- Cheers to (bleep) Nessie! (cheering)
So I finally found the shop at Enigma.
(Barbie) Okay.
(Polo) Prison robbed me of my youth, and I missed
out of almost 12 years of my son's life.
I'm just trying to stay out here and not fall victim to going
back to that mass incarceration
that they locking all our Black people up with.
- 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?
Till you figure it out, I'm not doing this anymore.
- We got some real talent right here.
- They came through with the energy that we need.
You got a whole lot of people to pick from.
- It's tough on me to have to even say it to y'all,
but it's not the best time for me to do the shop.
- Okay, I'm kinda thrown right now.
- When I left the shop, you said anytime if I had to come
back for any type of reason that the door's open.
- Over the years all of us got very close to TANS.
I was very shocked and very hurt when he just up and quit.
I love you, Eric, I legit looked at you like a little brother.
You're not longer working here,
then you're not my first priority.
- ♪ I be fishin' with you bish ♪
- ♪ I do what I want ♪ - ♪ Hey ♪
♪ Trying to get a... - ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ Hey, telling you ♪
- ♪ 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 ♪♪
- ♪ My -- I got this ♪
♪ ...For the whole pop quick hand ♪
♪ This start block party wars ♪
♪ Militant pray on the sense ♪
♪ Violence know it tell a crime scene ♪
♪ Black on Black crime in a livestream ♪
♪ Rhyming, grinding till the night ends ♪
♪ Start over a. m. till the dawning, yawning ♪
♪ Stretched out roaring I'm soaring ♪
♪ Never lose sight Never give bull ♪
This feel like a fresh start for IAM.
I got two new artists starting tomorrow,
and I'm hyped to be back in the studio.
While tattooing is something I love to do because it create
this space for me to zone out and throw lyrics around
in my head, I'm glad I get to create music again.
Life is good.
♪ Sometimes we play with fire ♪
♪ With fire... ♪
(Mz. Ink Bomb) So where y'all gon' have me at?
- She comin' right in like where my spot at?
- You know the queen need a seat.
(Tim) I like that.
From the interviews the other day,
we decided to hire
Amber and Mz. Ink Bomb.
Both of 'em is talented as (bleep).
(Star) How long have you been microblading?
- Seven years. - What do you consider
your specialty? - I'm pretty much
all-around artist. I started off with Nip.
I did the marathon flags on his neck.
- So in order for them to get a warm welcome into this
Ink Art Music family, we decide to have everybody in a meeting.
- So what-- what's the rules?
(Tim) Rules? (Amber) What are the shop rules?
- She say I wanna know the rules.
- According to KP, the first rule is respect.
- No drama, that's rule number one, no (bleep) drama.
That's what got half these people kicked out.
- If you hang with the ops, there's gonna be drama.
- Honestly, I understand where KP and Tim are coming from
when they're talking about the ops since they never
stop talking about it, but I love
Vudu and Nessie, and I don't wanna stop talking to them
just because of other people's feelings.
So, I guess I'll just keep it on the low
and just hope I don't get any (bleep) for it.
- But look, though, so why y'all really here is...
(mariachi music playing)
(bleep).
(all cheering)
- Being a business owner was a learning curve for me.
But through trial and error, I'm learning what I need
from my team to bring our vision to life for IAM.
I think we finally got what we been looking for.
♪♪
(cheering/whooping)
- What a mother(bleep) entrance. - (KP) That's how we do it.
You feel me? That's Compton right there.
- Okay, Mami, tattoos and tacos, okay?
- We already got the ink. We been doing some art.
Last but not least, the music.
This a preview of what we really 'bout to do,
tattoo taco Tuesday, along with a listening party.
(cheering)
So today's taco party is a pre-game warm-up
to the main event that's gon' be the listening party
for the new track that I've been working on, "Go Numb."
Yeah, we about to go up. Y'all thought we was playing?
- Can we do tattoos at the party?
- Damn right. - So y'all gon' be tattin'
your ass off while I'm slaying the shells.
- Yeah. - Gon' be lit.
- Taco Tuesday!
(scattered chuckling)
- Did you tell 'em the good news, though?
- My son is coming to stay with me.
(all) Aww!
- Yeah, he in Vegas so I got him for like two weeks.
In a few days, I'ma have like a family gathering.
So y'all should swing by and meet him.
- I feel like you have so many blessings for you.
- I'm happy, like, you know what I'm saying?
- Y'all get ready for Tattoo Taco Tuesday!
- Wait, when we doing this?
- Tuesday! (laughing)
♪♪
- Happy painting, Enigma!
You get a paint. You get a paint.
Here you go. - Thank you.
- Thank you, boo.
- I see you got your own supplies.
- I brought them just in case.
I know how to come prepared.
So tonight Kat organized a little sip-and-paint
Enigma style, and I'm so happy
to be included. I really feel at home here
with like her and all the artists.
So my main focus is just being my best version of myself,
showing her my best work so that they have
no choice but to hire me full-time.
