diverse's house and they would analyze it to death. I mean they'll take it real seriously and I just be laughing. I'm like it's just a freestyle and they're like "aaaah something something something" and I'm like damn it's a freestyle, ENJOY IT, ha-ha. I'm like "wow" cats really take it that seriously. I don't even think about the pressure, man. I just make sure that whatever I do is at its best. That's always been the goal regardless of more attention or no attention at all. It's like a self induced penalty or training just to be dope at what you do so it's no pressure.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Muslims, Christians, Jews and people of different faiths have expressed much respect towards your spiritual and conscience approach to your way of life as an artist. Do you think that most artists lack the ability to balance positive realness and fun entertainment in their rhymes?
Bishop Lamont:
Yes because there's not that much attention or emphasis placed on spirituality. There's not enough respect implemented towards different aspects of spirituality in people's religions. So that's always been my theme because you've always seen the lack of that cause of wars, civil arrests, racism and a lot of issues. And that's mainly because people don't respect the basic foundations of people's cultures and what they believe in as far as their love for the most high or the love of Allah or be it whatever you believe in so that was always my goal. That's why my friendships are of such a variety.
It's like a rainbow of people of different religions, creeds and colors. I've always respected that, you know what I mean? I have to have it that way and I hope more people would to. But you know, you live in the dimension you live in. I try to live in a multi-dimensional world and have that respect when I go in to create records or when I walk in a room and hear the people. I understand that people have a different background and at the same time it's similar because people have faiths, beliefs and loves. So I try that. That's a long ass answer; I'm sorry ha-ha.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Nah man it's all good. What would you say are some of the high and low points of your journey in music so far?
Bishop Lamont:
Fake people are a low point. A lot of times in the business they try to get on your good side through music or the community of music and maneuver their shiesty and shady things. I think for the most part that that's the low point; how people are so in love with being rap stars and don't know why. You know a lot of people that you thought were good people in the beginning or at least allies in this music thing but everybody is so busy chasing the ring. They get GOLLUMED OUT, you know what I mean? It's definitely Lord of The Rings when it comes to this business because everybody wants that top slot. So, people do conniving things and real shady shit just because they want to be rap stars. That's never been my goal. I never really saw myself being a rap star or in entertainment. I just did what my spirit and prayers brought me to. So I think my low point is just fake people and how people will do anything to be famous or get to know Dr. Dre or be on the radio, you know what I mean?
A prime example of the high points is that I'm in London right now off of music and off of words. That's stupid to be able to travel off of music. Like I never expected to be in London off of words, you know? You see Benny Hill growing up, you see a James Bond film but you never think you'd get to take trips like that and be in places like that. So it's a great high point to be able to travel abroad and see the world off of something you saw as a hobby. So to be able to travel and make friends internationally and work with artists around the world is definitely a great high point.
Aftermathmusic.com:
As you know, record sales have been steadily decreasing over the last year. What do you think are some of the primary reasons for low sales these days?
Bishop Lamont:
Because music is trash. Music continues to depreciate because of the people coming into the business and saying that they're artists but they're terrible artists and they're not in it for the craft nor represent a real movement. Their music is not sincere, you know what I mean? They're just saying shit to get to the bank. That's cool but there are ways to get to the bank and be rich by doing it correctly. "If you build it, they will come" like "Field of Dreams" you know? I think that's the number one reason because people aren't excited and have grown too smart for them to use the same magic tricks to the same crowd every show. You got to keep it Houdini! You got to have new ways to impress the music audience. Rappers are treating the music audience like they're five or six years old, feel me? They treat them like that and try and pull a coin from behind their ear and be like "wuaaah!" but that wont cut it. So basically the music is trash and it's a fast food era of music. It's not real nutrients or a home cooked meal! It's like if you don't eat the fast food in the first fifteen minutes the fries become too hard to eat! I think people are just waiting for something that's really going to move them now.
