Young Bank$

For Los Angeles natives, only getting drafted by the Lakers can top signing a deal with Dr. Dre, the legendary producer who has directly or indirectly helped shape the career of nearly every great rapper the city has produced in the last 20 years.

But four years ago, when Carson-raised Bishop Lamont released his first mixtape, “Who I Gotta Kill to Get a Record Deal,” the idea of signing with Dre seemed quixotic. Originally, his goal was to ink a contract with Kanye West, who had been rumored to have liked Lamont’s debut. So when Lamont learned that West was slated to appear in the video for the Game’s “Dreams,” he and his friend Glasses Malone (currently signed to Cash Money Records) broke onto the set, swiped a video cart and loitered around the craft services table, waiting for the self-proclaimed "Louis Vuitton Don" to appear.

Instead, Dre emerged from a nearby trailer, causing Lamont to jettison his original plan and beg a mutual friend for an introduction. Promising that he’d bump it on the drive home, Dre took a mixtape from the skeptical Lamont, who never expected to hear from him again. Yet two weeks later, on Power 106, Dre name-dropped Lamont and expressed his desire to meet him.

Nearly five years later, the now Aftermath-signed Lamont continues to labor on both Dre’s mythically delayed “Detox” and his own similarly dilatory debut, "The Reformation." To sustain subterranean buzz, he’s released six mixtapes in the interim, including "Caltroit," his 2007 collaboration with Detroit production phenom Black Milk featuring guest spots ranging from Dre, Busta Rhymes, Ras Kass and Royce Da’ 5’9".

It’s this readiness to breach the increasingly irrelevant gap between major label and independent, coupled with a brutal, unedited and hilarious honesty that makes Lamont so refreshing. Moreover, in the course of his seven mixtapes, Lamont’s flashed an artistic breadth that delineates him from the DatPiff horde, writing everything from introspective eulogies to crossover 50 Cent-like ballads to slaughterhouse battle raps.

While “The Reformation” remains sans release date, Lamont stays sanguine and always in the studio, planning a sequel to "Caltroit," continuing work on “Detox,” his own album and upcoming Xzibit and Warren G efforts — unless he gets drafted by the Lakers first.


You just got back from New York. What were you doing out there?
I was doing some records with 50 Cent, a little bit of radio stuff, a Source article, just trying to finish my record, doing some documentaries and DVD stuff for it. You know how it is.

Were the records with 50 for his album or yours?
For mine.

How’s it coming along?
It’s coming along amazing. I’m good friends with DJ Whoo Kid, and 50, Yayo and Banks are like my big brothers. So we set something up and they always show me love. I was trying to plug myself correctly in New York, because I rarely have the opportunity to get out there. 50 and Whoo Kid always give me the best advice on the industry.

So can we expect to see you in the next Pimpin’ Curly skit?
Pimpin’ Curly is between Rick Ross and 50. A lot of people have been trying to jump on the bandwagon and take sides, but I’m cool with both of them.

Last time we spoke, you’d expressed frustration about the time frame related to the release of “The Reformation.” Has the situation improved?
It always gets better. We’ve got a time in place. We have to put “Detox” out first and we’re finishing it now. Eminem’s going to drop soon, then 50, then Detox, then me and Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks. Smash after smash. You’re always dealing with the politics of the labels, but it’s a million times better now. There’s a lot more communication.

You’d also mentioned a who’s who of producers that you were working with. Have you enlisted any new contributors?
It’s still a who’s who of producers [laughs]. We’ve got new amazing stuff from Scoop DeVille, that guy is incredible. And Kahlil, King Karnov, who is insanely good. Of course, Hi-Tek, Clark Kent, DJ Premier, there’s always somebody new. I’ve been fortunate to come in contact with a lot of amazing people. I’m looking forward to working with will.i.am. I also challenged Timbaland to a bench-pressing contest for a beat, so hopefully, I’ll get a beat from Timbaland.

How much can you bench?
450 pounds.

That’s insane.
That’s what stress and this business will do to you.

So how is the album itself progressing?
It just keeps getting better in terms of the direction of where I want it go. It’s like “America’s Next Top Model,” when a hotter model comes along, another one gets out. They still might get a contract and do magazine work, but I want to make sure that what I have is the freshest and best stuff out there. And, of course, continue to put out dope street albums for the people.

Whatever happened to your plans to make a “Team America: World Police"-themed project?
It still must happen, but “Caltroit: Metropolis" is probably the next thing I’m going to put out, and me and [highly regarded Long Beach rapper] Crooked I are doing a “No Country for Old Men” tape. I just don’t want to lose focus. When it comes to my album, I go into overdrive — I want all my craziest energy into the project.

