NYJAH

HUSTON
PLUS:

OZZY
OSBOURNE
$UICIDEBOY$
MEGAN
ANDERSON
CHEAT
CODES
G HERBO

JULY 2019 • DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 17TH

CONTENTS
suicideboys 72
nyjah huston 60
ozzy 44
megan anderson 50
bikes 40

10 | INKEDMAG.COM
 creative director ian sami hajar
photo/video director peter roessler
senior editor charlie connell
executive editor devon preston
video editor sammy martel

contributing photographers
Troy Conrad, Evan Kaucher, Brooke Comegys, Oggie Nilsson, Matt Misisco, Tino Scherer,
Nathan Fox, Jsquared Photography, [Ozzy photographer], [Megan Anderon photographer],
Muhammad Elarbi [Suicideboys photographer???]

contributing writers
Dove Clark, Jonny Watson

interns
ragan henderson

ad sales kristine mcguire / [email protected]

sales melanie (czoka) simmons / [email protected]

marketing designer jasmin chawla

international licensing john cabell, 303-449-9194

[email protected]

magazine office inked magazine

150 west 22nd st
new york, ny 10011
corporate office quadra media llc
3103 Philmont Avenue #120
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006

website inkedmag.com

president donald hellinger

executive assistant jami pearlman
head of accounts receivable chris watson
accounts receivable administrator lydia isaac
newsstand consultants ralph perricelli, irwin billman
fulfillment fulco fulfillment
subscription info 888-465-3305
back issues 888-265-3590

INKED, ISSN (1555-8630) Issue 104 is published bimonthly by Quadra Media, LLC
150 west 22nd street , New York, NY 10011.
Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Inked Magazine, P.O. Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834.

Printed in Canada

12 | INKEDMAG.COM
INKWELL
Hey there,

Welcome to Inked’s 2020 Moto Issue, the strangest

magazine that we’ve ever put together. The strangeness
doesn’t come from the content—the Moto Issue is a long-
running annual tradition—but because this is all happening
during a global pandemic.

The entire country is reeling in one way or another due to

COVID-19. Whether it be from becoming sick, losing loved
ones, losing your job or simply feeling isolated from the
world thanks to self-quarantine and social distancing, we’re
all hurting right now.

During these times putting out an entertainment magazine

felt pretty fucking far from essential. With practically every
tattoo shop forced to shut down and artists unable to earn a
living, who needs a tattoo magazine right now?

As I was going over our final copy edits it hit me, I knew why
we needed to press on with the issue. Not only could this
issue give readers some much needed escapism, but the
stories that you’ll find in here are almost all tales of resilience.
In these pages you’ll read about people who have fought
through incredible hardship on their path to success.

On one of our covers, you’ll find metal icon Ozzy Osbourne.

After enduring one of the most difficult years of his life—
where he battled Parkinson’s disease as well as back and
neck issues—the 71 year old recorded some of the best
music he’s created in decades.

On the other cover, we have skateboarder Nyjah Huston,

who started competing against fully grown men when he
was half their age and half their size. Not only could he hold
his own, but he won. A lot.

There’s the story of Danny Schneider. His riding career

ended after he shattered his ankle in 18 different places, so
he built a thriving career crafting custom motorcycles. Then
he was diagnosed with cancer, which put his life in jeopardy,
but he persevered and got through it.

Rapper G Herbo witnessed so much unspeakable violence

growing up on the South Side of Chicago that he was
diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. But he
endured, chased his dream and found a way to help others
who suffer from PTSD along the way.

As we look at an uncertain future that is sure to test us, we

can learn from others who have achieved against the odds.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to draw some inspiration from the
stories contained in this issue. Beyond that, I hope that while
you read this issue you laugh, discover a new artist and take
your mind off of the world for a bit. We all could use a break.

Stay safe, friends.

