- I'm actually thinking about starting my own tattoo shop. (crowd cheering)
- Ooh, I like the high ceilings.
- I can't believe we even doing this (bleep) right now.
Today is a big-ass day.
Me, Ken, and Barbie are looking for locations
for my first tattoo shop!
- So you don't think Bone changed at all?
- I don't think he has. But I told him, like
if you gonna do some (bleep),
make sure it's worth losing your family.
- You have that ditzy, dummy (bleep) going on.
The ehh, ehh, ehh. That bull(bleep).
- This is exactly why I don't feel comfortable being here.
Because look how quickly you just turned.
- I've seen nothing to show why I should trust
anybody hanging with the ops.
- I'm not doing this. I quit.
- I wish you guys the best.
- Whoo, this is a little bit different, right?
- It is. - Where do you see yourself
going from here? - I'm gonna hold auditions
like "American Idol," look for some talent.
- I don't really know what's about to happen next.
I'm just completely open
to like whatever possibilities can happen.
I just know I don't want to be back there.
- ♪ I be fishin' with your bish ♪
- ♪ I do what I want ♪ - ♪ Hey ♪
♪ Trying to get a... - ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ Hey, tell... ♪
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ I do me and you are you ♪
♪ And you can't tell me who to screw ♪
- ♪ Who be getting... ♪ - ♪ I do ♪
- ♪ You can't tell me -- ♪
- ♪ Because ♪ - ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ I do what I want to ♪
- ♪ I do what I wanna ♪
- ♪ I do what I want ♪♪
- ♪ Whoa, get it on get it on ♪
♪ Okay, you should know my downfall ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm coming up mm-hmm ♪
♪ Y'all just sounding like a bunch of runner-ups ♪
♪ Mm-hmm ♪
- Hey, girl. How are you?
♪♪
- ♪ So is that all you got? ♪
♪ You go bigger stronger ♪
♪♪
- You like that? - Yep, that's fire.
I didn't think I was gonna get a tat anytime soon,
but you back open! - I am.
Now the shop is back in business,
all my VIP clients is lining up to get tatted.
My homegirl Brittany B. is a Grammy-nominated singer,
songwriter, and she from Compton
that done collabed with John Legend, Bhad Bhabie,
and she done got work done by me.
So I had to get her in the seat.
- My first tattoo was my hand.
- My first tattoo was my own name.
- You had your own name tatted on you?
- Why would I get my own name tatted on me
like I'm gonna forget my name? - (laughs)
- ♪ La la la la la ♪
- Hey, boo. - Look how amazing!
- Honey! - Baby, I'm so proud of you.
- I'm so proud of you, too. I missed you.
- I missed you, too. - ...Gonna be here.
- I came to talk to KP,
but it looks like he busy.
No, but you my sis so I can fill you in, too.
- What happened?
- He threw an amazing event.
Barbie wanted to talk to me.
But my spirit took over and was like, no.
Bitch, you're Team Lemeir.
- I'm trying to be the peacemaker.
- Okay, you be the peacemaker.
But you don't have no type of loyalty or nothing.
- You're being fake. - The (bleep) outta here,
snitch-ass, trick-ass bitch.
She said, "I'm trying to come to you as a woman."
- That's not your friend. - You're trying to come to me
as Team Lemeir. I know she not my friend.
- That's not your friend.
- I don't drink tea and eat rice with that bitch.
'Cause I don't play when it come to my friends.
When you my friend, you my (bleep) friend.
- Well, we got the same type of experience.
- Yes.
Friendship and loyalty is everything to me.
And I don't understand how Barbie could rock
with KP for 18 years and then just switch up on him
for somebody she just met.
And then you try to come talk to me
like you a peacemaker.
That (bleep) does not fly with me
and I will not let nobody disrespect my friend.
I don't care. We're not gonna keep
this beef going on.
- We focus on us. (needle whirring)
We need to go and recruit.
- I got some new artists coming by too
I want you to check out.
I thought we could hold some auditions
later this week. - Yeah.
- But your next goal better be finding
some sexy ladies up in here.
'Cause it ain't about to be all "tosterone"--
"tostra"-- whatever it is. - "Testerone."
- This shop is equal opportunity 'cause, to be honest with you,
the ladies in the tattoo industry are coming on strong.
- Let's get this (bleep) rolling.
- When we start auditioning for new artists,
it gotta be based on more than just work.
We gotta finally have that unity
and that family vibe I've been wanting from the jump.
All right. - Ooh.
- Beautiful. - I love it.
(Alana) Aw, that's cute.
(Brittany) Yo, bro, I love it.
(KP) "Black is beautiful."
You know I was gonna get that right.
- Yeah. - (laughs)
- ♪ Every single day I'm ready to risk it all ♪
♪ Do it, gotta make it to the top ♪
♪ Gotta hustle, never stop ♪
♪ I'm feeling like the top dog these days ♪
♪ It don't matter what you say 'cause I still can't pay ♪
- (crying) - Aww!
Okay, you having a moment. - (sobbing)
- You sleepy? - You wanna go with Grandma?
Daddy gotta go. - Come on.