First time we've done this in a long time, and...
That whole tiff that we had with TANS,
let's reset with a paint night.
- I feel like it's time to bomb with Nessie though
now that she at the shop. - Yeah, 'cause Nessie started
all this damn drama. (laughter)
- Well, honestly, though... - Oh, thank you.
Thinking I was like...
If I replaced him and he wants to come back, then what does
that mean for me? - Nothing.
Nessie, honestly, like, when I tell you we literally
don't do drama, so I felt bad just kinda handling that like
right in front of the shop, right in front of y'all.
You're probably like hell, no, I'm leaving all that drama,
and they got they own (bleep) going on over here.
As Nessie and I have both experienced, most shops are not
drama free, and I take a lot of pride in keeping Enigma
a positive working environment.
So Eric's little pop-up the
other day threw me way off.
He still hasn't even apologized for taking
advantage of our kindness.
And the thing is, we had such a strong relationship.
So for him to throw it all away like this
is just a big disappointment.
- He need to come from a shop where I came from so he can
see how lovely it is here because I feel like...
- Yeah, what was that (bleep) like?
- ...Nobody wishing nobody well, you know what I'm saying?
It wasn't no like good vibes. It wasn't like for him
to move like that and y'all still supporting him.
- That's exactly it. In most scenarios,
you in a shop with a bunch of haters.
- Yeah. - We've all earned our (bleep)
stripes in this industry, and it ain't no joke.
- Honestly, it's hard dealing with friends that you
go into business with because...
I feel the same way about how (bleep) with Lemeir right now.
- Mm-hmm. - I'm worried because
it's been a minute since me and Lemeir last talked.
And I know Dani has to be due any day now with the new baby.
Once that happens, Lemeir's gonna be spread thin with
family responsibilities and Happy Ice, but at the same time,
I feel like we too tight to just let our friendship
go down the drain over something so petty.
- I was very bothered about you going back to KP.
- Damn (bleep) don't call me disloyal.
- Right now, I just don't see how we can work together.
- Are you serious?
But I'ma need him to really turn around
and admit that he didn't do right by me.
- I personally love Lemeir. - I love Lemeir too.
But that's why it hits harder, you know what I'm saying?
When it's somebody you really (bleep) with
seeing you as somebody that you're really not.
- (Kat) Right. - I really felt a type of way on multiple
situations like with my ex, with the shop.
- Well, just look at it like all that (bleep) had to happen
for you to end up here to have a fresh start.
- I'm so grateful, but I don't wanna it to mean that
I'm not cool with him no more. It's just like,
we still not talking.
- But I understand, you get taken there, you just snap.
But when the love is real, it always comes back around.
- I just want it to be all the way back to normal,
you know, I'm like... - It will be.
- I hope so.
- The foundation of a relationship is loyalty.
So you gotta catch up
on that part quick, bro. - Man...
- I appreciate that you was able to be strong for me
while I was in jail. You know what I'm saying?
That kept me strong in prison.
- You got a good dad. - I'm just happy that he home.
- I gotta think about myself. If it's no working for me.
Feel it's like stopping my potential.
- How is Enigma stopping your potential?
- That's-- that's my journey. - Like, bro, we ain't
got nothing else to talk about, honestly on that note.
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ Hardest thing I ever did was be a dad ♪
♪ But too damn good at it ♪
♪ When wearing sheets I would twist the plastic ♪
♪ Told the baby get my... ♪ (baby crying)
- You waking her up? - My little chinny-chin-chin.
- (crying)
(Summer crying)
- Come here, Summer. Little Miss Sage
decided to make her debut
the night before my birthday.
Of course, she had to steal my shine.
But, honestly, she's definitely completed
the piece to our puzzle.
- (crying)
- It's okay.
- Honestly, I can't believe I pushed another baby out.
- That was like... crazy.
- Yeah, that was crazy, yeah, and with everything.
With Sage having to spend a few days in the NICU.
That was hard, like, I just...
pushed her out of me. Don't take her from me.
- Our experience inside
the delivery room was pretty (bleep) crazy.
Sage had got rushed to the NICU 'cause she had low blood sugar.
But thank you (bleep) God.
Everything worked out, and we was able
to bring her home after just a few days.
- So I know we still waiting for some time to pass
so the baby can build her immune system and everything.
But definitely gotta get Barbie
and Bone over here. - Okay.
Barbie is like a sister to us.
So you know me and Dani gonna do whatever we gotta do
to help her and Bone get back on track.
Especially since she just told that
they relationship got worse.
- We're going through our little issues and...
- I feel like the rough patches are honestly
is why people actually fall more in love together.
- It's like we're running through a cactus bush
farm type (bleep) rough, like, it's bad.
- And I ain't proud of this.
But I definitely took Dani through some of the same
infidelities in the start of our relationship.
But see, I worked hard as hell to get my girl back.
And so what I'ma try and do is talk some sense into Bone
before Barbie kick his ass to the curb for real, for real.
