- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole [bleep] away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this [bleep], bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the [bleep] is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this [bleep] for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the [bleep] do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "[bleep] you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this [bleep] off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- ♪ After you pick up pieces of shattered and broken dreams ♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Prayed every prayer, you sang every song ♪
♪ You gave 'em every care, now tell me where do we go ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
[bleep], look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Take the good with the bad ♪
♪ Take the hood with the class ♪
♪ Take the rain with the sun ♪
♪ Take the pain when it comes ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Where do we go ♪
♪ Where do we go ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so [bleep] ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that [bleep]'s not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, [bleep], that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was [bleep] looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really [bleep] happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the [bleep] am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, [bleep].
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this [bleep] is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This [bleep] think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the [bleep]...
[overlapping chatter/bleeps]
- And then you know, like,
after all that [bleep] hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that [bleep] happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's [bleep] up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This [bleep] right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that [bleep]?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and [bleep] like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do, [bleep]. Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep [bleep] together.
[Spyder] When all the [bleep] went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some mother[bleep]...
- Goddamn, we ain't even mother[bleep] bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
- ♪ Finally living right side up ♪
♪ I was looking down, I admit it ♪
♪ Hard to see the sky from the forest when you’re in it ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ I held up when I fell down ♪
♪ Struggled but I made it here some how ♪
♪ Broke up but I made it ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that [bleep] heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder! - That [bleep]...
- It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how [bleep] go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and [bleep] goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I held up when I fell down, struggled but I made it... ♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this [bleep].
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this [bleep]?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type [bleep].
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the [bleep] out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the [bleep] we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That [bleep] was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this [bleep] wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this [bleep] has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the [bleep]
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this [bleep],
but [bleep] hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This [bleep] gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my [bleep].
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and [bleep] be done with it.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
mother[bleep] buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, [bleep]'s fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser [bleep] up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without mother[bleep].
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- I think this [bleep] kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this [bleep] just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this [bleep] with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some mother[bleep].
If you build it, them mother[bleep] will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this [bleep] to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
[bleep] this [bleep] completely,
but I'm like, [bleep] this [bleep] right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the [bleep] I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the [bleep] is you?
This [bleep] my [bleep], Puma,
I don't give a [bleep] about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- [bleep], what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some [bleep] pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, [bleep], don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna [bleep] you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a [bleep] bitch.
Who the [bleep] is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the [bleep] I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and mother[bleep] swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to [bleep] in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the [bleep]
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he [bleep] my [bleep] last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting/bleeps]
- If these mother[bleep] can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the [bleep] up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're [bleep] up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole [bleep] away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this [bleep], bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the [bleep] is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this [bleep] for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the [bleep] do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "[bleep] you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this [bleep] off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- ♪ After you pick up pieces of shattered and broken dreams ♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Prayed every prayer, you sang every song ♪
♪ You gave 'em every care, now tell me where do we go ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
[bleep], look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Take the good with the bad ♪
♪ Take the hood with the class ♪
♪ Take the rain with the sun ♪
♪ Take the pain when it comes ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Where do we go ♪
♪ Where do we go ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so [bleep] ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that [bleep]'s not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, [bleep], that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was [bleep] looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really [bleep] happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the [bleep] am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, [bleep].
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this [bleep] is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This [bleep] think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the [bleep]...
[overlapping chatter/bleeps]
- And then you know, like,
after all that [bleep] hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that [bleep] happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's [bleep] up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This [bleep] right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that [bleep]?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and [bleep] like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do, [bleep]. Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep [bleep] together.
[Spyder] When all the [bleep] went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some mother[bleep]...
- Goddamn, we ain't even mother[bleep] bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
- ♪ Finally living right side up ♪
♪ I was looking down, I admit it ♪
♪ Hard to see the sky from the forest when you’re in it ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ I held up when I fell down ♪
♪ Struggled but I made it here some how ♪
♪ Broke up but I made it ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that [bleep] heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder! - That [bleep]...
- It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how [bleep] go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and [bleep] goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I held up when I fell down, struggled but I made it... ♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this [bleep].
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this [bleep]?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type [bleep].
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the [bleep] out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the [bleep] we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That [bleep] was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this [bleep] wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this [bleep] has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the [bleep]
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this [bleep],
but [bleep] hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This [bleep] gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my [bleep].
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and [bleep] be done with it.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
mother[bleep] buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, [bleep]'s fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser [bleep] up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without mother[bleep].
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- I think this [bleep] kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this [bleep] just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this [bleep] with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some mother[bleep].
If you build it, them mother[bleep] will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this [bleep] to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
[bleep] this [bleep] completely,
but I'm like, [bleep] this [bleep] right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the [bleep] I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the [bleep] is you?
This [bleep] my [bleep], Puma,
I don't give a [bleep] about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- [bleep], what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some [bleep] pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, [bleep], don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna [bleep] you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a [bleep] bitch.
Who the [bleep] is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the [bleep] I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and mother[bleep] swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to [bleep] in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the [bleep]
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he [bleep] my [bleep] last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting/bleeps]
- If these mother[bleep] can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the [bleep] up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're [bleep] up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole shit away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this shit, bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the fuck is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this shit for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the fuck do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "Fuck you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this shit off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Keep it real with your people ♪
♪ Who been down all your life ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
Shit, look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Then I reached the top ♪
♪ I reached back for you ♪
♪ Told you ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Don't get blinded by the lights ♪
♪ Keep it real with your people ♪
♪ Who been down all your life ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so shit ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that shit's not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was fucking looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really fucking happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the fuck am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, shit.
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this shit is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This nigga think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the best out of...
[overlapping chatter]
- And then you know, like,
after all that shit hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that shit happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's fucked up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My nigga not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This shit right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that shit?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and shit like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My nigga not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do! Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep shit together.
[Spyder] When all the shit went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some motherfuckers...
- Goddamn, we ain't even motherfuckin' bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I look in the mirror, what do I see? ♪
♪ Somebody look... ♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
♪♪♪
♪ She was always there underneath ♪
♪♪♪
♪ I've gotta protect her don't you forget me... ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ As I leave these spaces, spaces ♪
♪ Older me is fading, fading ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that shit heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder!
It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how I go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and shit goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the fuck outta here.
♪♪♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this shit.
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this shit?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type shit.
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the fuck out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the fuck we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That shit was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this shit wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this shit has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the fuck
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this shit,
but shit hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This nigga gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my nigga.
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and this shit be done with.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
motherfuckin' buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, shit's fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser fucked up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without motherfuckers.
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to fucking push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to fucking push forward.
- I think this shit kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this shit just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this shit with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some motherfuckers.
If you build it, them motherfuckers will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this shit to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
fuck this shit completely,
but I'm like, fuck this shit right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the fuck outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the fuck I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the fuck is you?
Bite my dick, Puma,
I don't give a fuck about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- Fuck, what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some nigga pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, we don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna fucked you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a fucking bitch.
