Clearly, Harry Belafonte has seen better days, judging by the Fester-like countenance the Day-O don sports with ex-Aftermath refugee, Bishop Lamont. But a half-century ago, when he ran the Catskill Resort circuit, Belafonte wooed my grandmother, who was reportedly once quite “a dish.” The story goes that the efforts were unsuccessful — thanks to my great-grandfather — who was having none of his youngest daughter running off with an unsavory entertainer. However, in spite of this, the Calypso king reportedly bestowed her with a massive fruit basket and a note divulging his hotel particulars. There are so many puns that I want to make invoking the lyrics to “Day-O,” but I will exercise restraint — for once.
But this post is not about Harry Belafonte, it is about Bishop Lamont, who I interviewed for the Times about leaving Aftermath, his plans for the future, and why labels sign West Coast rappers and give them less playing time than El-P Brian Scalabrine. Should you run into me in a bar anytime over the next year , I might be willing to paraphrase the unexpurgated transcript if you’re buying. Suffice to say, I do not expect Detox in stores anytime soon. I do expect to see more music from Bishop, who really is one of the rap game’s good guys: generous, witty, and exceptionally gifted. Like Rakim, Rae, Joell, and all the rest, he did not deserve Aftermath excommunication, but I’m excited to see what he’ll do next. For those unfamiliar with the head of the Diocese, the mixtapes below should provide an ample introduction. Church.
MP3: Bishop Lamont & Indef – “Money On My Head”
ZIP: Bishop Lamont & Indef – Team America: Fuck Yeah
ZIP: Bishop Lamont & Black Milk – Caltroit
ZIP: Bishop Lamont – Nigger Noize
ZIP: Bishop Lamont – The Confessional
2 comments
spirit equality says:
January 30, 2010 at 10:52 pm (UTC -7)
you know how lame it is to make fun of someone like harry belafonte, who played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement and thus was a forward thinker in an era when entertainers just grinned in the face of oppression?
what is a shame is that he’s even posing with bishop lamonte, who hasn’t shown a fraction of the guts or vision as belafonte has in a long life of service.
you really should edit this and toss that entire first paragraph. it’s not humorous, it’s cruel and superficial to boot.
Passion of the Weiss says:
January 30, 2010 at 11:08 pm (UTC -7)
You’re being absurdly over-sensitive. No one was making fun of Harry Belafonte’s career or achievements. I was relating a true anecdote to accompany a supremely random but rather awesome photo. Lighten up, man.