- Go to Grandma. - Come on, we'll get that candy.
- I love you. - Aww.
- As an entrepreneur of multiple startup businesses,
my days is nonstop.
And most nights when I get home,
Summer's already asleep.
So I make sure every morning I dedicate some time
and right after that I'm out the door
dealing with Happy Ice storefronts
and scheduling trucks for catering events.
(engine starts)
Yo. -(man) What's up?
- We got somebody that wanted to do the catering.
- We can make it work so we get the truck there
for her birthday, homie.
- Hey, Jeri. - Hey.
- The... family contacted us for our catering for tomorrow.
Do you think we can figure something out for that?
- Okay, I'll give you a call back.
- All right, thank you.
♪♪
Tony! - What's going on, boss?
- What's up, Scott?
Everything going smooth today?
- Yeah, everything was all smooth today.
(cell phone ringing)
- Shorty!
How's Summer doing?
(Danielle) She's with your mom right now.
I'm 'bout to go meet Barbie and Nessie.
You gonna be home late?
- I'll try not to be.
Let me know if you want me to bring you
something to eat home.
All right, love you.
- ♪ Big wheels I won't stop ♪
♪ I'm a... all right don't give it out ♪
♪ Got my big... ♪ - Nessie!
- Baby mamas in the building.
(laughter)
- How are you? - How are you?
- Hella cute.
- Thank you. So do you.
Although Lemeir and Nessie's relationship
is a little rocky right now,
I'm not gonna let that affect my relationship with Nessie.
And I planned this belly painting a while ago,
so I'm gonna use this as a time
for all of us to catch up.
- Makes my belly look like an alien was trying to come out.
- Yeah. - (laughs)
- I would lay there and I could see
his little hand and his legs... - Yeah.
- I see it coming together already.
(laughter)
- Ness, what's been going on with you?
- I just been working at home.
I quit the shop. - I heard.
- Basically I was getting clients coming through
saying like they had been reaching out to KP to book,
and he's not plugging anybody.
And so I was like, I really need to move
and do what's best for me.
So I'm just figuring out, you know,
what my next steps are.
And I would work for Lemeir at his shop.
But, as you guys probably know,
he called me disloyal because I was
still at the other shop.
He said that he couldn't see
me working at his shop
'cause of the whole Ken situation.
It was a picking-sides thing.
- I don't think it had to do
with picking sides.
But I also do know he was feeling
some type of way you'd stay with KP.
- Speaking of KP and Tim,
I saw them at Ink's event. - Oh, my God.
- They looked me up and down like...
- Oh, (bleep).
- Hi, guys.
That's not the end of it, though.
I found out they made Vudu cry.
They called her like dumb and ditzy
or something like that. - That's (bleep) up.
- We know Vudu don't bother nobody.
- But that's not where it ends.
I ended up getting into it with Armani.
- Bitch. - Oh, my God.
- She said something referencing to KP.
"You Team Lemeir, bitch. You Team Lemeir."
I said okay. - (laughs)
- It's like, all right, here we go.
- Oh, my God. - Really?
- She kicking? - Are we going to have it?
Let's go. - Ooh!
- Come on, Sage. It's okay, baby girl.
- But boo, what's been going on
with you and Bone?
- Oh, the photographer is here.
- Stop playing, Barbie.
- (sighs)
We've had talk after talk.
And then he's just like, oh, I'm working
on not cheating anymore. The (bleep), that sounds stupid.
Like if you're cheating,
that's not something you need to wean off of.
You just (bleep) stop doing it.
- So you think he's cheating on you right now?
- I feel like he is.
To me, cheating is if you have to delete it,
you shouldn't be doing it.
- So it's not necessarily him sleeping with other women.
- I don't know if he's doing that either
'cause I don't sleep with him.
That's where we are.
Of course I still love Bone.
But it's hard to continue liking him
when all he's showing me is disrespect.
At this point, it's staring to seem
like a choice instead of just a mistake.
And if he doesn't change drastically,
I don't see us being together.
- Okay, boo. - Thank you, girl.
- Are you done? - Yes.
Okay, photographer, ready.
- My little angel.
- That's a cute picture. - Yes.
- Oh. - You look so pretty!
♪♪
- That's good. - My belly.
My belly. - Ay!
- My belly. - You so pretty, girl.
(laughter)
- ♪ It's been going like this for a long time ♪
♪ I don't think we gonna be seeing any daylight ♪
♪ We been going like this for a long time ♪
- Happy Ice is taking up most of my time in a day.
And by the time I leave the store every day,
College Boy is just opening.
And so before I could even make it today, yo,
I'm stopping past the truck to work with my mom.
So I'm putting in long-ass hours.
What's coming up on this one right here?
(overlapping shouting)
I barely got any hours left in a day,
so that really got me thinking hard, hard
about this tattoo shop.
And the way that my life is mapped out
on how everything is structured,
I really don't know how I can manage something else.
Trying to figure it out, but I just don't know.
(phone chimes)
Order up.
- He say you (bleep) with Barbie.
- So what? I like Barbie
and I like Lemeir and I'ma stand on that (bleep),
I don't (bleep).