Who the fuck is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the fuck I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and motherfucking swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to niggas in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the fuck
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he ate my pussy last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting]
- If these motherfuckers can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the fuck up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're fucking up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole [bleep] away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this [bleep], bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the [bleep] is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this [bleep] for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the [bleep] do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "[bleep] you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this [bleep] off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- ♪ After you pick up pieces of shattered and broken dreams ♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Prayed every prayer, you sang every song ♪
♪ You gave 'em every care, now tell me where do we go ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
[bleep], look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Take the good with the bad ♪
♪ Take the hood with the class ♪
♪ Take the rain with the sun ♪
♪ Take the pain when it comes ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Where do we go ♪
♪ Where do we go ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so [bleep] ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that [bleep]'s not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, [bleep], that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was [bleep] looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really [bleep] happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the [bleep] am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, [bleep].
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this [bleep] is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This [bleep] think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the [bleep]...
[overlapping chatter/bleeps]
- And then you know, like,
after all that [bleep] hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that [bleep] happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's [bleep] up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This [bleep] right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that [bleep]?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and [bleep] like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do, [bleep]. Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep [bleep] together.
[Spyder] When all the [bleep] went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some mother[bleep]...
- Goddamn, we ain't even mother[bleep] bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
- ♪ Finally living right side up ♪
♪ I was looking down, I admit it ♪
♪ Hard to see the sky from the forest when you’re in it ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ I held up when I fell down ♪
♪ Struggled but I made it here some how ♪
♪ Broke up but I made it ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that [bleep] heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder! - That [bleep]...
- It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how [bleep] go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and [bleep] goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I held up when I fell down, struggled but I made it... ♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this [bleep].
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this [bleep]?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type [bleep].
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the [bleep] out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the [bleep] we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That [bleep] was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this [bleep] wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this [bleep] has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the [bleep]
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this [bleep],
but [bleep] hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This [bleep] gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my [bleep].
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and [bleep] be done with it.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
mother[bleep] buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, [bleep]'s fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser [bleep] up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without mother[bleep].
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- I think this [bleep] kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this [bleep] just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this [bleep] with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some mother[bleep].
If you build it, them mother[bleep] will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this [bleep] to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
[bleep] this [bleep] completely,
but I'm like, [bleep] this [bleep] right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the [bleep] I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the [bleep] is you?
This [bleep] my [bleep], Puma,
I don't give a [bleep] about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- [bleep], what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some [bleep] pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, [bleep], don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna [bleep] you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a [bleep] bitch.
Who the [bleep] is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the [bleep] I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and mother[bleep] swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to [bleep] in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the [bleep]
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he [bleep] my [bleep] last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting/bleeps]
- If these mother[bleep] can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the [bleep] up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're [bleep] up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole [bleep] away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this [bleep], bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the [bleep] is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this [bleep] for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the [bleep] do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "[bleep] you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this [bleep] off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- ♪ After you pick up pieces of shattered and broken dreams ♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Prayed every prayer, you sang every song ♪
♪ You gave 'em every care, now tell me where do we go ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
[bleep], look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Take the good with the bad ♪
♪ Take the hood with the class ♪
♪ Take the rain with the sun ♪
♪ Take the pain when it comes ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Where do we go ♪
♪ Where do we go ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so [bleep] ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that [bleep]'s not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, [bleep], that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was [bleep] looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really [bleep] happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the [bleep] am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, [bleep].
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this [bleep] is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This [bleep] think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the [bleep]...
[overlapping chatter/bleeps]
- And then you know, like,
after all that [bleep] hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that [bleep] happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's [bleep] up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This [bleep] right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that [bleep]?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and [bleep] like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do, [bleep]. Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep [bleep] together.
[Spyder] When all the [bleep] went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some mother[bleep]...
- Goddamn, we ain't even mother[bleep] bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
- ♪ Finally living right side up ♪
♪ I was looking down, I admit it ♪
♪ Hard to see the sky from the forest when you’re in it ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ I held up when I fell down ♪
♪ Struggled but I made it here some how ♪
♪ Broke up but I made it ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that [bleep] heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder! - That [bleep]...
- It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how [bleep] go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and [bleep] goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I held up when I fell down, struggled but I made it... ♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this [bleep].
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this [bleep]?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type [bleep].
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the [bleep] out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the [bleep] we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That [bleep] was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this [bleep] wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this [bleep] has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the [bleep]
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this [bleep],
but [bleep] hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This [bleep] gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my [bleep].
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and [bleep] be done with it.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
mother[bleep] buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, [bleep]'s fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser [bleep] up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without mother[bleep].
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- I think this [bleep] kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this [bleep] just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this [bleep] with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some mother[bleep].
If you build it, them mother[bleep] will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this [bleep] to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
[bleep] this [bleep] completely,
but I'm like, [bleep] this [bleep] right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the [bleep] I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the [bleep] is you?
This [bleep] my [bleep], Puma,
I don't give a [bleep] about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- [bleep], what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some [bleep] pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, [bleep], don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna [bleep] you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a [bleep] bitch.
Who the [bleep] is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the [bleep] I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and mother[bleep] swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to [bleep] in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the [bleep]
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he [bleep] my [bleep] last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting/bleeps]
- If these mother[bleep] can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the [bleep] up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're [bleep] up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole shit away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this shit, bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the fuck is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this shit for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the fuck do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "Fuck you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this shit off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Keep it real with your people ♪
♪ Who been down all your life ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
Shit, look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Then I reached the top ♪
♪ I reached back for you ♪
♪ Told you ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Don't get blinded by the lights ♪
♪ Keep it real with your people ♪
♪ Who been down all your life ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so shit ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that shit's not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was fucking looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really fucking happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the fuck am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, shit.
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this shit is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This nigga think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the best out of...
[overlapping chatter]
- And then you know, like,
after all that shit hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that shit happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's fucked up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My nigga not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This shit right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that shit?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and shit like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My nigga not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do! Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep shit together.
[Spyder] When all the shit went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some motherfuckers...
- Goddamn, we ain't even motherfuckin' bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I look in the mirror, what do I see? ♪
♪ Somebody look... ♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
♪♪♪
♪ She was always there underneath ♪
♪♪♪
♪ I've gotta protect her don't you forget me... ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ As I leave these spaces, spaces ♪
♪ Older me is fading, fading ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that shit heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder!
It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how I go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and shit goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the fuck outta here.
♪♪♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this shit.
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this shit?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type shit.
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the fuck out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the fuck we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That shit was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this shit wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this shit has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the fuck
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this shit,
but shit hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This nigga gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my nigga.
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and this shit be done with.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
motherfuckin' buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, shit's fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser fucked up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without motherfuckers.
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to fucking push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to fucking push forward.
- I think this shit kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this shit just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this shit with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some motherfuckers.
