Bishop Lamont recently took a trip to Amsterdam and Rotterdam. While he was there, AllHipHop.com caught up with the Carson, California rapper and got his views on international Hip-Hop, the status of Dr. Dre’s Detox, friction with The Game and the positive side people seem to overlook.
AllHipHop.com: You recently recorded a song with rappers from Rotterdam, Netherlands.Bishop Lamont: With Lords of Chaos?
AllHipHop.com: Can you speak on that?
Bishop Lamont:
It’s a blessing. It’s about unifying Hip-Hop. N***as be fronting. It’s always an issue back in the States like between L.A. and the Bay. L.A. looks at the Bay like The Bay ain’t Hip-Hop. So the whole nation looks at the rest of the world and Europe like The Netherlands like they ain’t Hip-Hop. Me being here shows a presence that it is Hip-Hop and we are unified. These are beautiful spitters. It’s so redundant back in the States and the music period that you need to see more fly n***as.AllHipHop.com: On the song you did with the Lords of Chaos, you have a line where you say you don’t respond to the haters. Game recently had a song (“Blood Respect“) that took shots at you.
Bishop Lamont:
God bless him. I just got through talking about him and we’re going to can all that [beef]. I guess he feels a certain way and he wants to get it off his chest. So, I’m not even gonna knock that n***a back down and call him “baby girl” again. I’m gonna keep him a he instead of turning him into a she. I appreciate you thinking about me. [Game] knows were I’m at. It don’t mean nothing to me. I’m glad n***as are writing rhymes about me. Usually b****es are talking about me so when n****as are talking about me, I feel real pretty. “You like my muscles?” [Audience laughs.]“God bless The Game. I just got through talking about him and we’re going to can all that [beef]. I guess he feels a certain way and he wants to get it off his chest. So, I’m not even gonna knock that n***a back down and call him “baby girl” again.”
-Bishop Lamont
Its a waste of energy to lower yourself to that. I’m out here in Rotterdam and its great works [being created]. I go home and its more great works are created. I rap better than the n***a, I’m realer than the n***a. I’m in Compton more than you are. What do I have to say? He should have been dissing last year. I’m over it. AllHipHop.com: I know you can’t speak much about Dr. Dre and Detox. I know you can’t talk about it. But…
Bishop Lamont: What are you trying to set me up for, pimp? (Laughs)
AllHipHop.com:
We just want some clue as to what goes on in Dre’s mind. We’ve been waiting forever.Bishop Lamont: Me too!
AllHipHop.com: We’re looking at him to turn the Titanic around this year.
Bishop Lamont:
It’s definitely the Titanic and we’re about to hit that iceberg. I don’t know. That dude is an amazing dude. You can never tell what’s on his mind. I can speak on what’s in his heart. For the most part, he wants to deliver Detox, but he doesn’t feel that its up to par yet to give it to the world. Each installment has taken seven years and we’re up to 10 with this one. We’re going past that window so its are the people still gonna want it and can I give them with the same energy and the ambition that the people want to see it. N***as looking at it like its Big Foot or a unicorn or Loch Ness Monster. It’s taken on mythical levels. He has to surpass all that and deliver something amazing. So, hopefully…AllHipHop.com: Another legendary producer DJ Quik suggested he should do a new album…
Bishop Lamont: That’s what he did…
AllHipHop.com: …with a different title.
Bishop Lamont: It’s not a different title, but he did [change the album]
AllHipHop.com:
Was that because of leaks or…Bishop Lamont: Because of leaks and how he’s feeling in his mind. I can’t speak for him 100% until I speak to him, but from what it was before to what it is, he wants that s**t to be mega. I think n***as would be mad if we put out some bulls**t and it destroys the whole legacy. Other n***as albums didn’t live up to the expectations and now we’re coming to the godfather of rap, the Quincy Jones of rap. This n***a’s got to not only walk on water, but fly and s**t. We in the Matrix right now and that’s Morpheus. Neo is going to do his thing and I’m going to do what I gotta do with Morpheus.
AllHipHop.com:
What have you experienced?
Bishop Lamont: Just being able to walk though the neighborhoods. Usually when we come [to other countries] its off the plane to the hotel, sound check, do the show, pack up, back home. This way, you can connect with the people, feel the culture, meet in spirit and mind and do some fresh s**t. It’s lovely. And I just been drinking hella lot. I don’t smoke so the coffee shops don’t do it for me.
AllHipHop.com: I saw you in the coffee shop with Fredro Starr [of Onyx], MC Shan [of the 80’s collective the Juice Crew]…that was a moment in Hip-Hop.
Bishop Lamont: That was a moment for me. MC Shan was getting mad because it was pork on the grill. I wasn’t eating the pork, but mom was eating the pork. And Fredro, that’s family too. People that I listen too, I never thought I would be able to share a panel with or in conversation and Vodka. Shout out to Fred, you know we gotta get it in.
“That
dude is an amazing dude. You can never tell what’s on his mind. [People
are] looking at [Detox] like its Big Foot or a unicorn or Loch Ness
Monster. It’s taken on mythical levels. He has to surpass all that and
deliver something amazing.”
-Bishop Lamont on Detox
AllHipHop.com: Do you think we will ever see a time when Hip-Hop outside of the United States will be accepted as much as it is…
Bishop Lamont: Its already accepted. Its just a lot of haters and n****as with egos thinking that they did it. You know, back in the day, there used to be a lot of New York n***as that created Hip-Hop, they didn’t want to see what the West Coast was doing. Once they saw what the West Coast was doing, they embraced us. The South was feeling the same way. I’m sure you can recall with the Source Awards when Andre and Big Boi was on stage and said, “The South got something to say.” Now the South done said their piece and now the guys from the Netherlands are getting to say their piece. Other than that, Hip-Hop is real recycled. There’s no new flavor, there’s no new life. With us building that bridge, n***as are gonna have a whole new plethora – plethora, that’s a big word – of talent and soul giving their take on Hip-Hop.
AllHipHop.com: The organizer of the event, said she wanted to inspire the United States and we could help the international artists on the business front.
Bishop Lamont:
It’s happening. AllHipHop.com: In the coffee shop, you spoke about some of the more positive things that you do. You spoke about church and other things.“It’s about positivity, because God blesses every step you take. Its a
blessing for people to appreciate what I do. To be here and people love
what I do and to be inspired by what I do.”
-Bishop Lamont
Bishop Lamont: Shouts out to City of Refuge (church). I apologize. I’m not going to be there Sunday. I’m going to get it in next weekend, because I’ve done a lot of sinning here.[laughter.] But it’s about positivity, because God blesses every step you take. Its a blessing for people to appreciate what I do. To be here and people love what I do and to be inspired by what I do. That energy is a blessing. Just to breath is a blessing so its more important to live the positive than the negative. That’s no growth.
AllHipHop.com: What advice do you give the people of Holland? This is like Hip-Hop in the earlier days in America, because the money hasn’t come yet. Bishop Lamont: But you know what? It doesn’t matter if the money hasn’t come yet. The talent’s already here. And the dedication’s already here. The commitment is here. You build it, they will come. They are already on their way. That’s why I’m here. I didn’t get paid for this so this is from the heart.
Only advice is. Stay focused. Stay true to what you do. There’s no need for compromise, because you are blazing a new trail. You are basically creating your own destiny. They are pioneers and its an honor to be apart of that. It’s like the pyramids. I might not be around to see the full creation…or n***as getting to the moon…but they gonna get there. These are the architects.