It just add one more thing to my list, 'cause I also feel
like I wanna have a conversation with Nessie too.
Our little misunderstanding with the whole Ken thing,
I feel like I just wanna nip that in the bud and just go back
to being, you know, friends.
- The relationship y'all built
is not worth losing over petty (bleep).
- Yeah. Now that Danielle has given birth
to our beautiful daughter, I definitely
want Nessie to be in my children's life.
So I wanna have this conversation,
so we can put all this bull(bleep) behind us.
Now we got one baby asleep.
So I'ma go check on our other little baby.
(baby crying) - You can have all the time.
- Hey... - (chuckling)
(Lemeir sighs)
See Papa? - Hey, cutie.
- ♪ I work hard every day ♪
♪ Give thanks and celebrate ♪
(Polo) Can I get a kiss before we go outside?
- Okay, yeah.
♪♪
- DJ! Come help your dad for a second.
What you doing? Talking to them girls?
- Already know.
- My son, DJ, he lives in Las Vegas.
And based on the terms of my parole,
I can't go to another state.
So when he come out here, it means the world to me
just to spend time with him.
(groans) Oh, I love you so much!
My son, he been my main motivation to stay
on the right track since I went to prison.
And I appreciate the fact that he understood
while I was gone for so long.
I'm happy though that you out here and everything.
I swear to God, let you know, I miss you so much.
- I missed you, too.
- I need you to carry some stuff outside, big dude.
Today is the day of my cookout, and it's all about
enjoying family and loved ones.
What's up, buddy?!
I got my sisters and my cousins.
My nieces and nephews. My IAM crew.
And most importantly, my mom is pulling up.
And I have some really good news
that I cannot wait to share with everyone.
Hey, Alana, what's up, man?
- It's a party!
- Alana, sit your ass down.
- Oh, I feel like I'm at home! Hey, y'all!
- Everybody, this Ink.
- What's up, y'all? Nice to meet y'all.
- I tattooed on him.
- That one right there. - Oh, that's a blessing.
- He said that's his favorite tattoo now.
- I'm so proud of my son! - Man.
- As a tattoo artist,
it shows that you trust another tattoo artist
to work on you because you know what good work is now.
♪♪
- What you think so far? - That's (bleep) fire, bro.
I'm super proud of my dawg, Polo.
I believe in him, and just seeing that
he got the right mindset on moving forward
and focusing on growth, that's progress being made.
- Baby, I finna make Ink a plate right now.
I got you, bro.
♪♪
- Polo, where is KP and Tim?
- Oh, they text mean and said they couldn't come today.
They have like a meeting or something
- Okay. - But I got some good news.
- What's your big news for everybody?
- So I been talking to my parole officer, and he said that
in a few weeks, you know, it's looking good
that I'ma get off of parole.
(cheering)
I been doing everything I can to prove
to my parole officer that I'm a good man.
And this week, he put in official
paperwork for my release.
So I'm one step closer to freedom.
And it's a total game changer,
because now I can visit my son in Vegas.
I can take my girl on a trip.
I can do what the (bleep) I wanna do.
That all played into this, you know what I'm saying,
me doing the right thing because
y'all helped me get through that prison sentence.
You especially didn't let me do that time by myself.
She held it down. - All we can do is thank God
that you here. - I'm really happy for Polo
but I didn't realize how sad this would make me.
It just really makes me think about Jerris
and his situation and if he'll ever get out.
I just feel like he's been there forever.
- He left us so young.
And he came out so strong.
- (bleep).
- Aw, look at him crying!
- (all laughing) - Aww...
- It wasn't easy for me to be a single Black woman,
raising my kids in a ghetto when I had a background myself.
- Let's go. - Like gangbanging.
- Yeah, let's go. - I lost a lot of loved ones.
And that destroyed me.
And so when they gave you that time,
I was so scared that he was a young man
going into prison. I just stayed in prayer,
you know, and asked God to watch over my child.
- When I met Polo, it was just something .
I go big on energy and spirit and everything.
And it was just scary because
no matter how you treat or raise your son,
they'll get influenced by this (bleep) in the streets.
I have a lot of respect for Polo's mom.
Me being a single mom
raising my son
in the streets of L. A.,
it can be real wicked.
I'm worried about just my son being outside, period.
And it's the main reason why I started Trap Kitchen.
I want you to do whatever you feel you want to do.
Long as it's nothing crazy illegal.
I'ma support you. You know, sky's the limit.
(chuckling)
My son knows that he has a job, a family business.
And Mama could keep a watchful eye on my boy.
You know, he a good man. You got a good dad.
Very good dad.
- Just happy that he home.
- Very. - I appreciate that you was
able to be strong for me while I was in jail.
You know what I'm saying? That kept me strong in prison
and that you understood that I was gon' make it home to you.
And I'm finna get off of parole. That's what I was telling you.
I'ma make it, just believe in me.
That's all I wanted you to do.
Since I was sentenced, I dreamed of being a free man.