- I went to Ink's party. KP started mocking me.
Right after that, I just got really depressed.
And when I get to that point,
it gets like hard for me to get out of it.
- I didn't force you to have a child with me.
I didn't force you to ask me to marry you.
You wanted to do this.
So why continue to cheat
with the next nothing-ass bitch?
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ I've got money on my mind ♪
♪ I've got diamonds that shine ♪
- (Nessie) You working? - (Vudu) Yeah.
Working on my lingerie line.
I was gonna use this one as like my first launch.
But I feel like it still needs work.
- Girl, it's gonna be dope when it's done, though.
- (sighs) I appreciate it.
You're always so-- so positive.
- Gotta be, girl. What else you gonna do?
After Barbie told me about how KP made Vudu cry
at Ink's event, I know she has to be going through it.
I'm going through my own stuff too,
but I just want to be there for her and be a friend.
I finally made my apartment more studio-like.
I got an actual real tattoo chair
like that's (bleep) taking up my whole living room right now.
But I don't care 'cause it's mine
and it's official tattoo chair and I'm very proud of it.
Which I need 'cause I got some VIP clients lined up.
- Good. - How do you feel?
You okay? - Um...
Ah, man, I don't even know where to (bleep) start.
I went to Ink's party. KP started mocking me.
Right after that, I just kinda like started spiraling.
Like I just got really depressed.
And when I get to that point,
it gets like hard for me to get out of it.
I've struggled with depression for pretty much my entire life.
And when I got older, I started
experimenting with drugs, I started drinking a lot.
All of that to just numb the pain.
I was just doing anything to not feel like
going back to that place where I felt completely helpless.
I know I need to break the cycle, but...
it's-- it's so hard.
- Don't forget, focus on your art.
Express everything that you're feeling
instead of carrying it, you know?
- I don't know, I'm gonna be 30 soon.
And I had like this-- this list of goals
that I wanted to complete before that happens.
And, um, I'm really bummed about it.
I can't stop thinking about all the things
that I haven't done.
I really want to get my lingerie line fully launched.
I want to come to terms with my family issues.
I need to be in a shop where I feel inspired
to grow as an artist.
I don't want to spiral because that's something
that I tend to do.
But I just can't stop thinking about
the things that I could be doing better.
Another thing that's been bothering me,
you know, I just got in contact
with my biological father again.
- I'm glad to be here. - Hi.
Did it. - Thank you, sweetie.
- Thank you.
It's not really going as well as I hoped.
I just feel like we're just completely different people
and we don't really know what to talk about.
I don't know. I think I expect too much.
- I'm really proud of you even for going that far
'cause I know that was hard for you too
like to like reconnect and rebuild that relationship.
You know, so... - Yeah.
- ...at least you know, like
you did everything that you were supposed to do.
You know what I'm saying?
I can definitely understand why Vudu might be struggling
to like find a place of belonging
because her whole life she's always been controlled,
been told what to do, who she was.
Like her growing up in a cult, she's traumatized.
So, you know, imagine gaining all the courage
to like get up and get out and like find yourself
only to turn around and be pushed out
by the same people that said they wanted you
to be a part of something, like that's frustrating for anybody.
You went from a crazy-ass situation
all the way up until here. - Yeah.
- And then you just walked away from another toxic situation.
So it is letting go. It's big changes.
But I feel like you should embrace the...
the small positives, you know what I'm saying?
- I just want to be happy.
- Try to choose it every day.
You know, try to choose to be grateful
even for the little things.
- I need to work on that. - You're gonna get there.
- Thank you. - I'm still here for you.
- I really needed this.
Thank you so much. - Of course, boo.
- ♪ Hit you with the change-up ♪
♪ Messed your brain up unh ♪
♪ Went from green and yellow mood ♪
♪ Now you red and black-and-blue ♪
♪ That change-up ♪
(knocking on door)
(door opens) - Hola.
- Hi. - Hi, guys, come in.
- (laughs) How are you?
- Good. - Good.
- A couple weeks ago, I connected with Columbus Short
and I tattooed his wife Aida on her leg.
And then he actually hit me up to do a chest piece for him.
And I know him and KP have been boys since they were younger.
So I was kinda surprised that he reached out to me to do it.
But he's a high-end client and he's good vibes,
so I'm excited to take him on.
- What's good? - Just been working.
- No hurt. What is this?
- Oh, yeah. - Oh, yeah.
- Looks good, girl, thank you.
- She's catching dreams out here.
- I appreciate that.
- What you got? Let me see. - Oh.
- You're an incredible artist. This is sick.
- Um, I'll get this drawn up for you.
- So what does Compton think about all this?
- I don't know what he thinks.
I don't work for KP anymore.
- But just on GP of life
and the community in which we were raised in,
it was like everyone was raised by the village.
So just want to let him know I'm here.
- You should. - Just want to let him know
I'm here, you know what I'm saying? Like...
respect, you know what I mean? - (KP) Hello.
- What up, cuz?
Sitting here with Nessie and the wife, man.
I'm 'bout to get this chest piece.
But I was like, gotta let bro-bro know what's good.
