TOK.

DJ TRASHA and Shelblack tha Shoota met up with Craig T, Flexx, Bay C, and Alex from Jamaican superstar dancehall group TOK at the downtown Los Angeles video reshoot for their new single Footprints. The video was originally shot in Kingston, but was then stolen. The reggae smash hit is a tribute to anyone and everyone who has lost loved ones, be it in the garrisons of Jamaica, the ghettos of America, Iraq, or the world. TOK member Alex recently lost his brother in a shooting. RIP. In the band's eyes, the song is a message of hope and healing. TOK, which stands for Taking Over Kingston or Totally Outrageously Krazy, has been dropping dancehall reggae club anthems for a very hot minute, driving ladies wild and packing dance floors all over the planet with hits like "Chi Chi Man," "Gal U a Lead," and "Solid as a Rock." The group's new album, Unknown Language, continues to set the trend. Big up, TOK.--DJ Trasha

TOK in tha house.

Yeah man, T-dot-O-dot-Kay all the way from Kingston, Jayay.

"Footprints" is a big dancehall club hit for you right now.

"Footprints" is a big, big tune. It's another anthem. TOK always making anthems. The first one was the monster one, back in 2001, "Chi Chi Man." After that we had "Money to Burn (Just Got Paid)," and after that there's "She's Hot." Spanish people loving that one. Then you have "Footprints" now, and other new ones like "Hey Ladies." This album is for a dancehall collector.

"Footprints" is a song about losing a loved one in the violence of the ghetto, or the garrison, as it's called in Jayay?

Originally it was written when Alex's brother got shot and killed. RIP Then Bogle got shot and killed--RIP, Bogle--and it took the song to a new level. People can relate to what we are saying and feeling. "Footprints" is hitting now because of the tragedy in New Orleans, the war in Iraq, the violence in the ghetto--the song is there to console people. People feel that.

You have the new album out right now Unknown Language.

We called it Unknown Language because people have a problem understanding Jamaican dialect, called Patois. We wanted to put out an album that lets people know we're aware of that, so we tried to explain the culture, rather that than water down the music and make an album they want, or bring the artists they want. We actually broke down the language and decided to bring them into our culture, bring you into Jamaica. On the website, www.tokworld.com, there is a Patois dictionary where you can look up the meaning of those words you hear in all the reggae songs.

Dancehall's blowing up in America. How you feeling about that?

Most of the artists who we have been privileged to work with are of an international standard, and we have been touring the world for awhile so it's only a matter of time before it moved from international underground. Anywhere you go in the world, you find a Jamaican and you also find a strong reggae movement. In America you have Sean Paul, Damian Marley, and TOK mashing up the dance floors, the clubs, and the billboard charts. There are other artists too, 'cause we want people to see this is not one artist. It's a genre of music coming out of Jamaica; we're a force to be reckoned with. The people will have to say, "Okay, dancehall music is here to stay," 'cause it's the music that's always mashed up the club. It's the music that gets everyone dancing and high. This music has a message. We as artists have to come together and represent that. It's not only about Sean Paul or TOK or Damian Marley; it's about the music, and if we want this music to last, then we have to stick together and unify

Is that happening in Jamaica?

No.

Same gang and drug violence like hip-hop in America, right?

Worse. We aren't organized. Hip-hop is more organized. Russell Simmons take it upon himself to say something to a rapper--and he going to listen. We need that, but we don't have that. We need to know, yeah, you can have your rivalry, but the music is organized. We need that certain music infrastructure so people know if you ramp with TOK you are fucking with the whole music community of Jamaica. That's when we are going to have it locked. It goes deeper than dancehall. We as a people just need to stick together.

Yeah, man, educate. Laptops instead of gatts, books instead of bullets.

Most definitely. Guns are good, but balance, you know.

The problem with the gangsta shit is it really promotes killing your own at any cost to get your money.

And after awhile people don't know anything but that lifestyle. You don't even think anymore that there's another life other than kill and get what you want. You don't even have an option anymore to read a book or go to school. People try to make you feel like you only have one way to live your life. It's not just one person that's going to change it. First we have to have the mentality to want to change it.

Do you think that mass media like MTV and BET help promote the consumerist "I'm so cool, I'm gangster" shit?

They brainwash people a little. Really, at the end of the day it's all entertainment; not everyone want to hear happy music. Some people angry and just want to hear angry music. It depends on the mood. It's entertainment--just don't take the gangsta music literally. Fifty Cent ain't shooting no people up in real life; it's just entertainment.

You on myspace?

Myspace.com/tok.