And to get through prison and parole
and still have a supportive family, a great kid
and a loving girlfriend, I'm a blessed man.
Fingers crossed for the future.
So y'all ready for more Kitchen Ks or not?
- Yeah!
- I can see you guys are moving forward.
- Moving backwards. The engagement
is just kinda off. But my son
is keeping me there, but I'm halfway gone.
- I've never considered nobody like a legit
little brother to me, and you've always been that.
- That's what you don't understand, it's not about
y'all, it'snot about you. - Okay, so don't (bleep) on us.
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ I'm a bad chick and I like that ♪
♪ I'ma give it back... ♪
♪ I was on ten never... ♪
- Sagey, wagey!
Give her a kiss.
- Aw, look, she kissing you back.
(chuckling, knocking on door)
- Oh. - Who is it?!
You going to sleep.
- Hi!
- Hey, sis.
- Our doctor gave us the green light to have visitors.
So we invited Barbie and Bone over to meet Sage.
And guess what? They both agreed to come over together.
I guess, you know, meeting the baby
bring out the best in people.
- What's up? - How's it feel?
- I'm happy to have her out of me.
- We got two. Y'all ready for two?
- Nope. No. (laughing)
Baby number two?
It's a wonder Bone and I even showed up together
after I called off our engagement.
I'm just really hoping that this visit with Danielle
and Lemeir will actually click something in his brain
and make him wanna fight for his family.
'Cause if he's still doing the cheating and the flirting
text messages, there's no future for Bone and I.
Thank you guys for having us.
Got her something, also got Summer something.
Can't leave baby girl out.
Thank you.
- I got us something.
- Oh, ho, yeah!
I got me a little schmokey-schmoke.
Fellas might wanna step outside and light up.
- Yeah, I have to feed the baby anyway.
- Bone and I are gonna have a little catch-up.
- Yeah. - Me and Dani,
we gon' take this opportunity to divide and conquer.
That way I can go ahead and talk to Bone,
hear his side of the story, and then maybe
give him a little advice on how to lose a damn family.
- I see you guys came to the house together, so, uh...
I can see your guys are moving forward.
- We're moving backwards.
I'm not wearing my ring. He's not wearing his ring.
The engagement is just kinda off, but...
It's like, we have a 14-month-old son.
We live together. It's not that easy
to just break up.
- I was wondering what's been going on with
you and Barbie, bro? All I hear is cheat-cheat-cheat.
- I ain't gonna say it was cheating.
The conversation that she seen, she felt that it was cheating.
Everything else before that
it was oh, like, a year, two years...
- Something a year old, bro? That (bleep) happen yesterday.
Plus, wasn't you and Barbie engaged
and y'all had a child on the way? - Man.
- I am not here to beat you up, but I am here
to keep it raw with you, bro.
It's not something that you can't stop, it's something
that gotta stop. - No, it's gotta stop.
- The foundation of a relationship is loyalty.
And so you gotta catch up on that part quick.
- Yeah. - After everything that
happened this year, there's one thing I know for sure.
And it's whether it's a job, a friendship or relationship,
if you ain't got no loyalty, you ain't got (bleep).
So Bone gotta man up. 'Cause he can't be
out here flirting with other women
and just expect Barbie to stick around.
- How did you get past everything that
you and Lemeir went through? - I'm never gonna forget
the (bleep) that Lemeir's done to me.
But am I over it? Yes, I'm over it.
- But you know why you over it?
'Cause he's not doing it anymore.
And I think that's where our issue is, like, he's still doing
BS and try to tell me he's not. - From experience
I know how hard it is to forgive your partner
after they've stepped out on you.
I'm praying that Bone can step up.
'Cause right now it seem like Barbie is ready to walk
out the door, and I would hate for that to happen.
- When I (bleep) up, bro, it took me four months
to get her back. I went to desperate measures.
Like Dani went to school downtown in Philly.
I would drive the car down to Peirce College,
wait for her to walk out the school,
hop on the bus with her, ride home, sitting next to her
on the bus, and she wouldn't say a word to me.
I was popping up everywhere, just like...
Let her know, like, yo, I am never gonna give the (bleep) up.
I think you need to do the same exact thing with Barbie, bro.
You gotta show her that you won't do this (bleep) again.
- Right. - He would need to really
put in a lot of effort to show that
this is where he wants to be. The apology
needs to be as loud as the embarrassment at this point.
- I'm changing. I'm not still doing
the same stupid (bleep) that I was doing.
- I really wanna see y'all figure this thing out.
- I would take a lot of this stuff that you said,
and I'ma just implement it and use it, yeah.
- One thing I know about Barbie, bro, is that she love you.
- My son is keeping me, but I'm halfway gone.
- ♪ Watch me move, watch me shake ♪
♪ Watch me rise make it quake ♪
♪ Hit the floor Lighting fires ♪
♪ Drop it down watch it break ♪
♪ Watch my side Watch my front ♪
♪ I'm in the verse ♪♪
- I'm tired as hells. - Me too, I'ma head out.
