#WESTCOASTWEDNESDAYS: Bishop Lamont "How To Rap" Interview Series (WEEK 2)

[Rud]

http://www.dubcnn.com/
http://www.dubcnn.com/interviews/bishoplamont-howtorapseries/ - READ ITS INCREDIBLE TRUST ME!

Missed last weeks with Lady of Rage? Slap yourself then check out > http://www.dubcnn.com/connect/index.php?topic=263330.0

#Westcoast Wednesdays: Bishop Lamont "How To Rap" Interview - By : Rud - February 16, 2011

 

It's Wednesday so that can mean only one thing, #WESTCOASTWEDNESDAYS on Dubcnn! As explained last week it has been 5 years sine Paul Edwards contacted Dubcnn with the idea he had to write a book focusing on the Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC and asking for help in speaking to artists themselves to get their input. Years later and with more interviews than countless journalists will ever manage to secure Paul finally released his epic read to critical acclaim and commercial success, it has been in Amazon's Top 10 Hip-Hop and Rap books since it came out and it's also being published in Japanese and Korean.

How To Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC is compiled from interviews with over 100 MCs, and featuring many West Coast artists.

Highlights include – Shock G describing working with 2Pac and his writing processes, RBX on ghostwriting for Dr. Dre, Lady of Rage explaining how she comes up with flows and content, B-Real recalling how he came up with Cypress Hill’s biggest hits, Crooked I on writing lyrics down and using tape recorders, DJ Quik discussing being both an MC and a produce, E-40 on coming up with slang and rhythms and much more.

Other West Coast artists and groups interviewed include Bishop Lamont, Cashis, Crooked I, Yukmouth, Glasses Malone, Guerilla Black, Omar Cruz, Spider Loc, The Federation, Tha Alkaholiks and more.

Now, thanks to the great relationship between Dubcnn and Paul Edwards, the writer has given Dubcnn EXCLUSIVE rights to release all the key WestCoast interviews that were compiled to create How To Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC. Each of these interviews give an insight into an artists thought process around creating a track and help you understand why being a Hip-Hop MC is truly an Art and Science!

For the first week of Westcoast Wednesdays: The "How To Rap" Interview Series we presented you with the exclusive and first seen full version of The Lady of Rage Interview that took place in March 2007 for the book. Today we are back with an even bigger and more detailed insight into the artform, this time from Bishop Lamont in February 2007, this really isnt to be missed! He discusses how he got started, how he set about learning his craft, perfecting his skills both writing and recording, divulges information about working with artists including Busta Rhymes, ghostwriting for Warren G and its challenges and OF COURSE hits us off with what Dr. Dre is like as a producer and mentor for an aspiring artist.

Westcoast Wednesdays: The "How To Rap" Interview Series: Bishop Lamont (Week Two)

We want to support Paul Edwards, the How To Rap book and of course the artists involved by getting #WESTCOASTWEDNESDAYS trending on Twitter - we need your help and support!

Enjoy the interview and please ensure you support the release by buying this incredible book on Amazon or a local bookstore. For more information check out HowToRap.com.

Next on #WESTCOASTWEDNESDAYS: Shock G!

[cmk1]

Damn Bro that's great! Support 

[sofdark]

nice

[Action!]

probably interviewed in 2007 based on his comments, back when he was still on the math

[Rud]

probably interviewed in 2007 based on his comments, back when he was still on the math

yes...we state the interview time...Feb 2007


Props all for checking, keep it coming - SPREAD THE WORD

[Dre-Day]

thanks for the interview, nice series

How to Rap: Have you picked up any tips from anyone else?

Bishop Lamont: Definitely Busta Rhymes, Dre always got some magic for you, not really outside of them… Elzhi, T3, Black Milk, Kardinal Offical, it’s always some kinda flavors from architects, some dope architects like that, Stat Quo. There’s a few that’s on the same page with understanding rapping in key. Because cats be sounding so garbage over their beats because they don’t realize keys, they don’t understand tones, you have to approach it the same way you approach an R&B record, that’s why motherfuckers be shouting over records that they shouldn’t be shouting over, they be sounding all raspy over shit they shouldn’t sound raspy over. They have no understanding of keys and tones and adjusting to compliment the beat. So I think collectively they’ve all shown me different aspects of that.


How to Rap: So you try to match the pitch of the music with your voice?

Bishop Lamont: Any smart motherfucker should!

How to Rap: What’s more important to you, the subject matter or the flow you’re using?

