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!
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'!