So is it true that the “No Country for Old Men” tape is targeted at Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg?
Yup, they wanted to speak on Crooked and I in a derogatory manner, as though we couldn’t hold up the West Coast. We’re not doing it in a manner of trying to slander them, but we’re facing adversity in trying to establish ourselves and it’s frustrating to see guys we looked up to not wanting us to succeed, Snoop in particular. We still love those dudes, but we won’t tolerate any disrespect. It shouldn’t be like this, with outsiders looking at us and saying the West Coast has no unity. Those guys are like Larry Bird and Dr. J, they’re not still trying to play ball. Either show love or go to work as a color commentator... and it’s not like the old days, where we didn’t have our business down right. We know how to make it work. But if they don’t want to pass the torch and they think they can still ball, then they need to step on the court.

You also spoke about problems with the Game recently. How does that situation currently stand?
I’m not trying to hate on the Game. At the end of the day, his mom and my mom are close friends. They go on vacation with T-Pain’s mom and Lil Wayne’s mom. It’s an issue of disrespect. He knows what it’s about. I’m not on some Wrestlemania-type stuff; he talked about me and I dished it back.

If someone had never been to a Bishop Lamont show, what can they expect?
Always something ignorant, comedy, surprises. I’ll be sharing the light at the Knitting Factory show, giving shine and exposure to new artists. It’s about positivity. People come in with problems and you want them to leave with good energy.

21andComptonBLVD

He can bench 450 pounds that's so crazy, he does have pretty big arms. But can't wait for The Reformation and his album with Crooked I to drop...gonna be sick...

robert henry

His eyebrows are even bigger!

But if what he is saying is true, then damn...SHADY/AFTERMATH/G-UNIT!

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Yet Untitled Album - Coming This Month!

Raskae

Bishop Lamont Reveals Interscope plans, not Interscope Reveal Bishop Lamont....

Thats the thing that should be other way around.

Bishop Has Been revealing Interscope plans for over 5 years now.

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50 Tried to Bait Ye and Lost, Wayne ignored him,Jay Ignoring him,Game ignored his disses on BISD,Dude is over, with his "The actual enviroment of the aggressive content putting sales down in a bad space" shit,dude is a delusional retard..Ross Sold More than him

ns_diplomat

^^real talk..unfortunately hahaha

LOL wrong answer. I thought G-Unit/Shady/Aftermath was one big family. If some1 has beef, the whole click got beef.
Now 50 wont be on ya album :/ lol

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G-Unit/Shady/Aftermath!!
"Shout out to all the people in Montreal - Montreal is real hood. Real gangsta out there." - Juelz Santana

reeuQ A sI emyaG

damn that means Banks and Yayo won't drop till 2010

I.C.U!

Not only is Bishop Lamont a artist(?) under Interscope.. he's the spokesperson too....

It's like he want people to think he is in the middle of everything moving/a VIP over there or some shit. He do alotta talking but as far as I remember nothing he said actually happened yet...he talk like he so sure about everything other than when HIS shit is gone be released.

Yeah right...

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Raskae

Bishop Lamont is clueless, he has no idea whats going on, Dre aint even fucking with Him, he is the Next Gage, Joel Ortiz and Stat Que. that nigga is a nobody dont belive anything he says.


also, Jimmy will not give Yayo or Banks an album budget, watch, with sales thses days, Digital era, Rescession, They be lucky doing Nelly Numbers, and i am sure after TOS sales, Jimmy aint even thinking of Putting anybody out

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50 Tried to Bait Ye and Lost, Wayne ignored him,Jay Ignoring him,Game ignored his disses on BISD,Dude is over, with his "The actual enviroment of the aggressive content putting sales down in a bad space" shit,dude is a delusional retard..Ross Sold More than him

Joey111

Eh ? Bishop signed in late 05, so it's more like 2/3 years.

Raskae

He has been behind scenes for ages, in terms of Industry, even Before Game, he was already known to the Aftermath,

They met at Dreams video shoot and thats 2004-2005. thats at least 3.5 years.

Why does it matter if its 3 or 5? By the time he releases an album, its gonna be 5-6 years and he gonna be over 30.

ANd thats just 1 album.

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50 Tried to Bait Ye and Lost, Wayne ignored him,Jay Ignoring him,Game ignored his disses on BISD,Dude is over, with his "The actual enviroment of the aggressive content putting sales down in a bad space" shit,dude is a delusional retard..Ross Sold More than him

chickenwings

uh i dont mean to crush your dreams but bishop lamont has a bunch of youtube clips with dre, and hes done more work on detox then anyone else no named dre. that sure is generous of dre if he "aint even fucking with Him".

New West Order

Bishop>>>>>>>>

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Sparks37

Its more like "Bishop Lamont Reveals Interscope's 2010-2011 Plans" since everything on Interscope is continuously pushed back ...


Propz for the info even though I don't give much credit to it as everything Bishop announced as , to date, been fake...

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In stores on December 15th.

Raskae

yep, you are right homie, 100 video clips of Dre and Bishop Working on the album, but no songs or album material,

id Rather have no video clips and maybe 1 or 2 songs, like Cham Drops or Crooked I from time to time, rather than A Whole Sequel of Documentaries about Detox tales and no material for 7 years.