If you build it, them motherfuckers will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this shit to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
fuck this shit completely,
but I'm like, fuck this shit right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the fuck outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the fuck I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the fuck is you?
Bite my dick, Puma,
I don't give a fuck about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- Fuck, what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some nigga pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, we don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna fucked you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a fucking bitch.
Who the fuck is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the fuck I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and motherfucking swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to niggas in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the fuck
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he ate my pussy last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting]
- If these motherfuckers can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the fuck up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're fucking up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole [bleep] away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this [bleep], bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the [bleep] is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this [bleep] for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the [bleep] do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "[bleep] you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this [bleep] off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- ♪ After you pick up pieces of shattered and broken dreams ♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Prayed every prayer, you sang every song ♪
♪ You gave 'em every care, now tell me where do we go ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
[bleep], look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Take the good with the bad ♪
♪ Take the hood with the class ♪
♪ Take the rain with the sun ♪
♪ Take the pain when it comes ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Where do we go ♪
♪ Where do we go ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so [bleep] ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that [bleep]'s not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, [bleep], that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was [bleep] looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really [bleep] happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the [bleep] am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, [bleep].
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this [bleep] is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This [bleep] think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the [bleep]...
[overlapping chatter/bleeps]
- And then you know, like,
after all that [bleep] hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that [bleep] happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's [bleep] up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This [bleep] right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that [bleep]?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and [bleep] like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do, [bleep]. Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep [bleep] together.
[Spyder] When all the [bleep] went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some mother[bleep]...
- Goddamn, we ain't even mother[bleep] bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
- ♪ Finally living right side up ♪
♪ I was looking down, I admit it ♪
♪ Hard to see the sky from the forest when you’re in it ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ I held up when I fell down ♪
♪ Struggled but I made it here some how ♪
♪ Broke up but I made it ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that [bleep] heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder! - That [bleep]...
- It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how [bleep] go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and [bleep] goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I held up when I fell down, struggled but I made it... ♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this [bleep].
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this [bleep]?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type [bleep].
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the [bleep] out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the [bleep] we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That [bleep] was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this [bleep] wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this [bleep] has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the [bleep]
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this [bleep],
but [bleep] hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This [bleep] gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my [bleep].
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and [bleep] be done with it.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
mother[bleep] buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, [bleep]'s fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser [bleep] up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without mother[bleep].
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- I think this [bleep] kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this [bleep] just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this [bleep] with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some mother[bleep].
If you build it, them mother[bleep] will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this [bleep] to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
[bleep] this [bleep] completely,
but I'm like, [bleep] this [bleep] right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the [bleep] I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the [bleep] is you?
This [bleep] my [bleep], Puma,
I don't give a [bleep] about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- [bleep], what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some [bleep] pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, [bleep], don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna [bleep] you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a [bleep] bitch.
Who the [bleep] is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the [bleep] I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and mother[bleep] swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to [bleep] in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the [bleep]
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he [bleep] my [bleep] last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting/bleeps]
- If these mother[bleep] can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the [bleep] up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're [bleep] up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole [bleep] away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this [bleep], bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the [bleep] is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this [bleep] for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the [bleep] do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "[bleep] you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this [bleep] off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- ♪ After you pick up pieces of shattered and broken dreams ♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Prayed every prayer, you sang every song ♪
♪ You gave 'em every care, now tell me where do we go ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
[bleep], look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Take the good with the bad ♪
♪ Take the hood with the class ♪
♪ Take the rain with the sun ♪
♪ Take the pain when it comes ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Where do we go ♪
♪ Where do we go ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so [bleep] ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that [bleep]'s not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, [bleep], that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was [bleep] looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really [bleep] happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the [bleep] am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, [bleep].
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this [bleep] is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This [bleep] think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the [bleep]...
[overlapping chatter/bleeps]
- And then you know, like,
after all that [bleep] hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that [bleep] happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's [bleep] up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This [bleep] right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that [bleep]?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and [bleep] like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do, [bleep]. Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep [bleep] together.
[Spyder] When all the [bleep] went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some mother[bleep]...
- Goddamn, we ain't even mother[bleep] bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
- ♪ Finally living right side up ♪
♪ I was looking down, I admit it ♪
♪ Hard to see the sky from the forest when you’re in it ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ I held up when I fell down ♪
♪ Struggled but I made it here some how ♪
♪ Broke up but I made it ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that [bleep] heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder! - That [bleep]...
- It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how [bleep] go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and [bleep] goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I held up when I fell down, struggled but I made it... ♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this [bleep].
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this [bleep]?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type [bleep].
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the [bleep] out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the [bleep] we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That [bleep] was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this [bleep] wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this [bleep] has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the [bleep]
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this [bleep],
but [bleep] hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This [bleep] gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my [bleep].
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and [bleep] be done with it.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
mother[bleep] buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, [bleep]'s fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser [bleep] up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without mother[bleep].
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- I think this [bleep] kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this [bleep] just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this [bleep] with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some mother[bleep].
If you build it, them mother[bleep] will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this [bleep] to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
[bleep] this [bleep] completely,
but I'm like, [bleep] this [bleep] right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the [bleep] I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the [bleep] is you?
This [bleep] my [bleep], Puma,
I don't give a [bleep] about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- [bleep], what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some [bleep] pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, [bleep], don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna [bleep] you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a [bleep] bitch.
Who the [bleep] is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the [bleep] I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and mother[bleep] swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to [bleep] in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the [bleep]
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he [bleep] my [bleep] last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting/bleeps]
- If these mother[bleep] can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the [bleep] up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're [bleep] up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
- What's up, it's Angela Yee from "The Breakfast Club,"
and I have your Rumor Report.
So, Ceaser from "Black Ink Crew" was caught
on security camera abusing a dog.
[Tatti] He possibly just threw this whole [bleep] away.
- What was he thinking?
- I don't believe this [bleep], bro.
- This network has decided to cut ties with Ceaser.
- Damn. - What?
- What the [bleep] is the next step--
if there is a next step?
- I don't see how there's a Black Ink without Ceaser.
♪♪♪
[Ted] Black Ink is more than a crew.
It's not just one voice, or one person...
[Alex] It's many voices.
Black Ink is bigger than a shop.
[Ted/Alex] It's a movement.
♪♪♪
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
[Young Bae] Black Ink is where hustle and drive collide.
[Draya] Black Ink is a vision for us and by us.
To be seen and heard.
[Spyder] Black Ink is a lifestyle.
It's a platform for creatives and artists to unite.
[Krystal/Spyder] A place for us and our success.
[Krystal] And there's always an opportunity
to level up, but it has to be earned.
[Krystal/Rok] Black Ink is for the underdogs...
[Rok] The overlooked, those starved for success.
♪♪♪
[all overlapping] Black Ink is...
[Ted] Black Ink is...
[Puma] Black Ink is...
A legacy.
