[Puma] Operation: Black Ink Legacy is in full effect. [Spyder] There's no such thing
as a Black Ink legacy without Ceaser.
- Okay, so there's no reason for you to be here then.
- To the new generation of Black Ink!
[Puma] I found ten potential artists that might be
perfect for the new shop.
- We can dance and play, and take more shots!
- Well, we got new artists.
Where the [bleep] are we gonna put them?
- Hey, what's up, man? - What's up, man?
Daymond John taking time out of his busy schedule
to give me some much needed business advice.
It really doesn't get no better than that.
- You're not selling tattoos, you're selling a community.
If you wanna move people to New York,
I'ma put you with somebody.
[Puma] And what came outta meeting up
with Daymond John's contact...
this big-ass mansion.
[Ted] This house is crazy.
And moving the artists into it
is the first step to continuing
the legacy that we've built for the past ten years.
♪♪♪♪
[Puma] Let's move these guys in already.
♪♪♪♪ [Puma] This "Black Ink Crew" platform started ten years ago
across the street from Foster Projects in Harlem.
While it's important to honor the past,
we still wanna do things differently
to push forward into the future.
♪♪♪♪
That's why this mansion is about to become a battleground.
Over the next two months,
eight artists will work, live,
and hustle together over a series of challenges
to prove they're able to handle the pressure of
being part of the brand new "Black Ink Crew".
You ready for this?
[Ted] I'm ready.
- Crazy! - Yo!
- Nah, this is fire. - Mama, I made it!
[overlapping chatter]
[laughter] - Oh, God!
[all exclaiming]
- Welcome!
- Nice!
- The deliberation wasn't easy,
btu I think Puma and myself picked the right team
to move us into the new "Black Ink Crew" era.
It begins.
- ♪♪ On and on and on and on ♪♪
[Ted] So we have Made Rich,
AMH,
Jahnova, Trilla,
we've got Santana, Ink Dreamy,
Liza, and Miracle, who's our only piercer.
- Yeah!
Y'all feeling good?
[overlapping chatter]
- Feeling like the Fresh Prince right now, y'all.
[all exclaiming]
- This place is [bleep] lit.
- I'm outta the borough, I'm in the mansion,
this is what's happening, baby.
- I ain't never seen no crib that big.
Except for "MTV: Cribs".
Movin' on up.
- I know this house looks crazy,
no, my Black ass did not pay for this.
[laughter]
I have a really great contact,
I don't know if you guys heard of Daymond John before.
[overlapping chatter]
Okay, he lined me up with some people
and we got this really awesome house
for the next two months for us
to move forward with this "Black Ink Crew" thing, man,
you know what I'm saying? [all cheering]
- I don't think the new people understand
how lucky they are to be here.
When we first started, there was no big mansions,
there was no tattooing in the house.
We had to tattoo in a cold-ass shop
literally in the basement of a building.
This is not just gonna be a free ride,
they have to earn a spot.
Y'all see when we did our first event,
it was more people.
Puma and I, we did like,
a very close deliberation on
who we want to be a part of moving forward.
But just 'cause y'all in this house,
it does not mean you're officially in the crew yet.
- Right, our shop is gonna be lit
but there's no way there's room for eight new artists.
So unfortunately, everybody here
is definitely not gonna make it to the end.
♪♪♪♪
- Okay, is this like a competition now?
Should I not [bleep] with these people?
- What is this, "Big Brother"?
I flew all the way out here for a job.
- I see no competition for me,
so should I be exempt? I think so.
- Black Ink was built off of relationships,
and us being together, actual family.
So it's not just about your tattoo skills.
I wanna see you guys being a team.
I've been in the tattoo industry for many years,
and it takes a lot to be down with a shop.
Sometimes you may be great at the art,
but have a horrible personality,
that's not what we're looking for.
We need people with good art skills,
able to work with others, and deal with customers too.
Just because maybe Rich is better
than Trilla in tattooing,
doesn't mean it's about Rich,
because it's not about one person.
- Made Rich should see me as a threat,
I'm Trilla Casanova.
- No, um... [laughs]
- So we're gonna be doing pop-ups
and other surprise challenges.
Building together and you're gonna be working,
you know what I'm saying, but if you mess up,
you will get booted out this house.
♪♪♪♪
- Puma said not everybody's gonna make it?
I know for damn straight I am.
- There's no way they're gonna bring me into this house
to kick me out, I'm here to stay.
- Sorry for the ones that are gonna get booted out,
but it ain't gonna be me.
- When I say "mess up," I mean, one,
keep this mother[bleep] clean.
You see a mother[bleep] not cleaning up behind yourself,
say something to that mother[bleep].
- We all adults here, no fighting.
- No throwing [bleep].
- Use your words.
- Don't break no [bleep].
Do you guys have any questions?
♪♪♪♪
- Do I got a curfew?
- A curfew? - You're grown.
- Respect, no problem.
[Jahnova] Your first priority's about a curfew?
You've got your priorities all mixed up, girl.
I don't see no threat detected here.