I think with the internet and how things are with the iPhones and downloading it's actually good because people won't have to pay for the bullshit. I feel that if my shit is bullshit than download it for free. Then you can decide to buy it if you like it or not. But I think if there's real music to come along and it's dope, it's going to sell.
Aftermathmusic.com:
50 Cent seems to think that music retail will soon be gone and the marketing of Hip Hop will become solely internet based. Do you share your label-mate's view on this from a business standpoint?
Bishop Lamont:
Yeah you know what the cool thing is? When Fiddy was working on his album, Nikki Greer, Stat [Quo] and I got to sit in while they were mixing and we talked about that. Fiddy was actually just out here in London shooting a video. But we've been talking about that even outside of our conversation with Fif. Five or six months ago the Wall Street Journal had an article called "the death of CD". They said how a few years from now there will be no more CDs and everything will be downloadable. Everything will be through the internet so it's definitely coming.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Yeah that's crazy because a few years ago we wouldn't have thought that that was coming so soon.
Bishop Lamont:
Exactly, and that's why people need to be more aware of technology. It's not just a fight for the quality of music and music performance; it's also the quality of technology. You have to understand that we need to learn the outlets that music will be provided with or we'll have no choice as to how we get the music out. That outlet will be the internet, the iPhone and laptops, you know? There will not be factories anymore for pressing up the plastic and pressing up the CDs or vinyl. It will all be digital and non-physical. Unfortunately, that takes another quality of a relationship that people have with the music. A relationship where fans can touch the CDs they buy, rip off the plastic, read the booklet and look at the pictures. Now everything will just be a touchtone screen and typing.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Yeah I hear that. It seems like radio stations always play the same old "kiddy pop" records. What do you think needs to happen for new generation fans to get in touch with some real dope or classical Hip Hop music?
Bishop Lamont:
That's why we don't listen to the radio. Don't listen to it! The people always have the power. If people didn't like how McDonalds tasted they would fix the problem by not going to McDonalds. If people aren't feeling an upcoming movie, you don't go to the box office on opening weekend when Harry Potter is coming out or whatever the fuck. People can do the same by turning the radio off and enjoy their own listening pleasure through iPods and CDs and satellite stations. Satellite stations are the shit by the way. Music is really going into satellite because the radio is a dinosaur.
Aftermathmusic.com:
True… but you better be careful with what you say about Harry Potter while you're in England, ha-ha.
Bishop Lamont:
Oh I wasn't saying "fuck Harry Potter" or anything, ha-ha! Yeah I'm like in the middle of Hogwarts, you know what I'm saying? PEACE TO HARRY POTTER! But that's how people should go about it. I don't listen to the radio, man. Radio is targeted to women between the ages of 15 and 35 on the real.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Fans loved the "****** Noize" mix-tape you dropped with DJ Skee. Many people considered it a fresh new feeling for mix-tapes in Hip Hop especially since all the songs had original production. Can you tell us a little about the process of making that mix-tape?
Bishop Lamont:
Well the first reason, which is in relation to the last question you asked me, is that we did it for free download to get people used to getting their music through the internet. That was one of the key processes. As far as the music itself and the idea behind it, it was a culmination of things such as Black History Month as well as things I've witnessed growing up. My family is originally from Key West, Florida so my grandparents, aunts and uncles faced racism. Racism was something that we've all experienced and I think anyone is off limits to it in whatever shape or form. So it was a key to get that across and it just seemed like it was right. Then things were spinning out of control with Kramer, Don Imus and the dude that got shot 50 times coming out of his bachelor party in NY. There were all kinds of foolishness going on! It just happened to be the time and just doing whatever came to mind. And to tell you the truth, it wasn't really planned. It was just how I was feeling.
I remember playing some records for Dre… and I have two formats with my music. One of them is called "sniper" music and that's when you're just killing them, captivating them and blowing mother fuckers' heads off with records. Then I have "****** noise" music which is just ignorant music, ha-ha. Just some fun foolish music, you know what I mean?