- ♪ We are the ones that changed the whole system ♪
- ♪ Had to fall down so we could stand up ♪ ♪ We got the ball now ♪
♪ It's time to man up ♪
♪ Heed the call now, nobody got they hand up ♪
♪ I got it all now nobody ever ran up ♪
♪ Not too far... ♪
-Oh, man, what's up, Tamia?
What you over here doing?
- That boy always got a cookie in his hand.
- Little Cookie Monster.
[Puma] These past few weeks have been a blur.
But I still try to make sure I make family time 'cause,
you know, even if it's just
for a few minutes, every moment counts.
Zaden, he's been doing a lot better,
you know, since we put him into the daycare.
- They say, you know, he's communicating very well,
he's playing with other kids. - Okay.
- We're about to do another evaluation.
- Last year, when Zaden got diagnosed with autism,
we definitely wasn't prepared for the whole situation.
I still don't even like... - Understand what's...
- Understand what's going on.
- Right now, it's all about Zaden's behavior.
He can't explain to us how he's feeling.
So it's a struggle.
- But since then,
Zaden has been progressing, man.
I've been taking a lot of advice from a lot of people, man,
trust and believe, I heard you all,
and he's been in a new pre-K system
interacting with other kids, which he definitely couldn't do
during the whole COVID thing.
Each day has been getting better.
- Tamia's doing well too,
I get random texts from her teachers saying
how good she's doing.
- And how are your classes going?
- Yeah, I just finished my English paper,
I got an A on it. - [clapping]
- Come on, round of applause for Mommy, come on.
[all clapping]
- I'm doing really well these days,
but as you guys know, this past year,
I hit a little rough patch...
- You don't seem happy. - 'Cause I'm not!
Been telling you this [bleep] for months, I need a reset.
...but then I found my life coach, Tanya.
I doubt myself so, so much.
- It's an automatic response, but we have to fight that.
Are you willing to do what it takes to make this
happen for yourself? - Yeah.
And she helped me find my path,
and now I’m in school studying to be a social worker.
It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Which is good because now it's Puma's world
that's turned upside down.
- Ah, man.
Been a long, stressful day.
- What's going on?
- I just keep rehashing everything in my head like,
"How do you feel about what happened, Puma,
what is your thoughts on Ceaser" and yadda yadda yadda.
Since everything that's happened,
I've been all over the planet with this, man.
From feeling anger, to depression...
Now it's just, like, what do we do now?
I kinda had to call Ceaser and let him know,
I'm gonna fall back a little bit
and try to figure out this whole Black Ink platform
and what we're doing moving forward.
- How's it going with Ted?
Where's his head at in all of this?
- I don't know, I'm more thinking about it
as pushing forward and, you know,
making something positive happen,
but he's still stuck on that's his cousin,
you know, that's his family.
So back when it all went down,
Ted was definitely on board to find a way forward.
I got a little plug with a realtor,
and they showed me this spot.
We gotta do it, man, we gotta step up to the plate.
- If not us, then who?
But lately, it's been feeling like
me and Ted have not been seeing eye to eye.
- How the [bleep] do we do Black Ink without Ceas, bro?
- We can't dwell on what happened,
we gotta push forward now.
♪♪♪
Ted is having a hard time understanding that Ceaser
and the Black Ink shops are a package deal,
and when the whole situation happened,
it made everything radioactive.
So for us to keep this Black Ink movement going,
we kinda have to separate ourselves
from Ceaser and his shops...
It's not about the Black Ink shops,
it's about the Black Ink legacy.
Black men owning tattoo shops
and giving Black artists opportunities.
- I know you're gonna need my help and my support a lot
during this, but I'm not too overwhelmed,
so I'm prepared for whatever's gonna come next.
Like you said, we gotta keep pushing forward regardless.
- So my plan is, first, we gotta have
a location for the shop because
you gotta have a place for people to tattoo in.
And like I told Ted...
We can go Manhattan,
we go Lower East Side.
You know I love the Lower East Side.
So I'm thinking of finding a nice, new spot
in an upscale neighborhood in Manhattan
so, you know, we can live off our image.
But that's only half of the equation.
Bruh, I gotta have employees and people that's
really down to wanna be there.
- Do you think that the Black Ink crew
is gonna follow you if you open up another shop?
- And that's the part that I'm also thinking about,
Everybody can just say, "[bleep] you, Puma, no."
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed
by how much of a huge effort this is gonna take.
And I don't even know if I can really pull this [bleep] off,
but I gotta try.
- I think that no matter what,
y'all gotta be optimistic about it, you and Ted.
Y'all can't go in, you know, thinking about the past,
y'all gotta go in thinking about how new it's gonna be.
Y'all gonna have to be really serious about it,
and not just talk about it,
y'all gonna have to do it, as well, take the steps.
- I know, but I'm not Ceaser, man, you know?
I don't have the same...
I guess the same style of managing.
Look, I've never wanted to be the big boss, you know?
That was always Ceaser's thing.
I've always been more of the cool, relaxed one.
I don't think that everybody even knows
what I bring to the table.
- You can't base everything off of everybody else,
Paul, if you're gonna do it, you gonna have to do it.
You have to go get your space,
and if some artists follow you, they do.
If they don't, they don't, there's gonna always be artists
that are gonna wanna be a part of it.
I feel like there's so much good that could come out
of this bad situation,
and I know that Puma has what it takes,
he just has to believe in himself.
- I know that it's gonna be a lot.
But we're gonna push forward,
and we're gonna make it happen.
Right, Zaden?
- Right! - High-five?
That's what I'm talking about.
♪♪♪
[Ceaser] We ain't that small shop on 113th no more.
Ain't no more cruising through it, ya'mean?
It gotta be Black Ink or nothing.
♪♪♪
- ♪ After you pick up pieces of shattered and broken dreams ♪
- I'm not gonna lie, ever since Ceas was fired,
I've been feeling very lost.
- ♪ Prayed every prayer, you sang every song ♪
♪ You gave 'em every care, now tell me where do we go ♪
- At first, I was totally on board with Puma
talking about moving forward.
But once he started talking about
leaving the hood behind and setting up shop
in some new, fancy location,
that's when I started second guessing everything.
'Cause the hood is what made us who we are,
and allowed the whole Black Ink movement
to spread to other cities, like Chicago, and even Compton.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for elevation.
[bleep], look at me.
If it wasn't for the infamous couch,
I'd probably be in the streets still,
might be in prison, or, even worse, dead.
- ♪ Take the good with the bad ♪
♪ Take the hood with the class ♪
♪ Take the rain with the sun ♪
♪ Take the pain when it comes ♪
- And that's exactly why
I think we need to stick with the hood.
I wanna build our people from the ground up.
To me, that's the best way to honor the Black Ink legacy.
So I'm not so gung-ho to move forward like Puma.
I feel we should take our time and make sure it's done correct.
