Bishop Lamont

Even though Dr. Dre mentored him during the mid-2000s, Carson, CA, native Bishop Lamont never aligned with the gangsta archetype common among his West Coast contemporaries. Blending underground hip-hop sensibilities with mainstream appeal, the rapper explored an eclectic range of subjects—street narratives, sociopolitical commentary, and religious themes—that positioned him as a rising force in the regional scene.

Philip Martin, born in Inglewood, relocated repeatedly across Los Angeles neighborhoods during his childhood before establishing roots in Carson. At age 13 he began rapping, deliberately steering clear of street involvement while amassing an extensive library of hip-hop cassettes, records, and compact discs. After producing his own recordings, he gained notice when Kanye West received a copy of the mixtape Who I Gotta Kill to Get a Record Deal, Vol. 1. Plans for a meeting with West during the 2005 video shoot for the Game’s “Dreams” fell through when West withdrew, prompting Lamont instead to deliver the project directly to Dr. Dre. Weeks afterward, Dr. Dre expressed interest during a radio interview, leading to Lamont’s signing with Aftermath before the end of 2005.

His recording career advanced steadily from that point. Close collaboration with Warren G yielded multiple appearances on the 2005 release In the Mid-Nite Hour, while Lamont also contributed music to video games such as NBA Live 06 and Madden NFL 07. By 2007 his widely circulated internet and street mixtapes had elevated his visibility and underscored Dr. Dre’s endorsement of the intricate lyricist. Notable among these projects were N*gger Noize (2007), Caltroit (2007)—a joint effort with Detroit MC/producer Black Milk—and Pope Mobile (2008). Lamont embraced the moniker “the Platinum Backpacker,” drawing widespread attention from fans and outlets by pairing underground producers such as 9th Wonder and Black Milk with mainstream figures including Scott Storch and Danjahandz. Throughout 2007 and 2008, promotion for his planned debut The Reformation ran parallel to anticipation for Dr. Dre’s long-delayed third album Detox, given Lamont’s substantial involvement in the latter; commentators likened his anticipated contribution to the role Snoop Dogg played on Dr. Dre’s G-funk landmark The Chronic.