- I told you she was straight to do the tat for wifey,
but that was a minute ago, you know what I'm saying?
We ain't rockin' like that. - What you mean?
- She walked. She ain't working in my shop.
She doing her own thing.
Tried to see what's up, but attitude...
- (snickers) - She already know (bleep).
Saying some (bleep).
- (deep sigh)
The drama of it all.
Nessie didn't tell me these ones and twos.
- Columbus, I told you how I felt,
and I was like, look, honestly, bro,
how I'm feeling about this whole shop situation,
I don't want to put you in a weird space
because I know y'all boys, but just letting you know
before you get this tattoo because I don't want
to cause no drama between y'all respectfully.
I respect their code, but when Columbus
first reached out to me about tattooing him,
me and KP were already having issues
and I was honest about the whole thing.
Actually told him so I'm not even gonna sit here
and pretend like I was shady
because I kept it a hundred from the jump.
You chose to take advantage of the situation.
- Why would I bring my Black ass over here
and get tatted up, and you not rockin' with my boy?
That's not code. - You knew what was up.
I'ma let you play it like this, you know what I'm saying?
Because I know who I am at heart and I'm a solid person.
And I would never do no (bleep) like that, so...
- Let me close it out like this, out of code, I am not going
to lay down on that table.
- Man, pull up to the shop, bro.
- Man, all right, bro.
Nessie... - Nah, that's corny, dawg.
I really (bleep) with you, bro. Now I feel totally different.
- You got blindsided. - Yeah, that's foul.
- That's fair. - No, that's foul.
Foul, you're spilling it wrong. F-O-U-L.
That's foul. - That's fair.
That's a fair feeling. - How is that fair?
Did I blindside him? - You came today
intending on getting a tattoo.
- I didn't know you were not working with Compton no more.
- No. - It's code.
It's not a disrespect to you.
- I basically told you all the information
'cause I really didn't want it like a divide
between you and KP.
Like you want to talk about the code, bro.
I basically gave you an opportunity
to live by the code, and you didn't.
- What is loyalty? - I'm loyal
to the person who gave me the opportunity.
- Well, I'm loyal to my (bleep)
that I've known since I was six years old.
Much love. That's it. - Okay.
- I am here for your shop.
- You're here for a check. You're not here for the shop.
- Here for a check?
- Why are you arguing at me?
We don't need you to manage Ink Art Music.
- You don't need me? You think I need you?
- Bye.
- I cannot go back to the struggle, yo.
- I've been through everything that you're going through.
One of our artists just quit. We have a booth available.
- Okay.
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ Think it's time we both say ♪
♪ What we gotta say ♪
♪ That she said I'm bad ♪
♪ Who's mad? ♪ - ♪ I'm bad ♪♪
- I'm still feeling a little depressed,
but the talk with Nessie really helped me a lot.
I took her advice and started focusing more
on myself and my art.
So today I booked a private client
who asked me to swing by his studio
for a chest tattoo.
Hi. - What's happening?
- Hey, how are you? - Good. Good to see you.
- My client today is Joseph Black
who I met through a mutual friend.
He's an upcoming rapper from Duluth.
His songs are really honest and vulnerable.
And I love how he's able to channel that
and wear his heart on his sleeve in that way.
So how did you come up with the idea for the tattoo?
- The pain of the tattoo and the pain of love hurts, love kills,
baby cupid, Loki is an evil mother(bleep) so...
- I like it. I think it's cute.
- Yeah, I like the way it looks.
Me getting a tattoo, that's like analogy of me staying sober,
like, the pain you go through in life,
how bad do I really want it? How bad do I wanna like
have like a beautiful life. Coming up on five months clean.
- It's definitely easier said than done.
- Yeah, no, for sure. - But I'm proud of you.
- Thank you very much. - Yeah.
- I appreciate it.
♪♪
- Go head and hop up here and see.
- ♪ Picking myself off of the floor ♪
♪ I've got all these problems on my mind ♪
♪ I've been trying hard to survive ♪
- After talking to Joseph about his sobriety,
I'm feeling really inspired. I know that I absolutely
cannot go back to my bad days of drinking and doing drugs.
I still struggle with depression and some
of the similar things in my past,
but now I'm learning to deal with it in more positive ways.
- ♪ Who needs enemies friends like these ♪
♪ When I need them they don't call ♪
♪ They all got their reasons their demons they don't know ♪
♪ Devil by my side tryna take my life ♪
♪ Social control ♪
♪ But that's how it goes ♪
- Tattooing and art for me is how I deal with
my depression and anxiety. You know, it really
is art therapy for me. And I feel like
whenever I do that, I'm able to channel something
so ugly and so painful and turn into something beautiful.
- ♪ Body feeling maxed up taxed up ♪
♪ Came from the bottom now we up ♪
♪ I remember bottling it up now I'm on a high ♪
- And to be honest, I feel very thankful that this is part
of my life because it really truly, literally saved my life.
♪♪
All right.
Oh, looks so good.
- Oh, (bleep), yeah. Looks amazing, you killed it.
- Good, thank you so much. - Aw, thank you much
for coming through, I appreciate it.