You guys wanna walk out together?
I invited him up here so we could talk.
I'ma stay for about 20 minutes, see if he pops up.
And that portrait, it was so crazy.
- Thank you, yo. - I'm glad that you went
big with it. That's gonna stand out.
- I remember what you told me last time.
Let me do it as big as it can possibly go.
- Man, that'll look real good.
(door bell jingles)
- What's the word?
- I'm just really shocked
and very hurt by how everything went down with Eric.
- You no longer work here, E. I don't owe you (bleep).
So I invited him down here today so that we could talk
because he really was like a little brother to me.
I'm gonna follow my own advice and do what I suggest
that Nessie do about Lemeir, and I'm gonna give him
a chance to make this right.
(Nessie) I'ma let y'all talk.
- Yeah, I'm probably finna slide out of here, too.
Let me know if y'all need anything.
- What's going on? - I'm cool.
I don't know what you, what you, what you been
thinking about, what you wanna say, but...
- I mean, I've had a lot of time to think about just everything.
You gotta understand, once you quit, Eric,
I have to tap into business mode.
You're no longer my first priority.
- When I had brought up the, um, possibility of me coming back,
it was because I just wanna come back and make some money.
- It's almost like a slap in the face to say actually
I'm gonna come back but not permanently.
Just until I can get my (bleep) together again
and then dip on you again.
Eric has some serious nerve if he really thinks
that he can just slide in and out of here whenever
he wants to make some fast cash.
We all took a chance on him teaching him how to tattoo.
And now he's saying he's not even interested
in sticking around to help Enigma grow as a team.
It's just not even cool.
- Okay, all I'm trying to say is when I quit,
I quit for a reason, okay?
I know that sounds harsh like that.
- Like, that's what you don't understand
was really (bleep) up. The way that you did everything,
Eric, and for me, you to be as tight as we really were.
- Mm-hmm. - Like, I've never considered
nobody like a legit little brother to me.
And you've always been that. - I understand that.
Do you see why I'm so affected by this whole thing?
- Do you see why I'm so affected by this?
- I did, though. I understand that, but, like...
- I just tried to double back, you know what I'm saying?
Like you see the dynamic of this family.
Nobody is one foot in, one foot out.
- Look, with all due respect, you don't know
what I have going on. I gotta think about myself.
If this is not working for me, I feel like it's like
stopping my potential. - How is Enigma
stopping your potential?
- That's, that's my journey. - How is Enigma
stopping your potential? Like, bro, we ain't got nothing
else to talk about, honestly, on that note.
When you came to Enigma, you were not a tattoo artist.
Everybody knows TANS is amazing painter,
but you were not a professional tattoo artist.
Everybody has poured into you as a tattoo artist.
- That's what you don't understand.
It's not about y'all, it's not about you.
- Okay, so if we're stopping your journey, I get it.
We all want you to do the best, but don't (bleep) on us.
So on that note, we don't have nothing else to talk about.
♪♪
Not only did we treat you like family,
but we literally taught you everything that you know.
And now all of us are somehow stunting your growth?
I don't think so. And if you think you're
coming back after that, you got another thing coming.
Oh, my goodness. - Yeah, I heard y'all, man.
- I don't-- I, I'm a little confused like as to where
the (bleep) that conversation went and how it got there.
You know what Eric meant to me. - Absolutely.
- And he literally just (bleep) on all of that.
- You see what people are. They show you who they are.
When they show you who they are, believe 'em,
you know what I'm saying? - Right.
When it comes to running a business,
I have learned the hard way that not everyone
is gonna give back what you put in.
For some people, it's all about business
and how it can benefit them. But I'm not gonna sweat it.
I'll move on and continue to run a successful establishment.
- (bleep). It's over with, you know?
- Mm, I need a drink. - Yeah.
- I feel like you turned on me when I needed you the most.
Because I was already in a (bleep)-up situation.
- I feel like that's both ways, though.
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
- ♪ Boy we came from nothing ♪
♪ All we want is to shine ♪
♪ When it's all or noting ♪
♪Put it all on the line ♪
- It's crunch time, we got, what, a couple days?
- Yeah, just trying to organize stuff.
My listening party to my new track is coming up quick.
And I still got a whole lot to do.
But thank God for Armani. She already got
most of the logistics handled.
- Man, you had the charity joint popping.
We need the same energy here, bro.
(door buzzer)
- Yo. What's up with y'all, man?
- What's happening? - Got the family in the house.
(Polo) This is my son DJ.
- DJ, huh?
I heard amazing things.
What up, man, you good?
Glad I get to meet you since
I couldn't make it to the barbecue.
- I got a client. This my girl Kay.
Kay, this is... - Oh, nice to meet you.
- This is where I work.
My son, he going home in a few days.
So brought him to the shop so he could see where I work.
And watch me finish this tattoo I'm doing on my first client.
I want him to know that he has options.
And you don't have to end up on the streets like I did.
(buzzing)
- What you getting?