- Anybody else? - How we
figuring out these rooms?
- That's a great question.
I have an awesome game planned for that.
- Let them go... - No, no, no.
We're gonna try something new.
- What?
Puma, the rules to Black Ink and houses
is every man for themself.
- Y'all better hurry up and choose y'all rooms.
[overlapping shouting/bleeps]
- You out here dealing cards like it's blackjack
and not Black Ink, I know we in Jersey,
but this ain't Atlantic City, bro.
- Now, the thing about the rooms,
they're numbered 1-8,
one could be the best room,
eight can be the best room.
I don't know!
♪♪♪♪
Rich, pick a number.
- Can I get a drumroll?
[all drumming]
- Not that one, not that one, not that one, not that one.
- What you mean?!
Oh, five. I need that.
- I'ma go ahead and shoot my shot out here.
I'ma manifest like, a seven coming.
- I appreciate that.
- Six. - Six, okay.
I'm just tryna be fair and avoid any confrontation
in this goddamn place right now,
because it's a random draw,
so nobody should be really be crying on what they get.
See, look at me, Puma, learning from the past.
Right now, have fun, get to know each other,
you guys enjoy the house, enjoy y'all rooms,
have a good time.
[overlapping chatter]
Don't break no [bleep] in here, please.
- You break, you buy. - You break, you buy.
You fight, goodbye.
[Ted] I'm starting to feel a little bit better about this.
The house, the plan, and the energy
that the new crew is giving.
Now it's time to see who's really gonna put that work in.
[overlapping chatter]
- Let's go check it out, what're we waiting on?
- This is crazy. - Where is the room?
I'm going upstairs. - Oh, damn...
[overlapping chatter]
I see number four over here!
I see number one...
[shouting continues]
- Here's number five!
- Where number four? - Look at y'all running!
- [laughs] No!
Ooh, this nice.
Growing up as an only child means
I get whatever I want whenever I want.
Ooh, I got my bed!
So now living in a house with a whole bunch of people
and having to figure out how the [bleep] we can all
do this together, I'm a little nervous.
- We got eight.
Whew!
[screaming]
This the lifestyle I already got.
A king for a king, big house for a big house.
This mean a lot, showing my talents
and that hard work pays off,
it's lit, yo, chase your dreams.
- I found my room!
My bedroom, bro,
like, I ain't never imagined I would ever be
in like, something like this before, man.
Money.
♪♪♪♪
Yo, and it feel good too.
- Maybe you downstairs, AMH.
- There's a game room down there.
Yeah, this is nice.
♪♪♪♪
[AMH] I specifically said
please don't let my room be in the basement.
Where's my room at?
- Is it two? Number two?
- My room is in the [bleep] basement.
- This is nice! - No, it's not!
[laughter]
[AMH] I know I'm an adult,
but I am terrified of the dark.
It's just something I never grew out of.
Who's gonna save me down here? Nobody's coming to help.
They put me in the [bleep] basement.
I'm terrified to be down here by myself.
I told you I was gonna get the worst one.
♪♪♪♪
- I got a balcony! I got a balcony!
- Okay, wait, this is a vibe.
Okay, I'm not mad at it, this is a vibe.
I got a little TV.
- If somebody's seen number five,
please let me know. - Where your room at?
Here's number five, who got five?
- Where the room at?
- Black Ink takeover, bro.
New generation! [screams]
- Mama, I made it!
We here! Whoo!
- This is either gonna be really good or really bad.
- Open the door. - You do the honors.
[distant chatter]
[triumphant music]
- Are you [bleep] kidding me?!
- This is fire!
- He has a sauna room!
- I couldn't wait to do this!
What other way could I come into a situation
like this other than being on the top?
I picked the right number, I felt it in my heart.
- Wait, wait... - Look at the camera.
- I'm at the camera. I'm in the camera,
I'm in its eyes, I'm in the lens.
Been a long [bleep] time coming
for the [bleep] city, for the [bleep] borough.
Big [bleep] Queens.
Black Ink up in this bitch.
- Tell 'em! - They gon' stop talkin'--
they gon' stop talkin' when I'm talkin'!
- We going out with a bang!
2023!
- Some [bleep]!
♪♪♪♪
- So I got some great news.
The Cookie Store asked us to tattoo.
- It's on, it's on. - But I'm only taking...
♪♪♪♪
- Yerrrrp! - Spyder, my man.
We having a pop up at Cookies.
I want y'all to be a part of whatever's going on.
- Eh.
- You're not needed. - Said who?
- Says me! - [bleep] my [bleep], Puma.
I don't give a [bleep] about none of that, bro.
♪♪♪♪
- ♪♪ Get out there, and make a million if you gon' do it ♪♪
♪♪ You gotta feel it if you're gonna do it ♪♪
♪♪♪♪
[Trilla] Anybody here?
[tense music]
[yodeling]
♪♪♪♪
- [whispering] Go, go, go!
- Yo!
♪♪♪♪
Hmm!
Is it here?
No...
[screams] Got your ass!
- That's [bleep] up, you would've never found me
if I didn't peek my head out!
