Interview With The Blaq Tongue Society

I honestly can't remember exactly when it was that it happened... I just know it was sometime last year. What I do remember was walking into Pogo's ( a little dive bar in the San Fernando Valley ) one night with my back pack on. I had been there enough times for security to know that all I had in the bag was my laptop, sketch book, and a pen and note pad. So, without delay, I made my way to the bar. That's were I found the 2 members of the Blaq Tongue Society I was there to meet. I greeted Strang3r Dang3r and Louie Syntax, as I ordered a rum and coke and pulled up a stool. Just after I got my drink, my ILUMN8ed brethren Tony walked in and joined us.

...I had been talking to Tony about wanting ILUMN8 Co to collaborate with other artist. At about the same time, Tony had been talking to B.T.S. about working on a project together. So Tony arranged to have us all meet up to brain storm and go over ideas. After a couple of meetings,some phone calls, texts, and emails, we decide to make T-shirts and posters with a Stay Illuminated x Blaq Tongue Society horror movie theme design. We titled our mock movie project "The Illuminated Society" and we all worked together to create the artwork for the shirts and posters.

In addition to the T-shirt Co-Lab, we had also been working on the artwork for Louie Syntax's debut solo album. That night, we were finalizing both the album and Co-Lab art, over brews and cancer sticks. While we were there, I took the opportunity to briefly interview Louie and Strang3r about the past and future of the Blaq Tongue Society and Louie Syntax as a solo artist. Below the first part of the interview are some rare images of the enigmatic Blaq Tongue Society that I was fortunate enough to capture, at the Hansen Dam, on a hot sunny Easter Sunday...

Interview with the Blaq Tongue Society

B - Who founded the Blaq Tongue Society?

S.D.- Krylox appointed me and told me, "he's lookin' out for little bro." He said, "...You'll have to leave Ground Common (the group Strang3r Dang3r was in at the time) and you'll find a new cast..."

B - How long ago did this happen?

S.D. - Krylox called upon me to go out and assemble the Blaq Tongue Society in 2010. Before becoming the Blaq Tongue Society, C.H.U.Dz ( Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellez) spawned. After some changes and additions, B.T.S. was formed. 

B - Explain who Krylox is.

S.D. - Our Lord and master!

S.D. & L.S. - All hail Lord Krylox!

B - How did you find everyone?

S.D. - Krylox guided me and lead me to them. I met SeveriN Kyrax and Louie Syntax at a Bud the Cudd show and was introduced to Vice The Anti-Hero through a neighbor of mine. Whu Dat (Strang3r's younger sister) was always around. But it wasn't until we were recording the last song for the album that we brought her on and officially made her a part of the group.

B - What about Sludge, what's up with him?

L.S. - Sludge is like our hype-man. He doesn't rap or say anything, but he always comes out with us on stage. He adds to our shows, it wouldn't be a Blaq Tongue show without him.

S.D - We met Sludge through my younger brother DJ NO I.D. They met on the short bus in school. My brother brought him over one day and he started hanging out with us. He just loves music and was around so we made him part of B.T.S.

B - You guys just added another member recently, too, right?

S.D. - Vice has been doing a side project with Grizzly AMX. AMX is a dope MC, we were working good together, and everyone is on the same level, in several ways. So we talked about it and we all decided that he should be a part of B.T.S. He's going to be on the second B.T.S. album that we are working on now....

B - So Louie's solo album is coming out soon, then Vice & AMX's project, and B.T.S.2 after that?

S.D. - Yeah. We have some other stuff we are working on and some other MCs we are working with. But that's for later, farther down the road. First Louie, then Vice and AMX, then B.T.S.2. 

B - Why did you pick Louie to be the first solo project out of the B.T.S. camp?

L.S. - My solo album kind of spawned the idea for B.T.S. We've been working on it for a while, too. So it just made sense to start there. At the same time, it kind of segues into B.T.S.2.

