Here is DJ Strong‘s official statement about the controversy with him bootlegging Bishop Lamont‘s “The Confessional” mixtape:
“Contrary to what my normal ethic is, in regards to my artists and my mixtapes. There has been a confusion about the latest mixtapes release, with great respect to all concerned, I apologize that this has gotten to such a point and that it has affected alot of people. I am very sorry that this all happened and in my excitement to make this project a big success one miscommunicated mistake was made.
A special apology goes out to Bishop Lamont, i would never do anything out of spite to hurt the very artists we’ve been wanting to see so successful out here on the west coast for such a long time.
We as the west coast really need to stick together especially now that we are all getting to a point where alot of artists are about to come out; from Game to Glasses Malone to Ice Cube to Omar Cruz and many many others. For us to not deal with this in a better way is really hurting what we have all worked so hard to build for so many years.
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Hip hop is really being attacked from all sides right now from radio stations to public leaders and from the outside, and for each one of us to turn on each other is going to ruin the very thing that keeps us alive: waiting for the next song or the next artist to tell their story. This is in the best interest for the West Coast and hip hop as a whole. We can turn this into a positive thing for the West Coast!” – DJ Strong