You cheated!
I mean, we have this big-ass house,
so how could we not play hide and seek?
But also, this is a great game to play
to find out who's really sneaky.
How do y'all feel about the whole Puma and Teddy
talking about the breakdown of like,
not all of us is gonna make it?
- That was just to scare us, I feel,
like, to put that pressure on us just to make sure we like...
- [bleep]. - On our [bleep].
Nah, [bleep], but that's just to make sure, like,
yo, be on your [bleep], you know, like...
- I thrive under pressure so... - Facts.
- I like that [bleep]. - You're in a great place.
- When he was talking, I was like, look,
at the end of the day, yeah, I come here
to have fun and get to know all y'all,
but seeing you guys' personalities,
I know you guys can crack down and get serious.
- Yeah, that's how we made it here.
- So we might joke around and "ha ha, hee hee",
but I came here to show my face,
and I wanna learn from each and every single one of y'all.
I've been tattooing for about two years now,
I used to be a physical therapist technician,
one of my clients was like, you know,
I'm running a tattoo shop, next thing I know,
I landed my way up in that bitch.
- What've y'all really left
to really be here a part of this?
- My man's back home, so it's kinda hard
because I can't control what he does back home,
all I can do is control me, and I'ma focus on that,
and I feel like that's okay, 'cause once in my life,
I'm being selfish, and I'm okay with this.
It's really hard to try to connect with your partner
and to be on this own journey, but I'm here for myself,
and it's time for me to be selfish
and go along with this journey
finding what I'm passionate about.
- I am away from
my son right now, he's three.
My baby, but I also--
I just opened up a tattoo studio.
- Oh, [bleep].
- And so for my studio to be closed
is a big deal, but I feel like it was
worth it to be away from my son
and to put my business on pause
to do what we're doing right now.
But I call him every morning.
It was... extremely difficult
to leave my son, but this is a platform
with a greater purpose.
I want to be a part of what they have built
for the culture.
- I got a little girl back home too,
she just turned two in December.
- Oh, you got a kid?
- She gave me a little puppy on the way out the door,
you know what I'm saying, it was like, I'ma miss you,
I was like, man, it almost broke me down,
I almost let her unpack my stuff real quick,
but I'm definitely here for her.
Definitely here for myself,
but my daughter is my motivating factor for sure.
She fuels me and everything I do,
so this opportunity is super huge,
I can't wait to show out for it.
- So we can all cry together.
- I was ready for this [bleep].
I don't got no shop no more,
I run my own studio,
the only person I gotta answer to is my son,
and his mom holding it down, so we getting it done.
She out there in the VIP,
shoutout the parents, shoutout to the crew,
shoutout to we, another one up...
[overlapping chatter]
- La familia! - La familia!
I support all artists, so I wish everyone the best.
But at the end of the day, I gotta look out for myself.
'Cause being in this "family," it's not gonna pay my bills.
- Look, I bet everybody can't do this.
Go.
[bleep] you talking about? Ok-- ooh!
Yeah!
Come on, Miracle!
Yeah!
Come on, you kno-- stretch it out.
[laughter]
- ♪♪ Sometimes you gotta say that you need a minute ♪♪
♪♪ 'Cause when the plan comes to fruition ♪♪
♪♪ Life is hittin' different ♪♪
- Yerrrp!
[overlapping greetings]
- What's up, bro?
I decided to have this meeting with Spyder and Alex because
they're Black Ink OGs no matter what
and I didn't want 'em feeling like
they was left out in the cold.
And honestly, I really wanna get Spyder on board
since he's really the person that encouraged me
to boss up a lot more.
- Honestly, I think it's time for you
to take the lead on [bleep].
You got a fancy drink going on?
- He's drinking an espresso martini.
- An espresso... - Martini.
- Too bougie for me, man.
- When in doubt, pinky out, ya heard?
[ding] [laughter]
- Yo, man, since everything been going on,
I ain't seen Alex, I ain't seen nobody really.
But at the end of the day, we're still a crew.
So when Ted hit me up and tell me to come along,
then that's what I gotta do.
Word, what's good though? What's up with y'all?
- Same old [bleep], just sitting here, telling Alex
what's going on with the whole Black Ink platform situation.
- Right, right. - Long story short,
me and Puma are finally on the same page,
and we got a good plan. - Word.
- We had a mixer where we brought a bunch
of different artists from different places,
and put 'em in the same room.
- Like recruiting type [bleep]?
- Kinda sorta.
We narrowed it down to eight, know what I'm saying,
so we got eight possible new tattoo artists.
- Eight? - Yeah, we got eight.
- When I agreed to help with the mixer,
I was under the impression it was gonna be like,
three to four people, not eight.
What happens to the rest of us?
- Well, last time we was chopping it up,
you was talking about finding a shop or whatever.
What's up with that?
- Um...
We still don't have a shop.
- Eh? - So we got 'em
in a mansion instead of putting them in the shop.
♪♪♪♪
- Wait, wait, wait, hold up.
Did you just say a mansion?