- Going for like a Ganesha tattoo.
- Don't wanna rush it.
- You trying to get tatted?
- (laughing) You funny, Ink.
- (laughter) - I had to.
So what your grades looking like, huh?
You good or are you just focused on football?
- I can't focus on football without grades.
- That's what I like to hear.
- (KP) Playing football? - (DJ) Yup.
- What position you play? - I play left tackle,
guard and D tackle.
- My son be playing end.
But he 14, he just moved up. Matter of fact yesterday
and played his first varsity game, it's crazy.
- Playing varsity? - Started, yeah.
I missed it. - See, I'ma be able to come
to stuff like that now, man. - Yeah.
- But I just wanted to bring you here to like
let you get a idea of the environment I work in here.
Like I learned this in prison.
I found art to meditate in there.
It was my way of escaping when
I missed you so much up in there.
And now that I'm out here, and I'm able to live that dream,
I wanted you to meet these men, you know, so that you can see
that I'm associating myself with people of good quality,
and that's what you should do. - Yeah.
- I'm glad he brought you because I want you to see this.
I ain't had nothing like this to see
or pops to be connected to this.
Till I was 13, that plan was like pops can't tell me nothing.
But as I got older, became a businessman.
It was like, come on, son, there's another side.
Like handle your business. You made it.
Listen, I remember what it was like being 13 years old.
Having all these adults preach to you.
But I really hope that some of these gems we preaching
is sinking in. But the fact that IAM
is that type of atmosphere where DJ can come,
see his pops work while I help Polo
master his craft made me feel like all this struggle
to get this spot open, it was all worth it.
- I believe in you. - Yeah.
- I'm here, you know?
And I'ma remain here.
I don't know about this hair, though, but...
I'ma remain here. (laughs)
- ♪ Baby, you done interfering and it ain't right ♪
♪ We been going like this for a long time ♪
♪ It's been going like this for a long time ♪
♪ It's been going like this ♪
♪ ...Never thought of doing the things you did to me ♪
- After having Sage, it opened my eyes up
more about prioritizing my family.
'Cause Nessie is really my sis, and I know she got my back.
And so it was unfortunate the situation with Ken
and the drama at IAM shop got the relationship
between me and Nessie a little off.
- You're not gonna tell me that this is regular,
that's how it was before 'cause it's not.
You picked sides, bro.
- It's not my obligation to take care of you.
It's my obligation to take care of me.
So I definitely wanna have this conversation
and put that (bleep) behind us.
Yo. - What up?
- Cool hat. I like your little hat.
I'm definitely kind of surprised to hear from Lemeir because
we've been off lately, and the last time
we had a one-on-one, he called me disloyal for working at IAM.
So I hope he has more to talk about than my hat
because there's a lot to discuss.
- Well, yeah, um... I just wanted to meet with you
since the last time we talked thinking about everything.
I feel like it's just a big misunderstanding.
And I wanna make sure that we good, you feel me?
'Cause we fam. - Yeah, but, like,
turned on me when I needed you the most.
Because I was already in a (bleep)-up situation.
I went through a lot of (bleep) at that shop.
Being disrespected and stuff, like, you called me disloyal.
I was like, bro, the reason they don't even
(bleep) with me is because I always defend you.
Even when I was there and you wasn't there.
- I feel like that's both ways, though.
- Right, but I never came to you and called you disloyal
or nothing for, you know what I'm saying?
Like I never pinned it on you because they treated
you a different way even after the Ken (bleep) like...
Like you said, we is family. You know what I'm saying?
To me, I feel like I wouldn't do my family like that.
So that's why...
I felt a type of way.
- You know, I had more time to think about everything,
and I feel like, I avoided speaking with you
about certain things and I may have been
a little OD by calling you disloyal.
I just wanted to get back to where we was.
- That's really all I be wanting is like know people
you actually care, that's what friends do, like...
- Yeah. - Nah, we good though.
I know you just had the baby, so, like you said,
I wanna squash all that because I wanna meet her.
You know what I'm saying? Like, I feel like
that woulda happened by now had we not been...
- Well, honestly, nobody seen the baby up until like just
recently, you know what I'm saying?
- Okay. - We did like a little
photo shoot the other day.
- Oh, my God. Y'all make some little
model babies, yo, that's crazy.
- Yeah, yeah. - Yeah.
I talked to Barbie, she was saying how you putting
the pause on the shop or you're not opening?
- Yeah, I just, um...
I just don't feel like it's a good time.
It's all about Danielle being there for her and the family.
So it's like I don't wanna do a shop,
but I do need to get back to tattin'.
Everybody know you at Enigma now, right?
How everything going over there with you?
- Good, it's cool. It feels like
I just automatically click with them.
Was no hate, no bad vibes, like, no shade.
They wanna see me win. I wanna see them win.
Just like everything I've been waiting for.
- That's what we thought we was getting into when we was down
there, so we was, like... - Yo, bro.
Lemeir has always been like a brother to me.