- Yeah, it was my pleasure.
- ♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I only got one question ♪
♪So is that all you got? ♪
♪ You go bigger stronger ♪
♪ You push harder Is that all you got? ♪
- (Tim) Lot of people outside. - (KP) Bring the first one in.
I'm really excited about the new artist auditions today.
Tim, Mani, Alana.
They really did they thing inviting artists out.
It's a lot of people outside.
The energy is feeling right.
Hopefully I could find some talented, inspiring,
motivated people to push the IAM brand.
Things is gonna be different from here on out.
- We have the beautiful Amber here.
- What up? What up? - Hi, honey, how are you?
- Good, how are you?
- So how long have you been microblading?
- Seven years. - Seven years.
- I do powder brows, and I do microblading.
- I just need somebody that's talented and ready to work.
- I think he like you, girl, you might be back here tomorrow.
- I'm Michi Blue. I'm originally from Compton.
But I am a mortuary makeup artist.
- (bleep). - So Dominique, what about you?
- Born and raised in Compton. Well-connected, well-respected.
- I've been doing this since 2003, I'm the best.
- So how long have you been tattooing?
- Um, I've only tattooed myself.
- Miss Ink Bomb.
- What do you consider your specialty?
- I'm pretty much all-around artist.
My favorite is color, though.
I started off with Nip.
I did the marathon flags on his neck.
Chain on his chest.
- You tatted a legend.
- We appreciate you all for showing up.
- Appreciate y'all, man. - That was cool.
- That was a good line.
- The one in the middle could use some work.
Her (bleep) this trash.
- Despite Star's negative attitude,
I feel like it's a lot of talent that came through today.
People from Compton, South Central, L. A., period.
- Hey, guys! - I feel like we can connect
deeper just because they from the roots.
I don't have to sell them on what it mean
to be working in Compton in the first tattoo shop ever.
Hopefully, I can make a decision, it's gonna be tough.
It was just so much talent.
- All of 'em can bring something to the table.
- I don't think all of 'em can but...
- Where was your peoples at? Why you didn't bring nobody...
- I'm the manager, don't worry about it.
(overlapping chatter)
- What are you managing in here?
Um, what is up with Star's attitude?
I know I'm not technically an employee of the shop.
But I brung in people, and she didn't do nothing
but sit there and look at them crazy.
I wanna talk to y'all two about something.
- About what? - Y'all know
I had a meeting with Barbie?
- Had a meeting with Barbie, how you do that?
- You know we went up on each other at Ink's thing.
So Barbie and meet up and asked me to meet up
after our little argument. I'm grown as (bleep)
so I agreed. - I have no beef with you.
It happened, it is what it is, we're both grown.
- That's definitely not the energy that I have for you.
I'm not out here trying to be a bully, you know?
- Okay, I respect that. - We're past that.
I don't trust Barbie. But I don't have
no big beef with Barbie, so that's fine that we could
sit down like adults and dead the issue.
But yeah, Barbie said "I'm finna go meet up
with Star and Lemeir." - So what?
I like Barbie, and I like Lemeir.
And I'ma stand on that (bleep), I don't give a (bleep).
Hi. - (Lemeir) Yo!
- How y'all doing?
I did wanna come bring that gift for the baby.
- I appreciate that. - Of course.
- What you been up to? - Just been working.
- Where at? - Where else?
- So you say you (bleep) with Barbie?
- Do I (bleep) with Barbie? This is her outfit I got on.
Do I (bleep) with her? - Wanna (bleep) hang with the
ops (bleep)... way (bleep).
I don't hang with no (bleep) ops.
If you don't like it (bleep)... - Period.
- (bleep) that's how that (bleep) goes.
- Period. - That don't even make no sense.
I am not gonna make your enemy my enemy, period.
- It seem like Armani was meeting up with Barbie to squash
some beef, so I see why that would be fine with KP,
but Star over here rubbing it in everybody's face
about her relationship with Lemeir and Barbie.
Where you think this is gonna go?
- You see you Team IAM and all of that.
- I am, but what does that mean? - Armani did pull
a trick just now with all these (bleep).
And she don't even work here.
So she can meet with whoever.
But she doing something that your title
that she's saying manager, but you're not managing.
You haven't brought us no bread, no talent.
Right now what do you feel like you brought to the table?
I am here for your shop.
- You're here for a check. You're not here for the shop.
- Here for a check?! - You're here for a check.
Why you arguing that? We don't need you
to manage Ink Art Music, period.
- You don't need me? You think I need you?
Ha! (laughing)
- Bye. - Ha!
- Bye! - (laughing continues)
(bleeps).
- I don't need you.
Back when we was looking for the new manager,
we needed somebody with that presence and that attitude
and Star was a good match for that.
- I know that I definitely can add a lot.
Clientele, good artists, you know...
- I like the confidence.
Back then I knew she could be a firecracker.
But it was always in defense of us protecting the brand.
- Now you're making my new employee feel
very uncomfortable. - You feel uncomfortable?
- You got a problem, bitch, check me.
- But lately, things have changed.
I mean, she hanging with the ops.