What the [bleep] is going on?
- I'm not surprised that they don't have a shop
quite yet, especially with the leadership on this one.
Like, a house with a bunch of random people?
If I was coming up with a new shop,
I don't think that'd be exactly the way I would do things.
- I know it sounds a little crazy,
but one thing I can say is, what shop we fit in?
We gonna have to stay in that [bleep] mansion and turn it
into a tattoo shop, and we can't afford that.
So it's definitely gonna be knockout,
everybody's not gonna make it,
so while we're out looking for a shop,
we tryna get these people out,
see what their talent is about,
see how they deal with people,
and how they work basically around us.
- So narrowing it down?
- Yeah, and the first thing we doing to like,
put them to the test is we having a pop-up at Cookies.
- Cookies? - They opened up...
- What Cookies? [sharp inhale] Cookies?
- Yeah, that Cookies. - Yeah?!
- Yeah. - Oh, [bleep].
- I'm impressed, Ted and Puma's landing
big pop-up deals like this already?
Maybe there is something to this plan.
- Puma's picking four people
from the house to be at the event.
- Four people out of the eight people?
- What's the criteria for the four people that's being picked?
- Man, I'm leaving all of that to Puma,
but what's important is this'll be the first time
we get to see them in action
to figure are y'all able to move forward?
- I wanna see them in action.
- Well, I'm glad you excited,
because I want y'all to be a part of whatever's going on.
Because to me, y'all are Black Ink already.
- You know, regardless if I agree to what
Puma's doing or not, at the end of the day,
I respect the strong business opinion of Ted,
and whatever he says and whatever he needs, I'm with.
When is it?
- It's actually later on today.
So y'all down?
- I mean, I guess I'm not doing anything now.
- Lemme check my PalmPilot.
I'm free. - Yeah.
I'm happy to see that you in the game,
and you [bleep] pulling... - I'm trying.
- Yeah, taking them shots.
- I'm happy Spyder and Alex are willing to show up.
I'm hoping that once Spyder sees this pop-up,
he'll understand how our plan is working
and he's convinced to join us.
Alright, so now that I got your word
y'all gonna be there, I actually gotta go
help set this [bleep] up now,
so lemme jump on the highway,
you can finish your espresso martini.
- [loud exhale] Energy in a glass.
- You gonna be drunk and wired.
[laughter]
♪♪♪♪
- ♪♪ Women, women ♪♪
♪♪ They watch me run they think I'm done ♪♪
♪♪ Women, women ♪♪
♪♪ This my race to run ♪♪
- So let's just walk it down.
[all groaning]
- Look at this, Black Ink fitness.
- How did last night go for you?
I thought you had a little spice in your life.
- Last night? - Last night.
- Wait, what happened last night?
- I don't know, you ain't make no little love connections
in the house yesterday?
♪♪♪♪
- We look good together.
- You press play already? - I think.
- Come on, before they catch us.
- Oh!
[screams]
- Nah... - No?
Nothing jumping out at you?
Trilla got something up his sleeves, man.
I mean, he's right next door to me.
I know he's hooking up with somebody,
so I'ma definitely get down to the bottom of the thing.
- You don't put no creamer in your coffee?
- I don't even drink coffee.
- I got you.
- Bop. Bop. Bop. - Go ahead.
[laughter]
- I was so scared. I was so scared, bro.
- Everything still looks alright.
Yerrrp!
[all exclaiming]
- What's up? - Pull up.
[laughter]
- House still looks pretty decent.
Well, I'm [bleep] surprised the house is still standing
'cause, man, if that would've been us,
season one, in this house?
This mother[bleep] would've been on fire.
I'm glad to see everybody's up, energized, good energy.
Everybody had a good night?
[all] Yes!
- No crazy [bleep] happened?
- Not yet. - No crazy [bleep].
- It was very kumbaya last night.
- Alright, so here's a fun fact about myself.
I am a weed connoisseur, if you wanna say....
- We on the same team.
- So I got some great news, some good friends of mine's
at the Cookie Store...
[Trilla] We talkin' about the Cookie Store?
- The Cookie Store, they just opened up
a really big store in Manhattan
right there on 34th Street.
It's a very prime spot, lot of tourists and locals
go into this location.
And they asked us to come down
and tattoo at this event.
- Yo, it's on, it's on. [all exclaiming]
- See, this is what I like to see.
I announce a great project,
and everybody's excited, enthused to go.
Not like the old crew with their rumbling and groaning
every time you say some [bleep].
So I'm really, really trying to make sure
that we show ourselves in the best light that we can
so that we can expand our clientele,
which helps the shop once we open,
and make it happen in America, you feel me?
[all exclaiming]
So I'm only taking a few people with me.
There's a method to this whole madness.
I wanna see how each people works with each other.
Also, I wanna see how things go
when it's not going their way.
I'm gonna have...
[tense music]
AMH... - Yes!
[all cheering]
Yes, okay.
- Um, so Jahnova...
- Let's go, Nova.
[all cheering]
Santana...
[all cheering]
And, um, last but not least...