Even before I started at IAM.
Like he's the one who brought me to that shop.
- This our new artist, Nessie.
Just got ten times more amazing.
- And I've been riding for him ever since dealing
with all kinds of (bleep) from Tim and KP.
Y'all not 'bout to talk (bleep) about my bro, though, right now.
I know that much. - Nessie keeping talking
like that's her boyfriend or something.
- Gonna stick up for my (bleeps).
If somebody start talking (bleep) about you,
we gon' stick up for 'em, right?
Lemeir and Dani really became like
my family on the West Coast.
(laughing/chatter) - You wanna (bleep) up?
This is what... You ain't heard self-care 2020?
- So, yeah, I was definitely hurt when he just
iced me out and kind of left me out to dry.
But this says a lot. I love that he's stepping up
and making things right because truthfully
our friendship is way too deep for us to beef forever.
- I'm happy you over there, bro, I feel like
that definitely a good fit for you.
Not only are you around people that's creative,
they get (bleep) lit like you, too.
- I'm done.
- Ink Art, open up the gates.
- It's time for me finally let them know
what I've been working on.
- Welcome to the stage, IAM Compton.
(cheering and applause)
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
♪♪
(rooster crowing)
- ♪ Wait, wait, wait, wait ♪
♪♪
♪ I like, I like, yeah, I might, I might ♪
♪ Have to yo, I might have to yo ♪
- Welcome to Compton.
- Ahh!
(shouting)
- Get off!
(KP) Yeah, pull up.
Bring 'em on in.
Today a celebration is made.
We having a Tattoo Taco Tuesday.
Listening party at the shop.
The energy is where it need to be.
I got a passionate group of talented artists
that have my back. This a moment
I've been waiting for for a long time.
And let's be one big happy family
and turn the city the (bleep) up.
We at IAM Compton Ink Art Music.
We here celebrating Black and Brown.
That's Compton, I can't do without 'em.
I'ma play some music I've been working on.
We gon' make some noise so let's turn it up, man.
Tattoo Taco Tuesday.
♪♪
- ♪ Hold up, hold up ♪
♪ Wait a minute, wait a minute ♪
♪ Where were you when we were rolling in the trenches? ♪
(music continues, chatter throughout)
♪♪
♪ Now we winning, now we winning ♪
♪ Hold up, hold up ♪♪
- Amazing job, you guys. - Thanks.
- You ready for the performance a little bit later?
- Yeah, I'm ready to drop this hit.
It's like tattoo therapy. You know what I'm saying?
Like when I'm tattin', I'm writing songs.
And my therapy is in the lab, and that's when I create.
- I've been waiting about a whole year.
You know, KP's music, so hop up on the stage
and drop that fire, man. It's been a minute.
- Come on, we gon' vibe out, you know what I'm saying?
Get some feedback and all that good (bleep).
- Oh, it's gonna be lit.
- Yeah, let's go get to these tattoos.
(chatter)
♪♪
- This is the spot. You gonna do
some amazing stuff, bro. - I'm thinking that
and I'll change it up just a little bit.
Tweak it here and there. - But I love it.
I'm ready. - Are you?
- Yeah, look at me, bro.
- What up, what up, what up?
(chatter)
(KP) Welcome to IAM, champ.
- I appreciate that, bro.
(KP) I'm excited to go hit the stage.
Tattooing get me in my zone.
So feel way better we got some clients coming to get tattoos.
First off, my girl Mz. Ink Bomb, she got
NBA legend Matt Barnes dropping by the shop.
She been tattooing Matt for some years now.
But I think it's pretty dope he came
to support her and IAM on her first day.
- What's up with you? - Not much.
- Man, this is nice. - You like it?
- Yeah, this is cool, man.
- Back in the days, Matt Barnes was a legit
problem as a player on the basketball court.
Man, he was a dog, you know what I'm saying?
But now he got a podcast called "All The Smoke."
And it is straight fire.
- So I'ma tell all of our fans to get the "All The Smoke"
tattoo with the logo, and then we gonna have
a drawing and then come kick it on the show, so...
- Okay. - I gotta set it off
by getting the logo.
- Okay, I'll put-- uh, cut it in, we can put it on.
- What I'ma do is make a hard outline.
It's your sister, huh? - Yeah.
- So let's get this started.
(KP) Yo, so what you getting?
- The "All The Smoke" logo.
(KP) So you want the Raiders?
- You got life twisted, man.
- I need the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- You sure? - Been loving my Steelers
forever and always, man. It's my team.
- Ready? - Mm-hmm.
- ♪ Why you gonna stop this reign ♪
♪ When I got this lane all locked and chains? ♪
- (KP) Man, there's so many amazing and undiscovered artists
in the city, and I just feel grateful
to be able to have a handful of 'em by my side
to push IAM to be the best shop it can be.
- ♪ ...On a different part different lane ♪
♪ Different kinda altitude to keep a plane ♪
♪ We different, ay we different kinda wavelength ♪
♪ To make sense to make sense... ♪
- It's incredibly humbling to not only have a platform,
to tattoo with amazing artists,
but to also be able to showcase my music on my own stage.