Not doing it! - (bleep). You don't like her...
- It ain't no real mother(bleep).
You with us or not?
And she always gonna be erratic as hell.
You ain't never know what the (bleep) you gon' get.
- I am never one to play with. - You not gonna do nothing.
(glass shatters/shouting)
- Shut the (bleep), I will!
- I'm done with it.
Star, there's the door.
We tried, it was fun. Good luck.
- Y'all pressured up over Barbie and Lemeir.
Y'all moving with too much emotions, bruh.
Like, you all have a period.
- I don't like when people talk and think
they can talk to me like that, my (bleep).
Bye, bye. - No, I'm sitting right here.
Somebody gonna have to drag me out this (bleep). - We don't need you.
- Y'all gonna do this or what? - I'm asking, I'm asking.
I'm asking, I'm asking questions.
- Is she in or is she out? - She's out, (bleep).
- Oh, God.
- She out.
I can't believe this (bleep).
I mean, after all we have been through,
she come and use this opportunity to snap back again?
Man, I just want her to get the (bleep) up
out of here. This (bleep) is annoying.
- You mad, huh? - Man, bye.
- KP! KP! KP! - Bye. Bye. Bye.
Bye, my (bleep).
- This (bleep) crazy as (bleep).
I cannot believe KP right now.
Bitch, all I did was show up for the shop
and clean up their (bleep) mess.
Seriously, no matter what I did (bleep) gonna have me fired.
So (bleep) what they said.
I'll never come the (bleep) back.
- Damn near killing myself dealing with Happy Ice
and College Boy and opening another shop
with Barbie and Ken and put attention on that?
- Right now, I'm feeling like it's not the right time.
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ That's how it goes ♪
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ Work hard play hard That's how the game goes ♪
- After all that bull(bleep) with Columbus Short
I realized that KP is gonna go out of his way to keep
trying to belittle me and keep me from getting work.
So I hit one of my homegirls. She's been in this industry
for a long time, and I feel like she can relate
to a lot of things that I'm going through.
- ♪ Look at me, look at me, watch ♪
♪ Always and never gonna stop me now ♪
- Hey, girl. - What's up?
Long time no see. - I know.
- How are you? - I'm doing good.
- Give me like 15 minutes. - Good.
- All right. We can go back here.
Guess who's back?
After leaving my dear hometown of Chicago four years ago
I up and moved to L.A. to create my own lane.
My name is Kat. I'm the one and only
female tattoo artist at 9Mag.
Business-wise we all got (bleep) we wanna do.
I wanna be a business owner too. It's gon' happen.
After moving to L. A., I decided that it was time
for me to become my own boss and in 2018,
I opened up Enigma which is my dream shop.
And I brought on the most amazing tattoo artists with me
so that we can all grow and learn from each other.
Long time no see, how you been?
- I'm good, just grinding. - Yeah, I see you
on your grind, girl. - You're a mommy now.
- I am. So much has changed in one year.
The last few years for me have been crazy.
I got with the love of my life, Jamie Collins
who is now my fiancé
and the wonderful father to our baby boy, Jackson.
And I'm just trying to balance it all.
I was a little surprised, but happy to hear from Nessie.
Didn't say why she was reaching out, but I'm always
gonna make time for a fellow female artist.
What's been going on with you? - Still tattooing.
But I'm still in my crib. - Oh, really?
- So... - I thought you were
at the shop in Compton?
- I was, um, I quit the other day.
- Really, oh, so this is fresh? - Yeah, like...
Energy was off from the jump. It was the most like
not welcoming like at all. Like he had a fire team.
- Mm-hmm. - Half of us walked away.
That has to say something, bro, can't be
every other variable except for you.
It's like they just be hating, bro.
- Literally, everything you just described I've been through.
- Yo, I'm sick of it, bro. - Trust me, I've been
in a shop where I was hated on by all the men.
- Yeah. - And I used to cry
so many tears, but I knew I was bigger, and when I finally
said (bleep) it and walked away and moved to L. A.
to do my own thing, it's like my whole mind cleared.
Nessie's troubles at the IAM shop, it's giving me déjà vu.
I know exactly what it's like to have guys
hate on you for doing your thing.
So when I hit my limit in Chicago, I followed by gut.
I pushed myself to move to L. A. and I cannot be happier.
I had a vision opening up this shop.
You know, especially as Black female artist,
I knew I wanted to be top of the top, but none of it
would have happened if I didn't walk away.
That's how you grow, you know? - Right.
I'm looking for somewhere that's just like a fit.
- Yeah. - At this point
my biggest fear is like I cannot go back to the struggle, yo.
So I'm just like... in that mind space right now.
Like what do I do from here 'cause...
- If you ever need to talk or just pull up to the shop, like,
we are-- you know, we kick it here and, you know...
You have somebody to talk to.
Actually, one of our artists just quit not too long ago.
We have a booth available. You're more than welcome
to come and try out for a guest spot if you want.
- I already feel the vibes walking in.
- So we can set that up... - Definitely.
I'd be honored.
Listening to Kat describe how she operates,
this is better than anything I could've ever imagined.