Ink Dreamy.
- [gasping] Bet, bet bet bet bet.
[all cheering]
- How could you not pick me?
This is my city, I'm the most experienced,
I'm the best leader here.
If that's your move, go for it, do it,
I just hope it doesn't bite you in your ass.
- Get your tattoo machines and everything correct,
'cause you know, the event's today,
and we're gonna go down to the Cookie Store
and make this happen, we're about to go.
[all cheering]
- [bleep] we going?
- Nah, nah, you guys'll just hold down the fort,
know what I'm saying, chill...
- You can go chill in that big-ass suite
you got upstairs. [laughter]
[Made Rich] Homies going to Cookies.
- Hey, you guys made it.
- Guess who's not going? Me.
For me to not be working,
nobody wins.
- I invited Draya, Alex, Nychelle,
and somebody that you probably haven't spoken to in a minute.
- Who?
[sighs]
♪♪♪♪
- ♪♪ I'ma show you how to grind ♪♪
♪♪ Show you how to shine ♪♪
♪♪ Show you how to get that cake on time ♪♪
♪♪ Show you how to hustle, show you how to floss ♪♪
♪♪ In my city, call the mailman, I'm known as the boss ♪♪
- Who'd have ever thought we had a tattoo shop
pop-up in Cookies?
- Feels like, you know,
I feel like I'm back in the groove of things, baby--
- Those was bad moves, that's not a groove right there.
- Oh, wait, hold on... [laughter]
Today's the first time we're gonna put
these artists to the test.
I brought us some clients for them,
plus this is a great opportunity
for these four potential artists
because Cookies Store in NYC is a big deal.
A lot of foot traffic, so there's gonna be
a lotta people coming through to check us out.
This helps our brand get out there.
So hopefully they don't [bleep] this up.
- So who did you leave at the house?
- Rich, Liza, Trilla, and Miracle 'cause
she doesn't tattoo anyway.
- How they feel about that?
- I mean, we do got 'em in a really nice-ass house.
So if they feel some type of way,
they should be able to get over it.
- ♪♪ Fly, I'll say it again ♪♪
♪♪♪♪
♪♪ Fly first class, ain't no one's friend ♪♪
♪♪♪♪
♪♪ Deep dive in your emotions ♪♪
♪♪ Now emotion's coming up ♪♪
- Surprised.
Homies is going to Cookies on 34th Street to tattoo,
guess who's not going?
Me.
And realistically, I feel like
a lot of the homies in the house
are looking up to me, and have confidence in me,
and I feel like if I lose confidence,
your whole cookie might crumble. [makign drum sounds]
- ♪♪ Close doors, we don't back down ♪♪
♪♪ We fight dusk till they shut down ♪♪
[Puma] Where the hell are these damn artists?
They supposed to have been here already.
- For once, it ain't us pulling up late.
[laughter]
- I hope these rookies understand
that, you know, we are judging tardiness too.
You can't just be pulling up all late and [bleep]
like you're me or Ted.
- You know, before I forget,
I invited Draya, Alex, Nychelle,
and somebody that you probably haven't spoken to in a minute.
- Who? - Spyder-man.
- [sighs]
I get Alex, Draya, and Nychelle,
'cause I haven't really spoke to them in a minute
and I want 'em to just see that things are going well
so as we move forward they're still on board, you know?
But it's like, with Spyder, man,
he said no.
I think inviting Spyder to our first real major event
with the newbies kind of is not a good vibe,
especially after the last time he came around.
- Goddamn, we ain't even mother[bleep] bury the body yet.
- Hey, hey, hey... - Y'all ready to move on?
- That's not the vibration I'm on right now,
so let's hope that Spyder is cool, relaxed,
and not crazy Spyder.
- Yo, listen, in the beginning,
I was skeptical too...
- Ted, what's your answer?
- If it's not gonna be in the hood,
get the [bleep] outta here.
...But a lot's changed since then,
and we have a concrete plan already in motion,
so I invited him to this just so he can get a gist
of what's going on and he's not fully left out
and he can probably make a different decision.
I get where Puma's coming from,
but if we gonna push the Black Ink legacy forward,
we shouldn't ' close the door on anyone who's been loyal.
And not to mention, Spyder helped build
Black Ink Brooklyn, he trained artists,
so he may be an asset to what we have going on.
If this thing is gonna work,
we cannot let egos get in the way.
- If you say that's your guy, I'ma be more...
- Yo, yo. - Hey!
- [bleep]. - Hey, you guys made it.
- What's happenin'? What's happenin'?
- Yo, I really [bleep] made it.
I'm in the heart of New York City
and I'm about to tattoo?
Bruh, I couldn't ask for nothing more.
- Welcome to the Cookies NYC pop-up.
So in a moment, we're gonna have clients pulling up.
We're gonna do some tattoos. - Tattooing.
[all cheering]
- I'm super stoked to be here at the Cookies event,
I know I'm gonna get to tattoo today,
so I'm definitely gonna try to flex my skills a little bit,
try to put a little something on the map.
I'm ready to rock.