- ♪ Where do we go ♪
♪ Where do we go ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ I go wherever I go ♪
♪ Take over, this is my show ♪
♪ Tight grip, make your eyes roll ♪
♪ But you can tell me anything that you like, though... ♪
♪♪♪
- Yo, is it me,
or have we been ridiculously busy lately?
- Everything is picking back up now.
- ♪ Follow me, no stress ♪
♪ Kinda girl takin' big ol' steps in my big ol' dress ♪
♪ You a big ol' mess, ew ♪
- It's hard to believe how much has changed
in such a short period of time.
Like, we almost turned Gods of Ink
into Black Ink Bayonne.
- 33 across the board.
That's a fair split.
[Krystal] But the universe works in mysterious ways.
Like, after I got fired when we were in Orlando...
[Ceaser] Krystal, Vanity, Bae, and Tatti,
y'all officially fired.
[Krystal] ...I just decided to focus my energy on
Gods of Ink, and it's been paying off.
[Krystal exhales]
- Hey, roomie.
- Oh... - What's up, what's up, pimp?
- I didn't know you was gonna be here.
- Yeah, my bad, let me try to finish this piece
so [bleep] ain't, um, a problem.
- I mean, it wouldn't be a problem unless you make it.
- I ain't making it no problem. - So let's keep it light.
♪♪♪
- So, long story short,
me and Krystal ain't together no more.
- In Orlando, I already had second thoughts
on me and Rok's relationship.
- She moved out, and she got a spot with Vanity.
- And I feel like maybe us, right now, isn't the best thing.
- I'm hurt 'cause I really put a lot of dedication
and love into this relationship.
Krystal Morales, will you be my wife?
Then she just decided that [bleep]'s not the same,
and she wasn't feeling the same way that she used to.
So I don't know,
I really don't know what's going on with her.
- I feel like it comes down to how he carries himself,
honestly, and how serious he takes himself.
I feel like we totally different,
and what I expect in a relationship,
you-- sometimes you don't do it for me.
- A'ight, whatever, yo.
- I wanna feel protected.
- Let her be single, [bleep], that's what she wants.
- When you're not strong, and you can't lead me,
I'm not gonna feel comfortable.
You supposed to be my rock...
[tattoo guns buzzing]
- We haven't all been here in a while, right?
- I've been purposely trying to give Rok some space.
- Listen, if you don't wanna be around me,
you just let me know.
- Don't be salty like a sardine.
It's been a little difficult working with Rok,
because I feel like he's so convinced that he's
trying to make this relationship work
when there's no relationship to save.
Way we're going, we gotta learn
how to deal with each other, you know?
We not together no more.
We tried, and unfortunately...
- We tried, and I still kept trying,
but she was like, nah, I'm done.
The thing about me, I never give up
on something that I really want.
And Krystal, I love her to death,
so I'm not gonna give up on her, not yet.
- I just wanna see you prosper.
That's it, I want you to be happy.
I just want the same respect in return.
- Whatever, Krys.
♪♪♪
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It has multiple people that are interested,
so we have to make a decision.
- I'ma have to get these artists fast.
- I got a text from Puma the other day,
did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Puma's trying to bring everybody back together.
♪♪♪
- I'm just trying to keep my day-ones with me
before I keep pushing.
- There's no Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I was born to take the pain ♪
♪ Like a lion, I won't be caged ♪
♪ Unleashed a side of me ♪
♪ That no one ever sees ♪
♪ Only one way to go ♪
♪♪♪
- After talking to Quani, I realized I can't be
sitting around waiting for Ted to jump on board with my plan.
But the first thing I need, it's a location,
and I really don't wanna use Art 2 Ink,
because my shop is a little small,
and I got a full roster already.
Alright...
- So this is 1,000 square feet.
- Okay, this is what I'm looking for.
- It's pretty open, you got about
10-12 foot ceilings.
A nice vibe, the exposed brick.
- Yeah, I like that.
So I contacted this amazing realtor that I know,
and she's shown me some pretty amazing spots in New York City.
We've seen a lotta spaces, and I've also went out my way,
seen a couple other spaces and other places.
But I really like this space.
I'm envisioning what this could be, you know?
Like, I'm thinking receptionist maybe in the front.
About four to five booths towards the back.
I can maybe put half this bar, and take the rest out.
This is a classy spot in a really nice, prime location.
Lower East Side, it's a hot spot, you know?
- Hot spot. - This is definitely
the vibe I was [bleep] looking for, man.
We can create, we can build.
A great way to start all over again.
- The main thing is is that the space is available now,
and the owner told me that they have multiple people
that are interested in it. - Ooh...
- So I think you would have to make a decision pretty soon.
[Puma] Damn, this spot is perfect.
I'ma have to bust these moves quick
and get these artists fast.
I'm ready to move, I'm telling you,
it's giving me a good feeling. - Alright, so...
- But I just wanna make sure I do it right, know what I mean,
I just don't wanna mess up. - Well, you not gonna mess up.
We gonna think positive, and we gonna make this happen.
- You know what, I like how you--
Joanne, you're one of the best in the city,
I'll tell you... [overlapping chatter]
Let me get a little bit more of a vibe of this spot...
- No problem, you gotta bring 'em back, let's do it.
- Okay, thank you.
Being in this space right now is really motivating me
to feel like, this could really [bleep] happen.
But at the same damn time, I am scared as hell.
'Cause I ain't got no artists yet,
and what if everybody tells me no?
What the [bleep] am I gonna do?
- ♪ Baby, you know that it's your moment ♪
♪ You're almost there it's getting closer ♪
- I gotta get Ted and all the artists together
so I can pitch them my brilliant idea
and if everybody's down, we can keep this platform going,
and make it another ten.
- ♪ Faith, you need it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Faith, to see it ♪
♪ You've got to pray, to want the changes ♪
- Okay, phase one, complete.
Now, onto phase two,
getting the band back together, baby.
- ♪ Faith ♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- [sighs] Oh, [bleep].
[cell phone vibrates]
♪♪♪
- Why am I finding out about this meeting in group text?
Like, this [bleep] is really starting to piss me off
that Puma thinks he can start making all these decisions
without consulting with me first.
This [bleep] think he Ceaser Luther King, man.
♪♪♪
- ♪ You wish you could be ♪
♪ Na na na na na, na na na na na... ♪
- Oh my God. [groans]
- You want me to help you? - Oh, girl...
- I already finished cleaning and everything.
- I have so much to do, I just keep losing...
- Well, that's why I'm here.
- Going through all this drama with Ceaser made me realize
how everything you've got can just go away in a second.
It made me re-think about my whole life and career,
so I decided to just focus on my own dream,
and now Diamond Tattoos has been busier than ever.
My clothing line, 2one2, is popping.
And of course, I'm showering as much love
as I can to my son Niko.
You know what, I'm a little overwhelmed.
- Breathe.
[deep breaths]
Doesn't that feel good?
- I'm grateful for everything
I have in my life, that's a lot.
Luckily, Tatti has been helping me hold it together.
She's been doing such a great job,
I even made her the manager.