So I'll go up to Dre and be like "yo I got some ****** noise music for you" and Dre will be like "what the fuck"? And I'll see his reaction to the "****** Noize" title, ha-ha. I saw a documentary on slavery and the word "******" and was also reading a lot of materiel on racism, civil rights issues and struggles so the time just worked. At the same time I had seen "Loose Change" which is an amazing documentary on 9/11 and a buddy of mine, Mark Batson, who's played music for Dre and is a spiritual, music pimp teacher, was giving me all kinds of books. So it all just fit together and I'm glad people appreciated it and that it's still growing the right way with people not being afraid to speak on it and get their own stories. Corporations to! All on that racial group thing and what not… that shit is old. I'll be like "are you still on that foolish shit?"
Aftermathmusic.com:
Some people, however, have labeled the mix-tape as being controversial. Have you ever received any negative feedback from it?
Bishop Lamont:
Nah I never got any real negative feedback, man and that's good. I hope they do think it's controversial because that means they'll pay attention to it! If something is not controversial than it's not cool, and if it doesn't make you uncomfortable than it's not doing its job. So I'm happy if it made anyone uncomfortable and that many said it was controversial because a lot of times when something like that does that means some people have issues within themselves. So that can make them feel uncomfortable because they might be guilty of some of those things. Some may have never spoken their mind and now they have a format to spit their shit or take it in their own direction. But you know it's not something that I leave up to be dismantled. It's just how I feel, how I see the world and it's in your face. And I don't give a fuck because I'm just coming from the heart and spirit. At the end of the day, only God can judge me, so that's how we leave it, ha-ha.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Ok, ha-ha. Many fans are eagerly anticipating the "Caltroit" mix-tape with you and Black Milk from Detroit. What can fans expect to hear from the mix-tape?
Bishop Lamont:
Ah man I'm so excited about this project! They can expect the unexpected. They can expect to see people they didn't expect to see. They can expect different styles in production and features and vibes. It's a lot of fun, man! I'm more excited about this than I was about "****** Noize" because "****** Noize" had such a serious format and had a restrictive theme. Like there were guidelines when I was doing it subconsciously but you saw how serious it got. "****** Noize" was fun but it followed a more disciplined route and had a serious goal.
With "Caltroit" it's just the unity of MCing and DJing. It is just vibing where the music is bigger than the crates and a dedication of old, a dedication to late 80s and early 90s Hip Hop. It's about what the MC should be doing and what the MC should be feeling. It is pure fun and Black Milk and I went hard on the paint as well as everyone else involved in the project. When people see who is who on it they're not going to expect it. It was just dope music that everyone who got the phone call was with it. Nobody was Hollywood, nobody was difficult, and everybody was with it and gave 100% of their energy towards this movement. Everyone contributed talent to this project to make it that much bigger. Like Justice League, all the MCs came together like Superman, Batman, X-Men and all them mother fuckers, you know what I mean… it is dope.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Ah, man I can't wait. It's going to be for sale, right?
Bishop Lamont:
I don't know… ha-ha!
Aftermathmusic.com:
Well either way, whether it's for sale or not, when can we expect it to hit the streets?
Bishop Lamont:
Well since I had to come out here to London I'll still be working on it. I'll be e-mailing some stuff and my "Momager" will shoot some stuff to other MCs so the process is still moving at a good pace. I want to get back home and do a couple more things to tweak it so I'm looking at the end of August or early September. There were also a few artists that were either on tour or were working on their own albums so they can squeeze in like they wanted to. So we gave them a little more space so we can get back in the studio.
But the next single is called "Mouth Music" which is produced by Black Milk. It's me, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson and Busta Rhymes. It's crazy filth but it is fly, ha-ha. It's mellow fly but it's going to be dope, man. It's funny because people probably wouldn't expect that to come off of the "Caltroit" record. I can't wait, man… it's so much fun just stock-piling and fine tuning. Plus Black Milk is always coming with some fly stuff along with other producers that are involved. There's a lot of fly cats on there that are not even from California or Detroit but I had to have them on there because they're that dope!