-Charlie Connell, Senior Editor
[email protected]
MAIL

HammyTV
“I’ve been watching HammyTV for years and those guys are f-ing hilarious! Seriously, where do they come up with these ideas?!
I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing Jen give Ryan a penis tattoo and if I did that, my wife would KILL ME. Actually, if I tried pulling
half the stuff these guys do I’d either be divorced, arrested or dead. Can’t wait for more HammyTV and Inked Mag shenanigans to
come!”—Paul Thompson— Albany, NY

INKEDSTAGRAM: HASHTAG YOUR SELFIE #INKEDMAG

@MISSTTKISS @STEPHANIE_SANTIAGO @CHRISTYMACK @RIAE_

TATTOO OF THE MONTH

RYAN ASHLEY
Sara Lewis— “When I saw this cover on Instagram, my job hit the floor. Can you believe she
hid this from the whole world? I can’t! This baby is going to be so beautiful and talented.”
MARGARET CHO
Lillian Wong— “Margaret Cho is such a riot! I’ve loved her work for years and love seeing a
proud, Asian woman with badass ink from some of the best artists in the world.”
MIKE JOHNSON
Avery Pratt— “Hello delicious! Watching Hannah Brown’s season, I couldn’t believe she didn’t
pick Mike. Come on, he’s the perfect guy and he has beautiful tattoos?! What’s not to love?”

WRITE US. GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? SEND ALL PRAISE, COMPLAINTS, STORY SUGGESTIONS AND
OTHER COMMENTS TO [email protected]. ALL SUBMISSIONS SHOULD INCLUDE THE WRITER’S
NAME AND ADDRESS. LETTERS MAY BE EDITED FOR CLARITY, LENGTH AND CONTENT. ALSO JOIN THE
PARTY AT FACEBOOK.COM/INKEDMAG AND ACROSS PLATFORMS @INKEDMAG.

TATTOO BY @ERV2 Want to be a Tattoo of the Month?

E-mail your ink to [email protected]
18 | INKEDMAG.COM
PEACHHES
P H OTO G R A P H Y BY N AT H A N F OX
Instagram: @peachhes_sg

JULY 2020 | 19
20 | INKEDMAG.COM
THE DUAL THREAT OF
CARLOS TORRES
For years he’s been known as a master of black-and-grey. Now Carlos Torres is
showing off what he can do with a paintbrush.
by jonny watson

By working hard and holding himself to a very high stan- What have you learned as a tattooer that helps with
dard, Carlos Torres has built a career as one of the best painting, and what skills as a painter have you brought
black-and-grey tattoo artists in the world. Not content into your tattooing? As a tattooer, I learn every day.
to limit himself to one medium, Torres began painting Every day that I tattoo, draw, sculpt or be creative, it helps
with oils. Filled with deep, rich colors and influenced by with painting. There are things that I am experimenting
old masters like Caravaggio, Torres’s paintings live in an with in tattooing that I have learned from being a fan of
entirely different world from his tattoos, proving what a painting and making my own paintings. Edge work, lines
diverse artist he is. and developing focal points are things that I like about
paintings and I work to bring these elements into my
We spoke with Torres about how he first discovered tattoos. I feel that tattooing and painting can go hand-in-
art, the differences between working on canvas and on hand. The skills from one carry over to the other and vice
human skin, and how he wants to be remembered. versa.