And now she's actually like giving me an opportunity
to be a part of this amazing family, like...
Yes, I'm excited.
I really look up to y'all. - Thank you.
- So just let me know when I can come back
and show you what I got. I'll get my stuff right now.
(both laugh)
- ♪ We never back down ♪
♪ I don't understand how they act now ♪
♪♪
♪ Can't hold us down ♪
- I'm walking like a penguin, my God!
- (chuckles) Almost there.
- Aw, this is so cute!
♪♪
Aww...
(Lemeir) I've been burning myself out.
So today, I'm taking a day off.
And I'm gonna surprise my baby Dani
with a picnic on the beach, baby.
I've been thinking about our future.
And I really wanna sit down and talk to her
before baby number two get here
and all our mommy/daddy time go out the window.
- So what's the occasion?
You don't do this too often. - It's not really--
Yeah, I was about to say, that's, that's the occasion.
The occasion is that I don't do this too often.
You already know how guilty I've been feeling.
I feel like I haven't been there enough for you or Summer.
Definitely wanna make sure I make you more of a priority.
- So you have been reading my mind.
You know I've been ready to pack my (bleep) bags
and walk out the door.
- No, you haven't-- I haven't read that.
- I'm just joking. - I have not read that.
- I'm happy that Lemeir surprised me with this beach day.
It's definitely something that I needed.
But honestly, I'm looking for us to find
more of a work/life balance.
I'm already struggling with Summer
and things are gonna be way more hectic once the baby get here.
What else is going on?
- Stressed like a (bleep).
Like right now, I'm damn near killing myself
dealing with Happy Ice and College Boy.
Then on top of that the whole shop stuff
with, you know, Barbie and Ken.
It has been something that's been on my mind.
Do I open another business and put attention on that?
You tell me.
- Honestly, I'ma really need help with having two kids.
You know, I hate getting in between you and your work.
'Cause I don't wanna feel like I'm nagging you or feel like
I'm making you choose between family and the business.
I know both Ken and Barbie, you know, they are excited.
But it's just like...
Mmm, right now, I'm feeling like it's not the right time.
- You're right.
After my accident, I really felt like I wanted to execute
and seize every day that was in front of me.
'Cause I felt like I was given a second change.
But now that I'm looking back, maybe it was supposed to be
a wake-up call for me being more appreciative of what I got.
So it is kinda hard hearing the truth right now from Dani.
But... that (bleep) is right.
Barbie and Ken, I don't wanna feel like I'm letting them down.
But I do wanna make sure that me trying to build
something for the family, I don't wanna
lose the family while I'm doing that.
Mmm... Mm-hmm.
- You cheat on me. You lie to me.
You disrespect me, and you half-ass
when it comes to me, but I'm supposed to be there
for you all the time? Make that make sense.
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ I know you ain't mean everything you were saying ♪
♪ Unh-unh ♪
♪ And I ain't playin', playin' ♪
- I don't think... wanna...
What you looking at?
You got the same thing I'm on.
What you thinking? You satisfied?
- Oh, yeah, definitely. There was so much talent.
- That girl, uh, Ink Bomb? - Oh, yeah.
- She like she can come right in.
- She nails a lot of people.
- Not only did they come through but they
came through with the energy that we needed.
- Speaking of energy, it's like that (bleep)
just went so left, bro. - What you talking about?
- Star. - Hmm.
- As excited as I am to hire new people
I just can't stop thinking about how the other day went.
I was running off of feelings for sure when I let Star go.
And now I'm in a better place mentally.
I just wanna make sure I'm making the right decision.
She put on a good act, like she do.
She'll be cool and like she can play both worlds.
Like she can talk to the streets and help run the business.
But then her energy is so unpredictable.
- That's a problem. She got me (bleep) up.
She got you (bleep) up. She got the program (bleep) up.
- Just business-wise, we just gotta make
the right decisions for the business right now, and the way
that our energy's set up, that (bleep) don't make sense.
As (bleep) up as it all was, I think firing her
was the right call.
- Now I know KP got a soft heart for people.
I mean, so do I, but the (bleep) that she pulled.
I mean, she got me looking over my shoulder.
We can't have that at Ink Art Music.
So the best thing KP coulda did was let Star go.
We got a whole lot of people to pick from.
- We got some real talent right here.
This the ticket right here, this the ticket.
♪♪
- ♪ Don't hit me with the ooh... yeah ♪
♪ You ain't making no fool out of me ♪
- Things with Bone and I have not been great lately at all.
We barely even talk and between his past infidelities
and his recent shady behavior, I don't know
what's about to happen, but I need to talk to him
and figure out what we're gonna do with this relationship.
♪♪
- Hey. - Hey.
- Got you a drink. - Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- (sighs) - What's going on?
- I didn't wanna talk about all this in front of our son.
I'm tired of the cheating.
And you can't deny it, 'cause I have proof.
- Right. - The other day I was looking
at your phone, and I see these messages
that you telling bitches that you wanna cuddle with them.
When can I see you? When can we hook up?
You opened that door for these bitches to disrespect me.
Disrespect our relationship because you disrespect it.