Keep hoping.

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50 Tried to Bait Ye and Lost, Wayne ignored him,Jay Ignoring him,Game ignored his disses on BISD,Dude is over, with his "The actual enviroment of the aggressive content putting sales down in a bad space" shit,dude is a delusional retard..Ross Sold More than him

Joey111

Actually Bishop has 2 Dre tracks out: No Stoppin Carson and Grow Up. I'm a big Game fan just like you but even I know that Game was in the exact same situation few years ago untill the co-sign from G-Unit happened. Read that Stat Quo interview where he says that Dre only mixed a couple of Game's records untill 50 came into the mix.

Raskae

What does Game have to do with the situation that Bishop has? They are completely 2 different Humans??

We are talking about Bishop lamont not Game and Bishop having 2 songs prod By Dre? So What? How is that Helping the situation he is in?

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50 Tried to Bait Ye and Lost, Wayne ignored him,Jay Ignoring him,Game ignored his disses on BISD,Dude is over, with his "The actual enviroment of the aggressive content putting sales down in a bad space" shit,dude is a delusional retard..Ross Sold More than him

scool

exactly

he always makes it sound like he's in the studio with 50 cent and dr dre all the time chopping it up and shit while he prolly sees dre like once a month lol

bishop is not going anywhere... he can talk shit all he wants, he can diss Game too.. but at the end of the day Game is working on his 4th album lol, bishop ain't got one tape to his name

Sparks37

???????????


Who I Gotta Kill to Get a Record Deal, Vol. 1 (2004)
N*gger Noize hosted by DJ Skee (2007)
Caltroit with Black Milk (2007)
The Pope Mobile (2007)
The Confessional hosted by DJ Whoo Kid (2008)


Those ain't tapes ?

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In stores on December 15th.

Joey111

Why ?

Since you were saying how Bishop is waiting on the shelf for 3 years as if that is something completley uncommon when it comes to Aftermath. They are both Dre's proteges from the westcoast, both waited long time for their album to get released. The main difference is that Game got co-signed by G-Unit back then when they were at their peak of popularity. Bishop doesn't have that, not to mention the state the music bussines is right now. IMO Bishop is heavily involved in writing for Detox but he'll never drop an album on Aftermath just like Hittman because he falls more into the Hittman, King T, Rakim, Raekwon bracket. And Aftermath/Interscope don't know how to market rappers like these.

chickenwings

bishop IS in the studio every day with dre. thats what he gets paid for and even dre said it himself. and if it wasnt true then how does all the studio footage of him & dre exist? maybe you think bishop shot it on greenscreen and they photoshopped dre and the studio into the background. lol

oh btw bishop got a bunch of tapes out and theyve all been real successful

Hakaroodi

ight propz..

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scool

lmfao by tape I meant album... sorry guys...


and to continue the comparisation, Game got more albums AND more tapes too....

Plus.. game mixtapes are a hell of a lot better than bishop's ... the "you know what it is" series is unfuckwithable.... unlike that wack Lax album

Raskae

The fact that G unit helped Game is undeniable, 50 helped Game alot, alot more than anybody ever did, but The fact that Game can still have career on his own and keeps his name out there is the proof that Game is Game.

He doesnt have to answer Dre, 50 or Em, Like Shady/Math/ Gunit Signees, all he gotta do now is Take Material to Jimmy, Striaght to him, He brought LAX shit to him, NJD said that, he took LAX Material To Jimmy and Jimmy Loved it, HE didnt even Have a budget, he worked on LAX himself, for free, pretty much, and than Jimmy Paid for all the costs.


With Bishop its different, he has to answer to Dre, and Dre said, Grow up wasnt strong enough.

Seriously, i wish i had a time machine to show u guys that Bishop wont go anywhere.


And stop talking G unit+Game shit, as if there was harm to it, everbody Was happy, Fans were getting the music, Gunit was popping, 50 was getting paid, Game was getting paid, and now, Game is getting paid, 50 is getting 100 mils a year, So why Game?


We are talking Bishop here, what Happened to Game is another thing,

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50 Tried to Bait Ye and Lost, Wayne ignored him,Jay Ignoring him,Game ignored his disses on BISD,Dude is over, with his "The actual enviroment of the aggressive content putting sales down in a bad space" shit,dude is a delusional retard..Ross Sold More than him

Purdu

Dre actually thought that the beat wasn't complete or something like that. It probably had nothing to do with Bishop.

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"Top 5 dead or alive, your list is buggin me, count myself twice, the rest of Slaughterhouse the other three"

Joey111

I never said anything about Game after he left Aftermath. He more than proved that he can esatblish himself as a close platinum/gold rapper. It's all about getting that chance to have your album in the stores, which is the biggest catch of the music game. Everyday somebody gets signed but not everyone releases an album.