What are some of your earliest memories of art? Do How does the process of tattooing and painting
you remember when you fell in love with creating? I differ in terms of reference materials and subject
grew up in Gardena and we used to live down the street matter? With painting, I really like working from my
from a comic book store. It was that store that gave me own references. I will have an idea in my mind and hire
some of my earliest memories of art through graphic a model, set up a light source, build props, etc. To an
novels, comic books and fantasy art. extent, I am able to do that with certain tattoo projects,
but not all. It is a little tougher to do the same with tattoos.
I’ve loved creating since I was a kid. I used to draw all of Although my clients are open to my artistic freedom, I am
the time and actually drew a lot of skulls. My mom used ultimately creating something for them.
to ask, “What’s wrong with you?! Why do you draw
these?” I told her it was because she took me to see We’ve heard that you often like to tweak your tattoos,
“The Exorcist” [laughs]. In her defense, we went to see even years after they’re started. But with a painting,
a double feature at a drive-in and the first movie was for it’s done once it’s been framed. Does this alter how you
kids, “The Exorcist” was second and we just stayed. approach painting? Just because you put a painting in a
frame doesn’t mean it’s done. I was told once before that
Which came first, painting or tattooing? Tattooing came artists never finish paintings, we just abandon them. I can
first. It was something that I fell into a little more naturally always go back into a piece, frame or not.
than oil painting. But my interest and fascination with
paintings was always there. It is fascinating to me that If you had to choose between painting or tattooing,
you can stand in a museum and look at a painting that which one would it be? If I had to choose tattooing or
has survived for hundreds of years. Tattoos just don’t live painting, I would definitely choose tattooing. Although I
as long. enjoy painting and being alone, there is something about
tattooing and connecting with people that you just can’t
How does your process differ between painting and get alone in your studio. Clients, who often turn into
tattooing? Especially since you use color in your friends, have invited me to be part of experiences that
paintings. I would say that the time involved and the never would have come about if I was alone and painting.
elements I am focusing on are the big differences. When
I am painting, I get a lot of time to sit and study and mix How do you want to be remembered? I would like
the right colors. You can’t really do that on a color tattoo to be remembered as an all-around artist. Alphonse
for a client. Because I am a black-and-grey tattoo artist, I Mucha, who is one of my favorites, is remembered for his
am only thinking of contrast and values when I approach paintings, graphics, sculptures, drawings and jewelry. I
my tattoo projects. Whereas with painting, there are would like to be remembered in that way and don’t want
quite a few other things that I am thinking of while I work. to be limited to just one thing. I always want to keep
Color, value, contrast, saturation and temperature all go growing and exploring new mediums. If I can continue to
into painting, but they aren’t factors in my tattoos. learn and bring new skills to my tattoos, I want to do that.

22 | INKEDMAG.COM
JULY 2020 | 23
inked people

SARA
AYDIN by devon preston
photos by oggie nilsson
Teenage rebellion is a rite of passage. For some, that
ticket to adulthood can be earned from a minor dis-
crepancy, like smoking your first J. Others need to do
something a little more drastic, like taking their father’s
1961 Ferrari 250 GT California on a joy ride through
downtown Chicago (oh yeaaaah). At 16, Sara Aydin
got her first taste of rebellion when she bought her
first motocross bike, a 2005 KTM 125 EXC, and from
the jump, she realized she was made for more than her
small town in Sweden. “Sweden is a country where
being average is what you should be and if you’re more
than that, people start to talk,” Aydin shares. “I hate
to stand with the crowd. I’d rather be different and do
something to stand out.”

It wasn’t only her country’s mentality that she was

rebelling against, and if her parents had their way,
Aydin’s riding career would have ended before it
began. “Since day one they haven’t supported my
riding, and instead my mum tried to do everything
in her power to keep me from it,” Aydin says. “She
chained up my bike in the garage and even tried to sell
it.”

Despite the disapproval from her parents, or, more

likely, because of it, Aydin fell in love with riding and
it didn’t take long for her name to get around. Aydin
knew the best way to show her stunts to her friends
was by sharing videos on social media, but she
never imagined she could make a living with it. “It all
happened pretty quickly, from me riding and making
videos on YouTube and Instagram just for myself and
my close friends to see, to all of a sudden exploding
on social media,” Aydin says. “I didn’t know that you
could actually grow through social media and make a
living off of it—so it was never my intention. But with all
of my social media growing so quickly overnight came
offers from TV shows, radio stations, magazines and
bike shows.”

Aydin now has a sizable fanbase behind her and plenty

of support from her following, but she still has to work
twice as hard as the boys to earn respect online.
“When I first started riding I wasn’t very good at it. I
got tons of hate comments saying ‘girls shouldn’t be
riding,’ ‘girls shouldn’t be working on bikes’ and ‘you
belong in the kitchen,’” Aydin says. “I took all that
negativity as motivation to prove them wrong. I feel like
a lot of people still talk down to girls who try to get into
the sport and I try my best to use my social media to
help lift girls up and welcome them.”

Eventually Aydin’s family jumped on the bandwagon

once they saw for themselves that biking was their
daughter’s true passion, not just a rebellious phase.
One of the ways Aydin shows her love is through
her tattoo collection. “My favorite tattoo is under my
chest,” she shares. “It says ‘Living That Motolife,’
which is something I truly live for and think about
every day.” Even without her following and the perks
it’s given her, Aydin would still have a yearning for the
open road. “[My perfect riding day starts with] waking
up early, loading two of my bikes, my mini bike, a grill
and a shovel into my truck,” Aydin says, “and then
heading in a new direction.”