'Cause if the shoe was on the other foot,
you would have been left me.
- Yeah, that's true.
- So if you know, then what's the reason?
Why can't you stop cheating?
- The thing about it is when we're good,
we're semi-good, and then when we're bad
we're bad. It's like everything
has to evolve around you. Like you don't care about
what I got going on, what I do, none of that.
Me having the attitude with you...
- It's not even an attitude. - And not supporting you
is because... - You don't support me through
(bleep), though, that's what you don't understand.
- This is why I don't. You cheat on me.
You lie to me. You disrespect me.
But I'm supposed to be there for you all the time?
Make that make sense. I didn't force you
to have a child with me. I didn't force you
to ask me to marry you.
So why go this far if you wanna continue
to cheat with the next nothing-ass bitch?
Nothing to say about it. - No.
- Okay.
Till you figure it out...
I'm not doing this anymore.
♪♪
- ♪ I miss you on my mind ♪
- (sobbing)
I'm not talking with the cameras right there, they gotta go.
Like, this is real-life (bleep).
Him being so nonchalant and acting like
he just don't give a (bleep).
And I've been fighting it, fighting, and fighting
for this relationship. I'm just so tired. I'm tired.
- ♪ You say you don't wanna mess around ♪
♪ You don't wanna mess around with me ♪
♪♪
(Nessie) Today I'm trying out to see
if I can be a guest artist over at Enigma.
- Let me see.
♪♪
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ I find a spaceship and I get in ♪
♪ I got ignition I got that 20/20 vision ♪
♪ One in a million That's what-what-what ♪
♪ Listen I'm on a mission ♪
♪ I never been the one to fit in, I do it different ♪
♪ I find a spaceship and I get in I got ignition ♪
♪ I got that 20/20 vision one in a million ♪
♪ That's why I'm winning ♪
(Nessie) Today I'm trying out to see
if I can be a guest artist over at Enigma.
I'm bringing one of my favorite clients, Van Dogh.
And we've done so much on his legs,
so I'm just finishing up something on the bottom.
He has a lot of work done by me.
So I can show Kat like what I really have
to bring to the shop.
- ♪ I can give a few tips Gotta get the roots ♪
♪ 'Fore you get the fruit ♪
♪ You just gotta move and that's the truth ♪
♪ I'm the living proof you can have it too ♪
I moved here from Philly almost ten years ago.
And I've really been grinding to like get to the point
that I need to get to, and even though I had some bull(bleep)
with the shop, I know that I have what it takes
to make it in this industry.
I just need the right mentor, the right guidance
and the right people around me.
♪♪
♪ Travel cross the stars on a beam of light ♪
♪ You know that I'm abide it I be polite ♪
The talent level of Kat's work is undeniable.
Look at the artists' respect that they have for her.
Look how she runs her shop. How it operates.
I just hope that she feels the same way about me.
- Did you just finish? - Yeah.
- Let me see.
Next time, I would have even gone like triple the size.
With the face 'cause you could still do all of this.
But you would have been able to fill up like
way more space with the leaves and everything.
Literally make the face like that big and it would just like
make it more complete and stand out a little bit more.
Always go bigger - Okay.
- When you do the face I think, but your
black and gray is super solid.
You got it, girl. - Thank you.
- It looks really good.
So you gonna guest spot with us or what?
- What?
Yes. - Really?
So we gotta get it set up.
- You know, I'd love to work with you guys.
It just feels so good.
- Come on over to Death Row, okay?
Nobody dancing all in the video.
It's just you, baby. Let's celebrate.
Yo, I'm so hyped that Kat
is letting me guest spot at her shop.
I think that it's a really good opportunity for me
to learn from another female boss so, you know, let me focus,
get together and hopefully
this is the beginning of something new.
- That sound really, really exciting.
See what you gonna do. Like I feel like you
about to (bleep) blossom.
- We all wanna see you grow
and reach your full potential.
I'm really excited to have Nessie guest spot
here at Enigma. I know she's had a lot
of struggles finding the right shop to work at.
And has had a hard time getting the respect that she deserves
as an artist so if she's the right fit, I know that we can
give her the confidence to succeed in this industry.
So cheers to (bleep) Nessie.
(cheering/whooping)
- How has everything been since our last conversation?
- I'm figuring it out. - Is it boyfriend issues?
- I don't have one of those anymore.
(Vudu) A fiancé?
- What's been going on? - I don't wanna say too much.
I feel like since you're my mom, we just have to keep
that boundary, we can stay away from topic of yours.
- What's wrong with you? You seem kind of like, eh.
- It's tough on me having to even say it to y'all but...
it's not the best time for me to do the shop.
- Okay, I'm kinda of thrown right now.
- So I finally found the shop. At Enigma.
- Aww... (bleep).
- When I left the shop you said anytime
if I had to come back the doors are open.
- I love you, Eric, but you no longer work here.
I don't owe you (bleep).
- He's not gonna apologize 'cause
he don't feel the need to.
- Guess there's drama everywhere, huh?
- ♪ Listen I'm on a mission I never been ♪
♪ The one to fit in I do it different ♪♪
♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