Listen to the single here: http://www.myspace.com/aftermathmusiccom
Aftermathmusic.com:
Do you have any other mix-tapes or street albums in the works?
Bishop Lamont:
Yeah you know me! My homeboy Damizza aka Damien Young is working on the "Ill Clinton" mix-tape which is going to be some real ill stuff. He's like the Bill Clinton of the crew and I'll be co-executive producing it from the shadows. So we call him "Ill" Clinton because he'll be having them under the desk locking him off and he'll be making some political moves musically. The mix-tape will be dealing with a lot of government conspiracies, politics, assassinations and social issues rapped up in a lot of weed, alcohol and fun. So I'll be helping him with that and he also has a crazy story to expound upon on the Kennedy assassination. That's going to be a great adventure for all the conspiracy buffs out there as far as the Dallas ride, the grassy knoll theory and what not.
He actually hooked up with an old school rocker named Terry Reed who did a dope song in the 60s or70s that they re-cut. It's a dope mixture of Rock-N-Roll and Hip Hop. We also have "Team America: Fuck Yeah!" ha-ha… which is myself and my boy Indef where we play Kim Jung II and Bin Laden and it's based on the "Team America" movie. It's basically like dealing with war and politics but having some fun with it musically. So that is going to be the next mix-tape I'll be working on after "CALTROIT". Then of course we're going to have "The Pope Mobile" mix-tape which is going to be real dumb. Glasses Malone, Mykestro and I are going to do the "Yellow Hot & Steamy: Pissin' on The Industry" mix-tape. Mykestro and I also have a side project called "Blog Food" which is a spoof on Dogg Pound's debut "Dogg Food". It's basically going to be materiel for all the geeks on the internet hating and saying all kinds of foolish shit. That'll really be something to talk about. So we have some crazy shit in the works and it's going to be stupid… leading up to and getting people ready for "The Reformation". But "Caltroit" is the focal point for me right now besides the "Ill Clinton" with Damizza.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Dope! I had the opportunity to interview Diverse not long ago and he mentioned working with your label Diocese. What can you tell us about the label?
Bishop Lamont:
Ah man it's where the Pope and the Bishop dwell. It's the place where holy magical things happen, ha-ha! But that's just my own outlet, man. Dre blessed me with the ability of having my own label and being able to sign the type of artists I like and having my own team set up. I mean it's just about having some quality music period. So you'll see projects from Mike Anthony, Chevy Jones and Indef. Diverse is doing a solo album to so he's getting his Kanye on, you know what I'm saying? You'll see Hip Hop, some gospel and some rock. So I'll basically be putting out the music that I like and listen to and that I think everyone else should listen to in my humble opinion.
Aftermathmusic.com:
That sounds very promising. Let's talk a little bit about Letmehearitmusic.com. What motivated you and Damizza to give people such a great opportunity to get their music heard?
Bishop Lamont:
Because people keep harassing me in the gym, restaurants, and the movies and walking up my driveway. Every time I would try to take their demos to the studios and the A&Rs would front with all their bullshit. I remembered what I had to go through with the labels to get my music hard. So it just seemed like a right and easy process to have people be able to send their music and actually get a response back. And instead of just giving a simple phone call they will actually get an honest opinion on their music.
Aftermathmusic.com:
KAREEM ALI who is a real dope underground MC from Baltimore expressed much respect and gratitude for you pushing a website like Letmehearitmusic.com. Do you see the website attracting and inspiring underground artists to get heard on an international level?