This a dream I done had since I was a kid.
- ♪ They cannot stop us they cannot stop us, dawg ♪
♪ They cannot stop us ♪
♪ They cannot stop us, dawg ♪
- (KP) Days like today are the days that stand out,
not only as milestones but as reminders
to never ever give up.
We can do anything we put our minds to.
And I'ma keep doing that for Compton.
- How'd it feel?
- It wasn't too bad.
Yeah, it's dope, man. I appreciate that.
- No problem. - Love it.
Definitely coming back!
- ...bro. I'ma support.
- You good. - Great.
- So what y'all think about KP performing right now?
- I'm excited. He put all his love into it.
- I heard his music, but I never heard him perform.
- Hope he get some good feedback.
- I guess we yet to see.
- Ay, y'all, I just want to let y'all know
we appreciate y'all for coming out.
(crowd cheering) Get the word out there.
Ink Art Music opened. We have new artists.
Tell all y'all rapper friends, all y'all boos,
they need them tattoos, come get it from the best.
(cheering and applause)
Ink Art, open up the gates.
Music got to take it to the top.
- ♪ Nightclub to fight club ♪
Music, that's my passion.
It's time for me to finally let them know
what I've been working on.
These moments when you trying to get people to believe in you,
these the moments that make you.
(Tim) Last but not least,
the man that made everything happen.
Welcome to the stage IAM Compton.
(crowd cheering)
- ♪ IAM Compton, Compton... ♪
(applause)
(woman) Yay, yay!
- ♪ I do what I want ♪
♪♪
- Ay, y'all, last but not least,
the man that made everything happen.
Welcome to the stage IAM Compton.
(cheering and applause) - See what he talking about.
- I love making music, and we gonna do it like this.
You can drop that "Go Numb."
- Uh-oh.
(woman) KP!
- ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ We don't think about it we just go numb ♪
♪ Go numb, go numb ♪
♪ Gotta give love till it's all gone ♪
♪ All gone ♪
♪ I-I-I don't feel no pressure ♪
♪ I don't feel a thing ♪
♪ Turn nightclub into the fight club ♪
♪ I'm numb to the scene... ♪
- (Polo) It's crazy to see KP up there doing his thing, rapping,
because I only known him as a tattoo artist.
But to see him do equally good in the music game,
that's cool.
- ♪ ...Off the Porsche ♪
- ♪ Yeah, I have to drag my Porsche ♪
♪ We don't think about it we just go numb ♪
♪ Go numb... ♪♪
(cheering and applause)
- Yeah, appreciate. Y'all (bleep) with that?
- We (bleep) with that. (crowd cheering)
- I feel like I'm on top of the world today.
I got a powerhouse team of artists
and the support of Compton.
Now I can put all that shady (bleep)
from my former artists behind us and move forward.
It's our time.
- That's what I'm talking about.
- Y'all witness a birth right here
at Ink Art Music, you know what I'm saying?
Exclusive first tattoo shop in Compton.
We're part of history. All this is history.
We out here, man. I appreciate all y'all.
Let's turn up.
(cheering and applause)
- ♪ I feel like I can't stop now ♪
♪ All of this spread in my chain saw... ♪
♪ I feel I got the whole world on lockdown ♪
♪ And that's why I can't stop now ♪
- ♪ Here for a lifetime ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ You gotta know here for a lifetime ♪
♪ Whoo whoo you gotta know ♪
♪ Here for a lifetime... ♪
- That's right, baby, I'm doing it again.
Since the art show was so successful in Atlanta,
I decided to take it on the road
to the West Coast.
They got so much talent out here,
and I know a gallery show full of original art.
We're gonna go crazy out here.
- ♪ I'm the man I'm the man ♪
♪ She learn how to spin them bands, the bands ♪
♪ When you hear this come up blowing with a fan ♪
♪ I'm the wrong one just understand, understand ♪
- ♪ I'm so excited to get everybody together,
but I'm hoping KP and Lemeir work they differences out,
because, honestly, this is a time to come together,
not push each other apart.
- Feelings-wise? (bleep) you.
- You like gangsta, though!
(shouting, bleeps)
(KP) Damn. Here we go again.
- Why isn't there a female boss in the circle?
- So you trying to pass me the torch or what?
'Cause I'ma run with it like this whole thing on fire.
(laughs)
- To be raised here
instead of opening up my shop
in a gang-affected area.
I appreciate y'all.
- So far I love Nessie.
But I've heard she a firecracker.
- It's like how long does this guest-spot process
have to go on before we make a decision?
(crowd cheering)
♪♪
- Oh, my God, my ex is here.
It's already bad enough that I have to see KP.
Now I gotta deal with Ken, too?
- We all under the same umbrella.
We Black men trying to make it.
At least we cordial.
(bleep).
♪♪
- ♪ MTV ♪