B - Okay. So,, let me stop you there, as far as B.T.S. goes, for now... Let's talk about Louie Syntax...

At this point, the interview shifted focus and I talked more to Louie Syntax about his past, present, and future as an M.C., so I'm going to stop here. B.T.S.'s new album "Speaking In TongueZ"(B.T.S.2) is droppin' very soon. From what I understand, Krylox has approved all the tracks and the album is very close to being finished. So, for all the hip-hop heads that love raw lyrics over ill beats, make sure to keep an eye out for "Speaking In TongueZ"! And check back soon for more Bsombin'!

D.T.L.A. with A.L.L.

Thanks for checkin' out the Bsombin' blog! My good friend Jeff is the owner of At Last League. It is his apparel company that he's been working on for a couple-few years. He's recently released a new batch of designs that are definitely worth checking out!

 I've know my brother Jefroe for over 25 years. We were introduced through mutual friends, as kids, and became good friends through skateboarding. Over the years we grew out of skating and got into graffiti together (which eventually lead us both to the world or art and design). At one point, we even worked together. We have been through a lot together and have seen one another through some of the best and worst times of our lives. From boys on skateboards to men with computers & cameras, we have had a great friendship and been on a lot of crazy adventures together over the years. Maybe it's because we are both crazy and inspired to create, that our friendship has endured so long. Or maybe it has something to do with the way we motivate and inspire one another. But we are definitely kindred spirits that see eye to eye. I am thankful to have a friend like Jeff. It's always a good to see my brother. With that said, it should come as no surprise that Jefroe is one of my favorite people to go and shoot with. So, when homie hits me up to shoot, I'm almost always down to go. Last April, Froe hit me up one night and wanted to shoot. I had some spots he hadn't been to before, so we climbed in my truck and headed out to downtown...

 

Buds & Bandos

Thanks for checking out the Bsombin' blog! As I mentioned in my last "A Weekend In Guatemala" post, flying back into Los Angeles, and seeing the city lights from the sky, made me want to explore and shoot my city more than ever! So, when my brother Jefroe called and asked if I wanted to go shoot in the hood, I was quick to say yes!

Being that it was 420, my brotha-from-anotha-motha wanted to stop and get some prize winning medication to celebrate the "holiday". So, after meeting up with my bro, we were on our way out to the spot... We ended up somewhere south of DTLA and drove around the area exploring for a while before getting to the dispensary. It was a long wait for the crowned cannabis, but it was worth the wait. Once we were stocked and ready to roll, we made tracks to a "bando" Jefroe knew was close by.

It was an old abandoned logistics company's shipping office and docks which had become home to some of the areas homeless. You could see that people had been living in the building and there were several make-shift tents and enclosures surrounding the building. Not gonna lie to you, at first, I was a little nervous. The place was not the kind of place where you can relax and let down your guard. But after being there for a little while and meeting some of the homeless tenants, I calmed down and was able to focus more on shooting. It was interesting shooting a bando for the first time. It really made me think a lot about a lot. The combination of the homeless people, the abandoned building, all the trash and graffiti everywhere, the tents, the traffic, and the surrounding area being so modern and industrial, made being there feel very surreal and disturbing. It just goes to show how much of a mess our society really is. And how fragile and unstable it is too. Being in a major metropolis and sitting in an abandoned make-shift homeless shelter / street art gallery, had me thinking and feeling all kinds of things. Mostly, though, it brought about feelings of sadness for the homeless, and a greater appreciation for the things in life that I am blessed with. After about 20 minutes of shooting, we decided to vacate and head home.

Along the way, Jefroe encouraged me to do some "drive by shooting", since I was sitting shotgun. He took the long way home so I could get some shots of the city from the freeway. Afterwards we went back to Froe's and celebrated the "holiday" with some more friends. Good times with good friends and great ganja... Great end to a very thought provoking 420. Thanks again for checkin' out the blog! Check back soon for more Bsombin' and for more adventures in the City of Angels.