JULY 2020 | 27
G Herbo is a survivor. At just 24 years old, the American
rapper and songwriter from Chicago raised himself up
through both his art and his business, keeping his eyes
on Plan A, because there is no Plan B in his world.

Since he was a child, G Herbo experienced violence,

death and pain to such a degree that it caused him to
be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. His
struggle became the impetus for his third solo studio
album, “PTSD,” which dropped in February. After
kicking off his tour in Brooklyn, G Herbo stopped by
the Inked offices to share his perspective on hip-hop,
hardship, and the evolution of his career.

As a pioneer in the “SoundCloud” rapper movement, G

Herbo transitioned from churning out tunes to running
a full-fledged business. He admits he made some
mistakes early on, citing a reliance on prescription
drugs and lean as self-medication, but has since left the
distractions behind to focus on the big picture.
“You have to have a strategy,” G Herbo says. “You can’t
just do fly-by-night stuff in this business. You can’t just
put music out and think it’s gonna have the same result
as other artists who you think may just put music out.
Even if it looks like that from the outside, successful
artists have a plan, a blueprint, a strategy, a release
schedule, or all of the above.”

For G Herbo, there is a strong connection between

his love of art, his music and the tattoos he chooses to
put on his body. “Just like my music, all of my tattoos
are significant and true to me. If you are a fan of my
music you could understand my tattoos just by looking
at them,” G Herbo says. “My first tattoo was ‘79th’ I’m
from 79th and Essex, the east side of Chicago, and I
got it surrounded by flames and fire because they call
my block a red zone—it’s a lot of violence, a lot of crime,
a lot of murders, a lot of drugs, a lot of police, a lot of
heat.”

The young performer was diagnosed with PTSD just

two years ago, and he bears memories of a tragic youth
on his left forearm. “This kinda tells my story of being in
the streets,” G Herbo explains in a somber tone, tracing
the work and counting out 11 friends memorialized. “It’s
like a brick wall mural. I have a grim reaper holding two
pistols in his hand, and it says ‘L’s and M’s’ for ‘No Limit
Muskegon Boys.’ It was a mural for me to pay homage
to everybody I lost in the streets at that moment. At the
very top is my best friend, who passed away in 2015.
That was one of my biggest heartbreaks, and it was
when I started to become who I am.”

Pushing past the pain, G Herbo has grown into a widely

respected voice in hip-hop. He is convinced that other
young people in difficult situations can find their way
to success. “I was once them. I’m no different. I’m no
more special than they are,” he says. “I feel I’m no more
intelligent than they are, they just have to tap into that
part of their brain and their hearts to really understand
what they’re going through, and to have the heart to be
brave enough to face their fears. I faced my fears. That’s
the only reason why I’m able to speak about my PTSD
in a way that seems like I’m over it.

“It strengthened my armor plate. It’s made me the man

I am today,” he continues. “It’s important for me to just
speak on it and embrace it and try to help every kid. If I
help one, I did my job. If I help a million, I did a tremen-
dous job.”
 inked people

G HERBO
by dove clark
photos by evan kaucher
inked people

MIKE
RUGA by jonny watson
photos by brooke comegys
For a man who has launched a career out of pulling
pranks and mugging for the camera, Mike Ruga is
alarmingly earnest. As he sat down in the Inked offices
and talked about his tattoo collection—particularly when
he spoke about the black-and-grey portrait of Ariana
Grande that dominates his upper arm—there was none
of the boisterousness he exudes on his Instagram
videos. Ruga was simply a guy with a romantic plan that
is more than likely doomed to fail, which he knows, but
he’s still pushing forward just in case.

“I’m going to marry her one day,” Ruga responds when

asked why he got the Grande tattoo. “That’s why I never
posted it as a fan video. You’ll never see a video of me
posting it, cause I didn’t do it for her to notice me. I did
it cause I feel like I might end up in the same room with
her one day and that’s where I’ll shoot my shot.”