- I know you guys see there's two chairs,
we're gonna switch out, so while whoever's tattooing,
you AP for them, once they switch out,
you AP for that person. - Got it.
- And that's one thing that me and Ted
are gonna be watching, is how y'all work together.
You know what I'm talking about? - We got this, we got it.
- So you guys get y'all selves set up,
get y'all selves right and we're gonna have a good time.
- I feel a little bad for the people
that have to stay back home,
but at the same time, I'm really excited
that I get to show off what I can do,
so let's rock and roll.
- On shoot, on shoot, on shoot, a'ight.
Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!
[AMH] Let's go!
[Made Rich] I don't know what to do
in this big-ass house...
[voice echoes] Big-ass house...
- Do you hear that echo?
Like, we got this whole house to ourselves and it's so quiet.
[screams]
[laughter]
- I'm a little tight, you know, like, why not me?
But I feel like this first time
I'll take it on the shoulder, you know, it's a'ight.
But next time, we ain't taking it light.
- How y'all feel about not being picked?
- If I'm gonna keep it a band,
I would've loved to have went, you know?
To join along and get back to working.
♪♪♪♪
I am dying to get back into a tattoo shop,
an event, something to get my hands moving.
Every time you don't get to tattoo for Ted and Puma,
somebody else takes that place and is able to shine.
I came here to shine.
- I wanna sit there and be like, yeah, team, go get it!
But I had to give up a lot to be here.
Like, I had a whole trip scheduled with my son now,
and I cancelled it to be here.
I sacrificed a lot of my mental time to be here,
a lot of my physical time to be here,
a lotta my family time to be here.
But I know it's for another pillar of opportunity
and for more of a reach amongst the industry,
amongst the world, and I would be damned
if I let this time here go in vain.
Like, I don't understand why not come out the gate with
your secure artists?
For me to not be working,
nobody wins.
- To be honest, I feel like
just because I'm here, doesn't mean that
I'ma get comfortable.
I'm a piercer, but I do wanna learn how to tattoo.
- ♪♪ She's coming to the darkside ♪♪
- Being a piercer's a slight disadvantage,
but I've always considered tattooing,
so I really don't have any time to waste.
Hopefully Puma sees that I wanna learn,
and that'll win me some points.
I feel like I can learn something from all of y'all,
whether you been tattooing for a year
or tattooing for forever. - Come on.
[laughter]
I'm a little upset about being left behind,
but Miracle's optimism in wanting to tattoo
is a little inspiring, so I'm a little optimistic.
So what makes you wanna really tattoo?
You feel like you just around it enough?
- No, before I got into piercing,
I actually wanted to tattoo.
But I'm not patient enough.
I do got ADHD, I can't sit down
sometimes for very long, so that's why
I used that excuse that I didn't have enough time,
and that's why I'm trying to squash that now.
- Yeah, just let loose,
do your thing, nobody's judging you.
- I've been struggling with ADHD
for a long time now,
and it's been holding me back on a lotta things.
But that's why I'm here, to push myself
beyond what I'm capable of.
- Yo, that's nice.
How'd you feel doing this?
- It felt not good because I didn't have an eraser.
[laughter]
- You can't erase when you tattooing, though,
ain't no double tap on that.
- Facts, oh my God. - Click, click.
- I mean, Miracle, she's really sweet.
I love you're self-centered and you put your [bleep] name.
[laughter]
[Made Rich] The house team!
- I like what I see going on right now.
So far, a successful event. Everything is going smooth...
- Yerrrrp!
- Spyder-man!
- ♪♪ Here we go, here we go, we don't play, we don't play ♪♪
♪♪ It's 'bout that time, get out my way ♪♪
- Who need help? Who need help?
- I'm going first. - Okay...
[overlapping chatter]
- Reason why I picked Santana and Jahnova
is because they were kinda turning up the most at the mixer
so I kinda wanna see if they can work as hard as they play.
- Woop woop, woop woop.
- And with AMH and Dreamy,
their portfolios were really nice
so I kinda wanna see how they work
when they get put on the spot.
And Rich, I already know him as an artist,
he's great, so now I kinda wanna just see how he acts
being put on the sideline.
- I am so happy that you picked script.
- Me too, me too. - Oh, my God.
- I wanna put it right here no my arm,
like right in the gap. - Alright, cool,
so I'm gonna go do some tweaks and pulls,
I'll print it out and be right with you.
- Look at Santana get into professional mode.
That's what I'm [bleep] talking about.
- I did hear what you would like to get,
so I drew something up for you.
- Oh, wow, that's beautiful.
- Yes, and that's going right here on your face, right?
- Right here. - Perfect,
'cause I'm the face tattoo queen.
Welcome to the club. - Let's do it.
- It's [bleep] go time, let's go!
- ♪♪ Woke up this morning, had to remind myself that ♪♪
♪♪ I got what it takes, it's been a long journey ♪♪
♪♪ You see the blood and the sweat dripping on my face ♪♪
♪♪ No turnin' back, now I'ma bet it all on myself ♪♪
♪♪ Gonna raise the stakes, force me to hit ♪♪
♪♪ Pedal to the metal, I'm across that line first ♪♪
♪♪ Finished my race ♪♪
- Black Ink gave us a platform
because in the tattoo industry,
people of color's not looked at so seriously.
