DAGTANG LASON - NAGMAHAL AKO NG BAKLA

Their songs have been well known to street slabs, gangs, gays and gals spawning up to catching attention to few others. The song Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla makes all the 'hob-bob' in the internet and in the streets. The song is a painful abomination of a friend to a girl who broke his hearth, thereby getting a gay for a love instead. The song has a bit of lewdness if you were not used to hearing one. Nonetheless, dealing with the boys' creativity and fun rapping dudes – they're into the line!

Dagtang Lason is composed of the Buhawi (not Buhawi Menesis of Parokya Ni Edgar), Kadedna and Marbaggs from Olongapo City. The three of them have the rapping acumen on the spot or on board. They have the pinky to write songs in an entertaining manner and as light as feather (if you allow yourself to it).

Perhaps, they're happier than kings when they were nominated by Awit Awards for Best Rap. They didn't take home the splash but doesn't make sense for them who's consolation enough to hear their songs on radios. But fate did not get enough of them. Last October 10, 2010 another blow of nominations took them on board the Ateneo De Manila Theater for Rap Album of the Year, Rap Artist of the Year and Novelty Song of the Year. And guess what, they ended up thanking their fans, supporters, producers and God for the victory sweeter the second time around. They won as Best Novelty Song of the Year for the single Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla.

Dagtang Lason is now vying the hallway of fame and fortune with millions of hits in YouTube, consecutive interview and appearances in different and TV guesting – would they be 'poisonous' enough to topple few miles of their journey on the OPM highways? Their words and action will tell.

Can you tell us something about your first single “Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla”?
KADENA: Yung “Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla” actually nagawa naming yung song na ‘yun base sa experience ng isa naming kaibigan. Talagang nasaktan siya sa babae. Yung music kami pong tatlo ang gumawa pero ‘yung chorus was actually adapted from “Alaala” of White Lies.

Whose the main composers of the group?
MARBAGGZ: Kami ring pong tatlo, hati-hati kami.

What’s your take on your song “Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla” implied a negative message to the listeners?
MARBAGGZ: Hindi naming actually expected na magiging ganun magiging hit yung song namin.
ALBERT SUNGA (Marketing Manager of Ivory Music & Video butts in: Actually there was a controversy last year na yung song na “Banana” by Blank Tape pinapa-banned siya sa radio tapos nadamay yung song nila because it became so popular that even 2 year old kid is singing their song. But fortunately nun dumating yung controversy mas lalong nag-draw ng attention sa mga tao.

What is probably your next single after “Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla?”
KADENA: Sugar Mommee will be our follow up single.

Were there any particular artists who influenced you while doing the album?
KADENA: Kami-kami lang po talaga. Yung rap po kasi parang matututunan mo sa sarili mo. Pero may mga influences din syempre kami like si Gloc9.
MARBAGGZ: Magkakaiba actually kami ng influences ang ginawa lang namin, pinag-combine lang lahat naming.

How did Dagtang Lason form?
KADENA: Yung grupo po naming actually nabuo dahil sa sayaw. We are all dancers from different groups.
MARBAGGZ: One time we just hanging out then we found out that we’re all like to rap. Then we decided why not try writing a song together.

How did you landed with Ivory Music?
ALBERT SUNGA: Hinanap talaga namin sila because Ogie Alcasid called up parang told us through Noel Ferrer, a former Ivory Music employee (now Executive Producer of PO5) na ‘uy hanapin n’yo eto’ kasi gusto nilang gamitin yung song for Bubble Gang. So we search them and finally our Artist & Repertoire Manager found them via friendster. So pinapunta naming sila dito sa Manila. Lahat kami in awed because they have like more than 50 songs na dala-dala. Hindi lang lahat rap, like sa album may Christmas song sila d’yan, may ballad
din talaga.

We’ve heard that the music video of “Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla” was not approved for airing?
ALBERT SUNGA: Yes, it was ex-rated by MTRB because of the lyrics of the song though if you gonna listen to the song I don’t think there’s a foul on it. Ano ba ang nakaka-influence sa tao, what you see or what you hear? May mga music video na halos hubad na, yung song wala namin mura.

Was there any memorable experiences so far?
KADENA: Nakakatuwa kasi yung venue at times is beside the church or catholic school. Pero there was this instances that we were in Samar na may mga pari ang pupunta dun and even requested na huwag kantahin yung “Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla” so nagbago kami ng repertoire. Sobrang dami ng tao and expected ng crowd na kakantahin namin. At feeling naming ‘pag di namin kinanta baka magalit yung mga tao na nandun so natakot sila na baka magwala yung mga tao kaya wala silang nagawa kundi pakanta sa amin na lang. Grabe yung response ng mga tao dun that time.

Was it a conscious that the album is all tagalong?
MARBAGGZ: Opo. We’re from Olongapo and tagalog is actually our means of communication.
KADENA: And we’re actually representing na ang tagalong ay lengwahe ng makata.

How long were you in the studio to record the album?
KADENA: Iba-iba po. Minsan one day per song pero there are times na nakakatapos kami ng tatlong kanta sa isang araw. But we recorded the entire album in one week.
MARBAGGZ: Naging mabilis naman namin siya i-record since kanta naman naming yung mga iyon so more or less alam na namin kung papaano yung atake na gagawin sa bawat kanta.

Why Dagtang Lason?
KADENA: Kasi ‘di ba ang dagta, makapit at makapit? Parang bawat letrang nilalabas namin makapit siya sa masa tapos nakakalason siya sa utak ng mga tao, iyan ang dahilan kung bakit sila bibili ng album namin.
MARBAGGZ: T’saka po, kakaiba at walang kapareho.

What’s your age bracket?
MARBAGGZ: Buhawi is 22, Kadena is 19 and me is 23.

What did you do for a living aside from doing music?
KADENA: Eto lang talaga, we’re focus on our music.
MARBAGGZ: Except for Buhawi, his actually a graphic artist.

How does it feel winning in the recently concluded 2nd Star Awards for Music as Novelty Song of the Year for your song “Nagmahal Ako Ng Bakla”?
KADENA: First time namin kinabahan. We go to the awards night not to win but somehow we’re expecting to bag an award.
MARBAGGZ: Malaking bonus ‘yung pagkaka-panalo talaga namin.

Why should people buy your album?
KADENA: Napaka-controversial at all-original ‘yung entire album. Kumbaga makikita mo talaga yung tunay na talento ng Filipino kung paano sila gumawa ng letra. T’saka po ang main mission namin ay i-angat muli ang rap dito sa atin.

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Especial thanks to: Pinoy Song Magazine