All tattoos require some level of commitment and dedi-

cation—they are permanent, after all—but one might say
that Ruga’s Grande tattoo is the ultimate commitment.
It shouldn’t be surprising that Ruga took things to this
level, since he tends to go all-in with everything he
undertakes.

The first video that put Ruga on the map had a very
simple premise—walk into a 7-11 and start dancing up
on customers. It’s his commitment to the bit that makes
it so funny. Of course, it’s also his commitment to the bit
that almost led to Ruga getting his ass kicked.

“There was this big, big, big dude at the counter who
was buying candy,” Ruga laughs. “And I started dancing
and the whole store was looking at me, from the cashier
to the stock boy to the big dude. Everybody was just
staring at me like, ‘What the fuck is this kid doing?’ until
I ended up pumping the dude’s leg. Then he choke-
slammed the shit out of me.”

Ruga almost got choked out and the cops were called.
But in the end, he walked away with a killer video
that absolutely blew up on Instagram. Everybody saw
it—including the big, big, big dude. “I remember he
DMed me on Instagram saying, ‘I’m gonna fuck you up
when I see you,’” Ruga says. “He must have found my
Instagram somehow and just got twice as mad when
he found out he went viral.” Luckily, the two have not
crossed paths again.

As time went by, Ruga’s videos have changed. He’s

moved away from on-the-spot pranks into scripted
gags, many of which take place in a tattoo shop. You
walk in for a tattoo appointment and there’s Ruga,
sitting in the back, getting tattooed as his artist draws
inspiration from a naked woman. It’s hilarious, and
ultimately, relatable.

“I feel like everybody gets [tattoos],” Ruga says.

“Whether you’re from the United States, overseas,
wherever, everybody can relate to it cause everybody
has tattoos. It’s like a barber shop. Everybody gets
haircuts.”

Ruga’s got the drive to keep diversifying his videos and

to keep people in stitches. Maybe one day his followers
will get to see a video of Ruga dropping to a knee in
front of a certain pop star, and they’ll have to ask, “Is
this a gag? Or is he shooting his shot?” Regardless of
the outcome, that video would surely go viral.
 Between sets by household names, you can find
up-and-coming comic Gabby Lamb regularly per-
forming stand-up routines at The Laugh Factory,
Hollywood’s famous club. Lamb has made a name
for herself by sharing awkward stories in front of live
audiences—from living out her favorite scene from
“The Notebook” by giving head to her crush on a Ferris
Wheel to getting a $75 parking ticket after having
breakup anal sex. These are the types of exposing
experiences most of us would pay large sums of money
to keep under wraps, yet Lamb has found power in
celebrating life’s most uncomfortable moments. “I have
a lot of weird stories and I’ve been through some weird,
funny and dark shit,” Lamb explains. “I’ve spent my
entire life feeling uncomfortable and anxious, so I love
being able to share it in a way where people can relate
to and laugh about it. There’s something really powerful
in being able to connect with people in that way.”

In addition to connecting with audiences through

recounting her many clumsy hookups and breakups,
Lamb is now able to reach a new demographic with her
comedy—people in recovery. “I’ve been drinking since
I was 15 and I never stopped to think about it being any
sort of an issue, because it’s fun, it eases my anxiety
and I love going out,” Lamb shares. “I was drinking a
lot and started getting more and more into coke—I was
loving it.” These actions led her down a destructive
path, one that seduces many in entertainment. Yet, it
wasn’t a DUI or court-mandated AA meetings that led
her to a life of sobriety. “’I’ve always had issues with
sex and codependent relationships, so I started going
to another 12-step program for that when I realized my
drinking and drugging was really affecting my relation-
ship with myself and kept me stuck in relationships with
emotionally unavailable men,” Lamb says. “I could tell
I was getting lost in the sauce and it was really hurting
me when I thought it was saving me.”

Lamb is in good company when it comes to comedians

who have struggled with substance abuse, as more
comedians have experience with rehab than specials
on Netflix. Lamb believes many comedians are attracted
to the field for the allure of nightlife and the lifestyle that
once consumed her. “Comedians are some of the most
brilliant, self-loathing, deeply sad and sensitive people
on Earth,” Lamb explains. “We spend a lot of time in our
heads and thinking about ourselves and our careers,
so partying helps us ease that pain and quiet the noise.
And when you’re moving at such a fast pace with so
many highs and lows constantly, it’s really easy to get
sucked into substance abuse.”