So I'm just bringing my stuff
and just hoping that I'm able to be a part of it.
- ♪♪ I done put the work in, showing up early ♪♪
♪♪ And I'm leaving late, 10,000 hours, no debate ♪♪
♪♪ Ten toes deep 20 years straight ♪♪
♪♪ No sense just a visionary, this about to be legendary ♪♪
♪♪ Day after day slow and steady ♪♪
♪♪ Hours and hours, bring it, we ready ♪♪
- This opportunity means everything to me.
I've been working my whole life
to get recognized for what I do,
and now I'm finally here to show the whole world
what the [bleep] Novacain brings to the table.
- Can I just say I like what the [bleep] I see
going on right now.
- ♪♪ Work, work, work ♪♪
♪♪ You know we about to level up, 'ey ♪♪
♪♪ We came here to tear it up ♪♪
♪♪ Level up, hey, we ain't ever giving up ♪♪
- It's looking good in here.
So far, Santana and Jahnova
are imprsesing me with their artistry.
They're really taking care of their business today.
Now it's all about AMH and Dreamy
and how they're gonna take care of their business today.
Yo, Ink Dreamy and AMH, you're up.
- What brought you in for this one today?
- I need some tattoo therapy.
- Absolutely, I'm glad I can help.
- What you got in mind?
- Uh, so I'm thinking
maybe like, a rose that'll come...
- A rose? - A rose.
- Gimme some, you won already, you won.
- ♪♪ Yeah, no pain, no gain, we gonna level up ♪♪
♪♪ We ready, get ready, watch us work ♪♪
♪♪ You about to witness greatness ♪♪
♪♪ My team always aiming for the top ♪♪
♪♪ Step to the side we gonna make it ♪♪
♪♪ You seen the come up, made a statement ♪♪
♪♪ Been a long way from that basement ♪♪
[Ink Dreamy] I left everything back home,
but my daughter's the biggest thing.
Me leaving her back home makes this feel real,
feels tangible, it has to be for something.
Ain't no way I can leave baby girl back there
without coming on the show for something.
- ♪♪ Better stay seated with the chips down ♪♪
♪♪ We a steam roller, we're the pavement ♪♪
♪♪ We become like what we around, right? ♪♪
♪♪ We the realest, we the Dream Team ♪♪
♪♪ Knock us down, watch us get back up ♪♪
- I sacrificed a lot to be here.
I'm missing time with my child,
my tattoo studio, but I really wanna show
this industry I'm tight because I'm good,
not because I'm a girl.
- ♪♪ Drop us in the fire ♪♪
♪♪ We coming out alive ♪♪
♪♪ Stronger than ever ♪♪
♪♪ We on that overdrive ♪♪
♪♪ Level up, level up ♪♪
♪♪ No pain, no gain ♪♪
♪♪ We gon' level up ♪♪
- These look good, bro.
- Thanks. - This look good.
- You know what, Ted?
I'm gonna pat myself on the back and say,
I am doing a great goddamn job.
It makes me feel young again, like the good ol' days.
So far, a successful event.
Everything's going smooth,
nobody's trying to murder each other,
and clients are really into their artists
and artists are into their clients.
It seems like the rookies found a good system
of rotating clients and APing for each other.
I'm quite proud of them, man,
figuring out and working together.
[Spyder] Yerrp!
- Oh!
- Spyder-man!
♪♪♪♪
- Brother Ted, how you feeling?
- Appreciate you coming out, man.
- What's up with y'all?
[Spyder shouting]
- What up, my guy? - [bleep]!
- Why the [bleep] y'all keep arguing, yo?
- You can't "little [bleep]" me, Puma.
[Jahnova] Why the [bleep] are people arguing
when we're supposed to upgrade the brand?
- You not more of a boss than me,
who the [bleep] is you?
- ♪♪ Level up, 'ey, we came here to tear it up, level up ♪♪
[Spyder] Yerrrp!
What's going on, Brother Ted, how you feeling?
- Appreciate you coming out, man.
- What's up with y'all? What's going on, Brother Puma?
What's going on?
- I don't know why Ted invited Spyder,
but at the end of the day, I'm kinda glad he's coming
so he can see we really didn't need him.
Look, we're good money over here.
- Looking real colorful in here.
- Yeah. - [bleep].
So this is the new crop, huh?
- Yeah, everything's been on the up and up.
We got a good amount of really great artists,
you know, I got my connections, so I got a hookup on a house
while we find the location
that we're trying to get the shop in.
- I like this.
It's good to see Puma and Ted's plan come together,
it really gives me hope for the future.
Nychelle texted me earlier and let me know that
her and Draya wasn't gonna be able to make it,
which kinda sucks.
I think if they saw this pop-up,
it would put a lot of their worries
of the security of their jobs to rest.