- I appreciate you even like, letting me be here,
to help and to figure everything out...
- Why wouldn't I?
I know you're a plus anywhere you go.
[Tatti] At Black Ink, I was like,
scrapping around, looking for some type of respect.
- We appreciate you being the...
whatever you wanna call it that you do?
[laughs]
- And Bae just immediately gave me the respect
that I know I deserve,
and that's a wonderful gift to receive.
So check this out, last night,
I went to meet up with Draya and Nychelle.
- Let's cheers to catching up and hustling.
- And hustling. - Okay?
- Making the best... - Making the [bleep]...
[overlapping chatter/bleeps]
- And then you know, like,
after all that [bleep] hit the fan,
like, nobody actually reached out to them
to talk about anything.
- It was a lot to move halfway across the country...
- Yeah, facts. - I just figured
once I get here and I get comfortable,
I'll be able to reach out and we'll be able to just...
- Get the ball rolling. - And all that [bleep] happened
and then it was literally me with my hands up in the air.
- It's crazy. - But one of the things
that Draya had told me is that
she's been tattooing at her apartment.
- What? - Yeah.
- I've been tattooing right out this bitch.
Tattoo shop house.
- But supposedly, Puma hit them up
about some kind of opportunity.
- You didn't get the text?
- Did you? - Yeah.
- Puma texted you and didn't text me?
- Well, my thing is,
Puma texted me, but not you?
Me and Puma always have been just co workers,
but Puma and Tatti have a whole relationship
besides Black Ink,
so why would Puma just
leave Tatti out, that's [bleep] up?
So I'm like, what opportunity?
- I have a feeling that Puma's trying to bring
everybody back together, and be like...
- That's-- yes. - [laughs]
I get that he's been around the industry for a long time,
but I just can't work for a non-tattoo artist.
I tried working for someone who's not an artist,
and it was very frustrating.
So nothing against Puma,
but I would have to think twice
before I worked for someone who's not an artist.
- I really worked at the Black Ink shop.
Open to close.
Ask me how many times Puma or Teddy pulled up to check...
- Never!
- It's no secret that I'm not Ceaser's biggest fan,
but I do respect his hustle.
And not for nothing, Ceaser was always
going at Puma and Teddy about
not even doing enough for the shop.
[Ceaser] My day ones are my foundation,
but I can't open up these cities if my foundation is weak.
- Let's be real-- Puma's more of a sidekick than a boss.
I've been said it, I don't see Black Ink without Ceaser.
- Period!
[laughter]
- So me and Krystal broke up.
- Did she move on? - I don't know if she's
talking to somebody, but she be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
♪♪♪
- ♪ It don't matter where I've been ♪
♪ I know where I'm going ♪
♪ Headed to the top now, I ain't never gonna come down ♪
♪♪♪
[Spyder] Gimme some looks.
[camera clicks] See, there you go.
Alright, gimme something else. Right, oh, right there.
This way, to the left. Good, son, look like y'all
been doing this right here.
What's up, man, it's your boy,
international Spyder, live from the 718.
And you know I'ma keep leveling up,
especially with Branded Content.
That's on back order right now, them hoodies,
you can't get them, they sold out.
Besides that, helped manage the Black Ink shop,
you know, I'ma hustler, baby, ya heard?
Right there, there you go.
[laughter]
I know that laugh anywhere, yo!
[overlapping greetings]
- You's a fashion designer and a cameraman?
- Yo, we on the brink of a recession, B,
gotta pick up some skills.
[Spyder] Yo, man, since the whole melee went down,
I ain't really get to see nobody.
So I thought it'd be a good time to catch up
with the homies Rok and Alex, you know, invite them to
the Branded Content photoshoot, and catch up on a few things.
See the new hats? - This [bleep] right here
screams "expensive".
[laughter]
- So what's new? What's going on? What's up?
- Me, I'm still doing OnlyFans.
- You making bread off of that [bleep]?
- A killing.
[Alex] So while I've been waiting for the dust to settle
at Black Ink, I've been guest spotting
at a bunch of other shops,
but I'd just much rather a home base where
I know and respect the artists,
so in the meantime, I've just been
focusing on my OnlyFans.
I made it to the top 1.9 percentile
of all creators, and I'm doing collaborations
and, you know, just all the fun stuff
that comes with OnlyFans.
- Word, what's up with you?
♪♪♪
- Uh, so, I don't know if y'all heard,
but me and Krystal broke up.
[Alex] Honestly, nobody should be shocked
about Rok and Krystal because seriously,
Rok was kinda moving too fast.
- You think it was too accelerated?
I recall you wanting some jewelry.
[laughter]
[Alex] You wanted jewelry,
you wanted babies, you wanted big dogs,
you wanted a house with a picket fence.
- I'm over here just solo,
I wake up in the house, and I'm just like,
thinking about like, damn, yo, this is where
we used to wake up together.
[Spyder] Seeing her face in the clouds, in a puddle.
[Alex] In a drink.
[Spyder] He ordered a pepperoni pizza
and seen her face in the extra cheese part.
[Krystal] Rokkie!
[laughter]
- This man is acting like a widow.
- Yeah, he's definitely a widow. - Acting like a widow.
You dating new people, and [bleep] like that?
- I haven't talked to nobody.
- Did she move on?
- I don't know if she's talking to somebody,
but I be having a feeling like she's talking to somebody.
She be following a lotta new people...
[overlapping exclaiming]
- Wait, wait, no, no, wait,
so you be checking through her followers?
- Listen, listen...
[overlapping chatter]
- My [bleep] not a stalker, no!
- He's a stalker! - What the hell!
- Take it from the real "Vagina Slayer,"
real slayers, we never stalk.
- Alright, I'ma stop it, I'ma stop, I'ma stop it.
- Please do, [bleep]. Please do. Come on, son.
- I ain't gonna lie, I still be feeling a type of way,
but I got some high hopes for the future, man.
- Speaking about the future, I got a text from Puma
the other day, did y'all get a text?
- I got a text from Puma. - I did.
- Opportunity... - Opportunity?
He wanna have a meeting with us, right?
- What kinda opportunity? - That's what I'm saying.
Like, I got my own shop,
I'm focused on making my own opportunities.
- Yeah, I don't know, man,
I ain't closing the door on no new opportunities,
but I know as far as like, tattooing, I'm still
in the Brooklyn shop, and especially at this time,
I feel like we gotta keep [bleep] together.
[Spyder] When all the [bleep] went down the Ceas,
I was one of the only ones that stuck by his side
because he believed in me when nobody else did.
Plus, he gave me a platform to feed my family,
and I'ma forever be grateful.
One of the illest things that I heard, man,
don't ever forget who turned the lights on for you.
[Puma] This is it.
A brand new start for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh, boy, I told you about these dinner tables.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder.
- I'm more than just a hood artist.
- That's what I'm saying! - If you're not a part of it,
I will find me some mother[bleep]...