Bishop Lamont: Subject matter is always… but it’s a marriage, it’s a two-way street, so both have to be above and beyond, it has to be perfect.

with comments like these, i wonder why his flow often sounds lazy

[UCC]

Great series - from Bishop's last answers, it's cool that he does have a really good knowledge of hip-hop, like the classic and underground artists... I think more rappers need that...

It also reminds me of when Bishop first started getting buzz, he was more like an underground-style MC at that point,
I think maybe he works better like that? Like if he was on tracks with Boot Camp Clik, and Dilated Peoples, Slum Village, Pharcyde, etc.
that way he's able to do more conceptual stuff and funny stuff which I think is his strong point...

The problem about going mainstream is that you have to do more stuff like club tracks, and gangsta tracks, and that makes Bishop seem less interesting when he has to do that sort of stuff, and I think he sounds better on those more sampled, harder underground and east coast beats a lot of the time, rather than the clubby mainstream beats

[Rud]

props for checking and feeding back, we need more this, spark debate!

UCC - some great points raised, especially the point about having to try and take your style which has built a buzz and then having to flip it please the mainstream and ultimately the label who have to want to back you

[repthatwest]

"now that you’re working with Dre and everything?"

have you been living under a rock Rud?

[Rud]

"now that you’re working with Dre and everything?"

have you been living under a rock Rud?

Not at all...but you may have lost the ability to read the concept of this series...and what we are uncovering for you here...!

[repthatwest]

"now that you’re working with Dre and everything?"

have you been living under a rock Rud?

Not at all...but you may have lost the ability to read the concept of this series...and what we are uncovering for you here...!

no, not realy - unless this interview is 12 months old, your question was flawed. Perhaps "now that youve had experience working with Dre and everything?" would be more fitting.

Otherwise, good interview!

[Rud]

"now that you’re working with Dre and everything?"

have you been living under a rock Rud?

Not at all...but you may have lost the ability to read the concept of this series...and what we are uncovering for you here...!

no, not realy - unless this interview is 12 months old, your question was flawed. Perhaps "now that youve had experience working with Dre and everything?" would be more fitting.

Otherwise, good interview!

Ok....Once again, you havent read the concept of this "interview series" - take a moment to read the update in its entitety and then the date the interview took place...

[repthatwest]

"now that you’re working with Dre and everything?"

have you been living under a rock Rud?

Not at all...but you may have lost the ability to read the concept of this series...and what we are uncovering for you here...!

no, not realy - unless this interview is 12 months old, your question was flawed. Perhaps "now that youve had experience working with Dre and everything?" would be more fitting.

Otherwise, good interview!

Ok....Once again, you havent read the concept of this "interview series" - take a moment to read the update in its entitety and then the date the interview took place...

well slap me with a sausage,... i withdraw my criticism

[Action!]

thanks for the interview, nice series

How to Rap: Have you picked up any tips from anyone else?

Bishop Lamont: Definitely Busta Rhymes, Dre always got some magic for you, not really outside of them… Elzhi, T3, Black Milk, Kardinal Offical, it’s always some kinda flavors from architects, some dope architects like that, Stat Quo. There’s a few that’s on the same page with understanding rapping in key. Because cats be sounding so garbage over their beats because they don’t realize keys, they don’t understand tones, you have to approach it the same way you approach an R&B record, that’s why motherfuckers be shouting over records that they shouldn’t be shouting over, they be sounding all raspy over shit they shouldn’t sound raspy over. They have no understanding of keys and tones and adjusting to compliment the beat. So I think collectively they’ve all shown me different aspects of that.


How to Rap: So you try to match the pitch of the music with your voice?

Bishop Lamont: Any smart motherfucker should!

How to Rap: What’s more important to you, the subject matter or the flow you’re using?

Bishop Lamont: Subject matter is always… but it’s a marriage, it’s a two-way street, so both have to be above and beyond, it has to be perfect.

with comments like these, i wonder why his flow often sounds lazy

All I can think is their one takes or he doesn't give a fuck because a large percentage of his content is about hip-hop and how he thinks it sucks so he adopts this "lazy, I'm fucking better than y'all" flow. 

He can spit with passion and a fierceness when he chooses to.

[Action!]

probably interviewed in 2007 based on his comments, back when he was still on the math

yes...we state the interview time...Feb 2007


Props all for checking, keep it coming - SPREAD THE WORD

My bad.  I just skimmed it to get a sense of his opinion.