Bishop Lamont:
I hope so because that's what I'm looking for. Actually we've found a few cats that are really dope but I've been out of town so it's been real busy getting back to everyone. But there have been a few dope artists that got it so we're trying to get some things moving with them. But it's been very rough around the edges which I understand so I just want to cultivate that and inspire and motivate people to really work on their craft. It could be a production situation because it shapes artists up. There are even some talks right now about making it a TV show so it'll be interesting.
Aftermathmusic.com:
That's dope, man… and for those who aren't aware people can access the http://www.Letmehearitmusic.com on your official website http://www.bishoplamont.com correct?
Bishop Lamont:
Yes sir!
Aftermathmusic.com:
You also have some cool new promotional t-shirts for sale on your website to, right?
Bishop Lamont:
Yeah there are a lot of things going on with that I don't even know about, ha-ha. My "Momager" is always on the move and making stuff happen. We had a lot of "****** Noize" t-shirts and promo but we got a little behind with all the government headaches with that mix-tape. But all that stuff is about to be available as well as some new promo things for the "Caltroit" mix-tape.
Aftermathmusic.com:
What about the state of Hip Hop in general? Do you think there's hope for the industry to start shifting back to some dope creative Hip Hop in the mainstream?
Bishop Lamont:
Oh yeah we're doing it, you know? People supporting "****** Noize" and artists like me always shows that there's a shift in the paradigm and that it's growing. That's why I really appreciate everyone's support and what you guys have done for us. Being that I'm signed to Aftermath a lot of fans listen to what I'm doing so it's happening.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Many fans acknowledge what stars like The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac have done for rap music. But do you think most young fans today fail to recognize what people like KRS-ONE, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Kool Herc as well as other pioneers have done for the Hip Hop culture?
Bishop Lamont:
Hell yeah because most cats came in during the Biggie era and the Pac era. They were just east coasting it out or west coasting it out. The two monsters of music at that time were 2Pac and Biggie. But for any real listeners that go beyond that, they recognize the Rakim's, KRS ONE's, the Daddy Kane's and Kool Herc. So it's about having these new cats that are in to Hip Hop and the age issue. It's about educating young fans with what these pioneers did and what influence they had on us. There wouldn't be a Nas if it wasn't for Rakim. There wouldn't be a Kanye West if it wasn't for KRS or Jay-Z wouldn't have effectively utilized the idea for "The Blueprint". "I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the old school" which is what Pac was saying on "Me Against The World" just giving love to his inspirations and what he experienced coming up in New York. Biggie was down with Chub Rock and learned from legends like Heavy D and SuperCat.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Speaking of Hip Hop as a whole or as an enormous epic street story, do you feel that younger generation fans are missing out on some of Hip Hop's other elements like break-dancing and graffiti?
Bishop Lamont:
I think some are in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes it's about being experienced and going to the next level. Some people only get into Hip Hop from one angle. Some like to get into it just to be a DJ, some just want the MC part, some would rather do graffiti than break-dance and vis-à-vis. But I did it all, you know what I mean… that's just how I came into it.
Aftermathmusic.com:
Alright… what would you say are your top five Hip Hop records of all time?
Bishop Lamont:
Ah, man that's a difficult one and I'll probably be killed for forgetting something, ha-ha. Since I was just talking about the Pac album I can say "Me Against The World", Artifacts "The Wrong Side of the Tracks", DJ Quick "Safe and Sound" and umm… Keith Murray's first album. There's so many, man… I could just go on and on.
Aftermathmusic.com:
What other music besides Hip Hop do you really enjoy listening to?
Bishop Lamont:
Ah man Jazz! I'm just getting back into Miles Davis, learning more things and history, Cold Train and getting deeper into Blues and Rock. Of course some classic old R&B and some Earth, Wind & Fire.
In part 2 of this exclusive two part interview Bishop talks more about Aftermath, his Aftermath label-mates, his debut album "The Reformation", "DETOX", Eminem's new record and more!
You can listen to Bishop Lamont give me a special shoutout here: http://www.Aftermathmusic.com
From: http://www.aftermathmusic.com