- Goddamn, we ain't even mother[bleep] bury the body yet.
♪♪♪
- ♪ This will die ♪
♪ A way of life, give 'em what I got ♪
♪ Day and night, this will die ♪
♪ Way of life, not gon' see me, would not like... ♪
[knocking on door] [Bae] Come in!
- Hey. - Hi, Heather.
- What's up? - I'm sorry for all this mess.
You know, I'm with the 2one2 stuff,
a little, you know, so come on, come on...
You ready for this? - Yeah, I'm ready for this.
- 'Cause I am very ready.
Today, I have a client coming in,
she's one of my favorite.
And she wants a very, very special tattoo.
Of course, she would come see me, who else?
Wanna see? Look, beautiful and strong.
- That's what I need right now. - What's going on?
- My mom's moving to Florida.
- Word. - Yeah, she's from New York,
so this is a big move, she's in her 50s and she's...
- Starting a brand new... - Yeah, she's starting fresh,
new chapter in her life. - That's so amazing.
- Yeah, it's gonna be a change in our relationship too...
- Right. - I'm proud of her though,
it's like, a huge, you know... - Yeah, I could really
relate to that because, I'm not at Black Ink anymore.
Like, I was for the past seven years.
It's been seven years.
Getting the text from Puma and talking to Tatti about it
made me think about this whole Black Ink experience,
which I haven't had this time to process at all.
Alright, let's get it.
- Let me get ready.
♪♪♪
[Bae] Being a part of Black Ink has meant so much to me.
Like, I could never forget my first day.
[all screaming] Time to party, bitches!
- ♪ Finally living right side up ♪
♪ I was looking down, I admit it ♪
♪ Hard to see the sky from the forest when you’re in it ♪
- It's just that after Ceaser got fired,
I thought this whole thing was done,
so I moved on with my life.
- ♪ I held up when I fell down ♪
♪ Struggled but I made it here some how ♪
♪ Broke up but I made it ♪
- That wasn't easy for me, because I believe so much in
what the Black Ink movement
stands for in the tattoo community.
And being a part of that was a huge honor for me.
[Lemeir] Next up is Young Bae.
[Tatti] The placement is fire.
- And when that [bleep] heal, it's gonna look good.
[all cheering]
- When Ceaser asked me to be a part of Black Ink,
it was at the perfect time in my life.
But now I have so much going on both personally
and professionally, I just have no time
for anything new-- sorry, boo boo.
- Are you kidding me? What the hell, Bae?
- That looks so good! She's beautiful, she's unique.
- Gorgeous. - Oh, I love it.
- Slayed. - Okay!
- Thank you so much.
♪♪♪
- ♪ Turn the lights out ♪
♪ Everybody, let's get it ♪
♪♪♪
♪ Come on, I got a game plan, full speed, let's go ♪
♪ I got a game plan, gotta give 'em what they need ♪
- Okay, people, this is it.
If everything goes right, this is a brand new start
for the Black Ink movement.
[Spyder] Oh boy, something about these dinner tables.
- This real fancy, I like it. - They're so excited,
they have no clue what's about to happen.
- It's gonna be good, Spyder! - That [bleep]...
- It's a new day. - Okay.
Anybody that ever been associated with Black Ink
know that dinner tables are cursed.
- What in the Last Supper is going on here?
[overlapping shouting]
- Or you could've called me about the day I didn't come.
- Tatti, you ain't gotta be at Black Ink at all.
- Goodness gracious, man, everybody's just so negative.
- I came excited, so I'ma stay there.
- Thank you, how have you ladies been, man?
It's been a minute since I've seen you guys.
[Alex] Y'all still look good.
- You know, I'm not wearing the struggle right now but...
[laughter]
Like, having to travel, and guest spot here,
and out the crib, like,
that is not what I signed up for.
So Orlando was wack, but I thought at least
I had a position back at Black Ink Brooklyn.
[all cheering]
- These are the two new artists.
- But when everything went down with Ceaser,
I never heard back from them, and I was not trying to get down
with that bad buzz he had going on.
So I've just been trying to look for the right opportunity,
but it hasn't been easy.
So, yeah, I feel like I'm riding the struggle bus right now,
like, how [bleep] go backwards?
- I'm on the bus with you.
The whole reason I'm in New York
is cause Ceas begged me to come out here.
- Introduce yourself to the crew real quick.
- My name's Nychelle, I'm from Dallas, Texas.
- And then I get here, and [bleep] goes left.
Now I'm starting to pick up the pieces and build
my New York clientele while going back and forth to Dallas
to see my son and run my tattoo shop.
[Alex] Alright, I appreciate the food and all,
but what's this about?
- I mean, I got you guys here,
I'm guessing everybody else is probably not gonna show up.
- I don't see a placement card for Tatti.
- Yeah, where's Tatti?
- This meeting is about the artists first.
I need you guys to listen to me first
before I can deal with...
- [whistling] - Oh, Teddy's here.
- Hey, long time.
- Yeah, I'm here, 'cause somebody has to be here
to make sure Puma's not going off the rail
and taking everybody down with him.
♪♪♪
- I went out and I looked at locations
in the Lower East Side.
- I'ma keep it 100, man,
if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
♪♪♪
- ♪ I held up when I fell down, struggled but I made it... ♪
[Puma] Welcome, brother Ted.
I'm glad that you showed up.
- Yeah, you said pull up, I didn't know what
I was pulling up to, but it's you, and you've
been a loyal Black Ink person, so I trust you.
I just gotta make sure everything is in order.
Honestly, I debated on even coming to this [bleep].
But I'm super smarter than that,
so I decided to hear what Puma's plan is
so I know how to respond.
- I'm not really good at this whole thing
that I'm doing right now, but I'm getting into it
so, you know, just flow with me.
[loud chewing]
Unfortunate situations
have brought us to this place that we're at now.
Ceaser was a very important person
to the Black Ink legacy and brand,
but we have to...
we have to keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
- Word.
- So I've been at the drawing board trying
to figure some things out, and what we're dealing with is
Ceaser and the Black Ink shops are a package.
No more Ceaser, no more Black Ink shops.
And no shops mean no platform, no platform means no legacy.
So basically what I'm trying to do is
start a new shop and keep the Black Ink legacy alive.
So I went out and I looked at locations,
and I found something really nice
in the Lower East Side.
[Spyder] What?
[crunching]
W-- what're we talking about here?
- It's a different clientele,
that means a different price point,
but the spot that I saw, the lady only gave me 48 hours.
- What? - That's no time.
- Yeah, that's a dog. - Listen, man,
I'ma person-- I think in the future, bro...
- Ted know about this [bleep]?
- He does, me and Ted have had a talk already.
- Yeah, you and I had a conversation
about this already, but you wanna know what
made us stand out a lot
and how we got to the level we at today?
- The hood, B.
- For any non-New Yorkers watching,
the Lower East Side is a super dope place,
not for Black Ink.
