Bishop Lamont can turn an interview into a mixtape. The animated Aftermath Records emcee shouts-out everybody from Ras Kass to David Beckham to the rap department at Interscope in between his lengthy, but always honest, complete answers to questions. He cites street classics, while hinting towards album material. At interludes, he routinely sniffs into the phone comically, mocking cocaine users and abusers, joking, “I just did a paragraph, not a line.” This is an entertainer, who whether he has an audience of one journalist or millions from his expected role on Dr. Dre's forthcoming Detox, commands a crowd.

Joined by Los Angeles radio icon and producer Damizza, the mood is light. A HipHopDX exclusive interview ignited by controversial statements made about a west coast peer last week yield more to the positives. Bishop has a highly-anticipated album, also Detox, the seeming archetype for such albums to touch upon. The former boasts Dr. Dre-produced tracks both compare to "Murder Was The Case" meets "Stan," as well as a grocery list of Hip Hop greatness including Lord Finesse, Grand Puba, J. Dilla and Talib Kweli. With a team of family, friends and superstars around him, creative discussion seems far more fitting than pull-quotes and static. Still, there's that too, embedded in the sermon. For now though, open your Hymnals and see a potential star of tomorrow take his alter.

HipHopDX: When Nas first appeared with Main Source or Jay-Z with Jaz-O, those premier records have gone on to mean so much in careers, and in discographies. From your early appearances with Warren G to Caltroit to your recent feature on Jake One’s album, how do you think your legacy will shape these records that you’ve been on at this point in your career?
Bishop Lamont: That’s a great question. I don’t even know where to tackle that from because there’s so much that we’re doing right now. It’s back to concentration camp, coming up with some more phenomenal Detox records. I got up with Lord Finesse on some whole ‘nother stuff, as far as more records for my album. I’m getting Grand Puba involved. It’s a lot of dope stuff. At the end of the day, for me, I think the stuff I’ve been working on, working on with Damizza, we’re stepping our A-game up to a whole new letter that comes before A. So I think it transcends everything we’ve done before. So I don’t even think I’ve established my legacy yet, but I think I’ve been putting up some good numbers and establishing my groundwork; I’ve got a great foundation. It’s still in this architecture stage that I’m still drawing up the schematics on. It’s gonna supercede everything else though, ‘cause there’s just so much going on right now.

I’m just growing, and just focused, and I’m going to Europe – all them fly places over there gave me so much new breath. Long ass answer [aside], I have no idea. I know it’s gonna be greater than it’s ever been before because I’m in such a great mindstate and spirit and focus, understanding what I have to do for me and what I have to.

DX: You mentioned Lord Finesse. When I interviewed you in early 2007, you were talking to me a lot about your love of Cella Dwellas, Keith Murray, Evil Dee, Buckwild, etc. It really inspired the ‘90s Hip Hop head in many of us. However, a lot of what we’ve heard on Pope Mobile for instance, hasn’t followed that direction. Do you still intend to go there?
Bishop Lamont: [My music is based on] if the beats or environment impresses that kind of approach on me. If I hear a hear a track and it’s a reminiscent of a dope Cella Dwellas record or a Lords of The Underground or Camp Lo “Luchini,” you just get stupid on some stupid shit. It’s not like I’m repressing, it’s just what approaches. Like when you look at N*gger Noize, N*gger Noize was what N*gger Noize was; Caltroit [click to listen] was what Caltroit was; Pope Mobile [click to listen] was more spiritual, more sexual – there’s a lot of things that come with religion, things that are more taboo, restrictive and just talkin’ crazy. With what’s going on now, getting the album ready and getting Detox, I’m letting it all out. It’s just when I get on those kind of records – like havin’ Buckwild on deck now, and I gotta call up Clark Kent, Bink, all these fly cats that are gonna bring that out – I’m still looking for Erick Sermon [click to read]. You’re gonna get those different avenues, but it’s not so much about me going, “I don’t want to do that right now. I want to street records. I want to do club records. I want to do sexy records.” It’s not a conscious thing, it’s just wherever I am, what I’m feelin’, if I’m watching too much South Park, then it’s gonna be stupid shit. At the end of the day, it’s gonna be what it’s gonna be. I don’t consciously try to repress or held back; I try to give as much of myself as I’m willing to give. Continued on page 2 »