- As far as I see this and what you just told me,
you might be onto something here.
[Puma] "I might be onto something"?
Mother[bleep], I know.
Look, we're in a Cookies store.
- I just wish everybody believed in the beginning,
but I get it.
- Ain't nothing against you,
I know that you have the right intent and [bleep].
But a lot of people talk that talk,
but they don't walk that walk.
So I ain't wanna wait for [bleep] to pop
while I got bills coming now, you feel what I'm saying?
- But like I told you when me and you met...
We have the same take on everything.
A lotta people just so fast to jump ship.
Are y'all forgetting about what we built?
I'm not gonna lead you down the wrong path.
- Word, word. - So that's why I invited you
to this, it's starting to look a little bit more clearer.
- Seeing is believing. - As much as everybody wants
to sit around and wait and see what I do,
there's mother[bleep] that are here, ready,
they not waiting, they ready.
- You ain't gonna never get me to just jump
into any situation, I need to know what's going on.
- I wasn't even asking you, brother.
- I mean, I was invited, you sent the text about it...
- Yeah, and you said no.
[Puma] I don't know why Spyder thinks
that that offer is still on the table.
That book's been sailed.
Once you tell me no, I'ma keep [bleep] pushing.
And I don't really need the rookies to see
him and all his negative [bleep].
They're doing well, we're moving forward.
- But I don't mean I don't [bleep] with you
or nothing like that, I just need a little more--
- It felt like that, though, man.
So that's why my ass is moving forward,
you know what I mean, rather than sitting around waiting.
There's a bunch of young talent out here, ready.
So, you know, I kept it pushing.
- You know, I came in here with good intentions,
offering my services as a Black Ink OG.
But the energy that Puma's giving off is real wonky.
I mean, you was the one that was trying to sell me on the shop,
and you don't even got a shop.
You might need to come off your high horse a little, brother.
I only came because of Ted, honestly,
so if I'm in the equation and I need to help out
however I need to help out [bleep] and whatever,
I'm with it, but like... - Ted, is he needed?
- He invited me.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
- Ted, is he needed? - Listen, hold on, hold on,
hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
Energy's going weird. - Yeah, he talking
some big [bleep], he got big boss energy and [bleep],
but nothing to put out with it, you dig what I'm saying?
- I had good intentions when I invited Spyder--
I really thought it would open up a conversation
and we could move forward, but they're both acting
very childish about it.
- He was waiting to be the number one,
you get what I'm saying, so now he push [bleep]
like he wanna be acting like he's a boss, [bleep] outta here.
- Ted, is he needed? - He invited me.
[bleep] you talkin'... - Listen, hold on, hold on...
- He was waiting to be the number one,
so now he push [bleep] like he wanna be acting like
he's a boss, [bleep] outta here.
- Yo, what the [bleep] is going on right now
between Puma and Spyder?
Like, I understand Teddy inviting Spyder here,
but right now, it feels like we're back at the dinner table.
- Y'all both tripping right now.
- But you're not needed.
- Tripping right now. - Clearly you're not needed.
- Said who? - Says me!
- [bleep] my [bleep], Puma. I don't give a [bleep]
about none of that, bro.
- Ya... you want me to keep t-- I'ma keep tattooing?
- You don't make more bread than me,
you not more of a boss than me, who the [bleep] is you?
- I was told this is the new Black Ink.
No fighting, no arguing, we here to upgrade the brand,
so why the [bleep] are people arguing
when we're supposed to be on a new foot?
- Why the [bleep] y'all keep arguing, yo?
- You can't "little [bleep]" me, Puma.
I'm a bigger boss than you, [bleep].
[clapping]
- Lemme clear this energy up a little bit.
Lemme holla at you outside, bro.
I guess that closes the door
on Spyder ever being a part of this.
- Welp, that went left.
- I don't know why Ted invite--
yo, he said no to me.
I found great tattoo artists who, lowkey,
a little bit better.
- Man, [bleep] you, [bleep].
[Puma] You're here still! Why are you here?
- You said it like a bitch-ass [bleep],
so bring it out all the way. - [Ted] Come here, bro.
- Okay, Spyder. - You a bitch-ass [bleep].
- Thank you. - That's what
bitch-ass [bleep] do.
Fake-ass boss. No crown, Puma.
- I have a competition about to happen. [all exclaiming]
All you guys are gonna compete against each other.
There will be a prize for the winner.
- I want like, the statue to be like, naked.
- Amount of time I have, may be a little difficult.
- What you mean, you can't do it?
- Oh my goodness, [bleep].
- You ain't gonna die.
- We have, like, a bunch of new kids.
They are in a house. We need to get to know them.
Oh, [bleep], it's open.
[overlapping greetings]
- [bleep], let's take some shots,
and [bleep] do this [bleep].
[all cheering]
- Welcome to my crib. - How'd they get in here?
- [groaning]
It's about to go bad.
- I just wanna know why you're up there with my man
when he ate my [bleep] last night?
- Oh...
♪♪♪♪
- ♪♪ MTV ♪♪