Like, we grew our brand across the street
from the projects like, the hood is what made us.
- I'm more than just a hood artist, I'm sorry.
I'll service everybody, but I wanna be in
a place where people feel safe to come.
- Right... [overlapping chatter]
- Sound like that rich and get switch type [bleep].
- Hey, hey, hey, hey,
we've been in the hood for so long,
when do we upgrade?
We have to really change the dynamic
and upgrade on who we are.
I always thought that the mission
was to get the [bleep] out the hood,
not stay our asses in it.
We gotta elevate, show a different brand
and a different crowd of people what the [bleep] we do.
I don't understand why nobody else gets that.
- I'ma keep it 100, man, you're trying to steer
away from where it started at.
It's kinda throwing me off a little bit, bro.
We was young Black kids in the hood
with a tattoo business.
That [bleep] was unheard of.
Puma, you was there from the beginning,
I don't know how you can just move on from Black Ink.
You helped build this brand from the ground up,
to try to erase the history so fast is not sitting right.
We brought the people to us,
we was never the followers, we was never,
"Let's go downtown, let's open up here."
If we would’ve did that from day one,
this [bleep] wouldn't have worked.
- That's what I'm saying.
- But you can't live in the past,
you're not there no more, this [bleep] has grown.
- Right.
- I was part of Black Ink and I never even worked
in a Black Ink shop, technically,
if you wanna talk about it, but do you know how many
emails I get from young girls that are like,
"I watched you win that competition
and you have no idea how much you've inspired me."
[all cheering]
To me, Black Ink was supposed to be a movement.
And I would be heartbroken if I can't continue
to use this platform for what the [bleep]
it should've always been about-- about us.
In Chicago, Ryan doesn't even own a Black Ink shop.
He keeps the legacy going with 9MAG,
and same for KP with his shop IAM in Compton.
So I don't see why New York can't follow suit.
- I understand why y'all going so easy with this [bleep],
but [bleep] hit a little different for me.
Like, Ceas believed in me.
This [bleep] gave me a shot to come in that shop
and, you know what I mean, spread my wings, my [bleep].
You know what, there's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
Synonymous, period.
- Okay, okay, so we could say no and [bleep] be done with it.
- I'm not saying that... - What are you saying?
- Like goddamn, we ain't even
mother[bleep] buried the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- Ain't no body to bury!
[overlapping arguing]
- We're trying to elevate--
- I'm just saying, [bleep]'s fast.
- So how do we move forward?
Ceaser [bleep] up!
We have to keep going.
It can either go on with us,
or without mother[bleep].
All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- All I need is to know that I got some tattoo artists
that are down to [bleep] push forward.
- I think this [bleep] kinda fast, you dig what I'm saying?
I didn't know we was coming here to talk about a new shop.
- Okay, I understand how y'all feel about the timing.
But I don't want this [bleep] just to be known as
a whole entire legacy that ended on a bad situation.
I'm just trying to keep my day ones that we built
in this [bleep] with me before I keep pushing.
Because if you're not a part of it,
trust and believe, I will find me some mother[bleep].
If you build it, them mother[bleep] will come.
So, Draya, yes or no?
♪♪♪
- I'm-- I'm with you.
Look, obviously there's still a lot to figure out.
But if there's a way that I can keep
using the Black Ink platform to inspire other Black artists,
especially women artists, I'm gonna do that.
- Nychelle, I know that you got your child in Dallas
and I know you got a lot going on.
- I came out here to work for Black Ink,
stuff happened... - Okay.
- I'm trusting you.
- Okay. - I'm nervous.
I need this [bleep] to work.
- Okay, so that's a yes?
- I'm with you.
- Alex?
- My anxiety is really shooting through the roof.
I don't wanna let anybody down,
and I don't wanna make the wrong decision,
but I don't know what the wrong decision is right now.
So...
[sighs]
I'm down.
- Spyder? - I ain't sayin'
[bleep] this [bleep] completely,
but I'm like, [bleep] this [bleep] right now, bro.
Listen, man, I'ma stay loyal
to the man that gave me a chance, and that's Ceas.
Plus, I got a family to deal with,
so I'ma stick with what's paying the bills,
and that's the Black Ink shop.
- Ted, what's your answer?
- Again, if it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
I'm gonna fight for what the [bleep] I built forever.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- A'ight, bro, I get it,
but there's only one Ceas, and you're not him.
- You're the quote unquote "boss," but it's not about you, it's about all of us, bro.
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the [bleep] is you?
This [bleep] my [bleep], Puma,
I don't give a [bleep] about none of that, bro.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Is he needed? - Ted invited me.
[Puma] Trying to build this whole new thing up.
- It needs so much work.
- It's stressing me out.
[Tatti sobbing]
- [bleep], what happened?
[Tatti] I'm scared, I'm nervous.
Jemz!
And I have to tell Jemz.
- What's this?
[all cheering]
- Cheers the one year Gods of Ink.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,
who's that?
Don't have some [bleep] pull up to my shop.
- We over there mixing the pot, bitch, with Alex?
- I like you, like, a lot. - Relax.
Stop talking to me, [bleep], don't talk no more.
I'm so sorry Donna [bleep] you up.
- Chill out.
- We have to create our own legacy.
I was thinking, we throw a mixer...
[Ted] Like a talent scout...
- Yeah!
We're starting from scratch, Ted.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
[all cheering]
I'm probably the city's most valuable player.
- I do a lot of vagina work.
- You say what? - Vaginas.
[all exclaiming]
- Ta-da, the Casanova has arrived.
- People think I'm sweet and kind--
'Kay, girl!
But I'm really a [bleep] bitch.
Who the [bleep] is that?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
I don’t know what the [bleep] I'm doing right now.
I have a bunch of artists with nowhere to put them.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
- Oh, God! - Welcome!
- It begins. - Nice!
[Puma] Me and Ted are gonna put these artists through it
to see who has the talent, fortitude,
and mother[bleep] swagger to make it to this
next level that we're trying to achieve.
And at the same time too, if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
- We going out with a bang!
[overlapping shouting]
And don't forget, only the best of the best
is gonna make it to the shop.
[client] You got enough time for two hours?
[artist] Two hours, hell no.
- Y'all looking a little slow over there, Rich!
[indistinct rapping]
[all cheering]
- This is my living room. - No, it's not.
- We came home to [bleep] in the crib already.
- Wait, what? - Who the [bleep]
do you think y'all is right now?
Like, y'all are trying to be here.
I'm here already.
- Why you up there with my man
when he [bleep] my [bleep] last night?
- Womp, womp, womp.
[overlapping shouting/bleeps]
- If these mother[bleep] can't be all kumbaya...
- It's called hospitality, bitch.
[overlapping shouting] - Hold the [bleep] up!
- ...there's no way this shop can happen.
[all shouting] No, no!
You're [bleep] up the morale in here.
I have to tell you to pack your stuff
and you gotta go today.
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪
♪♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