Drinking hasn’t always been Lamb’s only vice, and

since embracing sobriety, Lamb learned to channel her
addictive energy into a new host—Post Malone. “I really
got the fever for him when he released ‘Beerbongs &
Bentleys.’ I was going through a really rough breakup at
the time and for some reason, I just transferred all of my
heartache to a huge celebrity crush and it really helped
me stop focusing on the pain of my ex,” Lamb gushes.
“As insane as that sounds, having an unattainable crush
makes it easier to get through heartache. Post Malone
is the only guy in the world I would relapse for. For real.”

32 | INKEDMAG.COM
 inked people

GABBY
LAMB
by devon preston
photos by matt misisco
When Angie Marino started riding BMX, she wasn’t trying
to be a female trailblazer in a sport that represented very
few women. She was just a kid who looked up to her older
brother and wanted to follow in his footsteps, whatever they
may be.

“I started racing when I was about 7 or 8,” Marino explains.

“I just wanted to do everything my brother did, so when he
started racing, I wanted to start racing. I raced BMX for a
few years and I stopped. I was No. 1 in my age group and it
started getting boring.”

Marino made the switch at the age of 15 to ride freestyle. At

the time, there weren’t a ton of girls competing in the sport—
she remembers going up against the same three to five girls
at most of the competitions. Even with the limited pool of
rivals, she was able to find something that wasn’t there for
her when she was racing.

“I wanted to be more free with [my riding] and to be more

creative,” Marino says, “instead of just going as fast as I can
and whoever crosses the line first wins. It was really cool
to travel to competitions and to ride with other girls and
get inspired by them. I’ve never been a super competitive
person, but it was always awesome to go and ride with other
females.”

As the sport is looking to make its 2021 Olympic debut in

Tokyo—the games have been postponed for a year due
to the coronavirus pandemic—Marino is hoping to be on
the world’s biggest stage competing for Team USA. She’s
been part of the team since its inception in 2018, seizing the
opportunity to ride all over the world and experience different
cultures with a group of very close friends.

While there is momentum behind the sport right now, as it

continues to expand and progress, it wasn’t always that way.
The BMX world is small and male dominated, creating an
environment that could often get a little ugly.

“When I first started riding there were a lot of assholes,”

Marino says. “There were a lot of people saying things like,
‘get back in the kitchen,’ and other crazy stuff. Now there are
more girls and there’s more awareness, and things like social
media have been really helping make it more accepted now.”

The Bloom BMX, a website co-founded by Marino and fellow

rider Beatrice Trang, has played an integral role in chang-
ing the way people think about women’s BMX. “This year
was such an important year, and there’s just been such an
uprising in the progression [of the sport] and the number of
female athletes coming out of the woodwork,” Marino says.
“It’s been a really exciting year to get this going and share the
news with everybody and cover all the girls events.”

Right around the time she started riding freestyle, Marino

got her first tattoo. It was a simple mustache on the inside of
her finger, a placement she chose so she’d be able to hide
it from her dad. In fact, Marino became very good at hiding
her tattoos from her father, even going so far as hiding her
sleeve for a few years, only to have a pesky aunt blow up her
spot after a Google image search. “I guess it’s ironic that my
dad hates tattoos,” Marino explains. “My sleeve symbolizes
him and me, because we’ve had such a close relationship my
whole life.”

Marino’s sleeve depicts two koi fish swimming upstream,

a symbol of perseverance and determination in traditional
Japanese tattooing. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting tattoo
considering her journey thus far. You can guarantee that
Marino will keep striving and doing all that she can to prog-
ress her sport. She doesn’t just want to shatter the glass
ceiling in BMX—she wants to crash through it while landing
a sick trick.

34 | INKEDMAG.COM
 inked people

ANGIE
MARINO
by charlie connell
photos by tyler huntley
CULTURE

A Train to Nowhere
Inspired by Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 film “Snowpiercer,” which Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” expect the series to explore
was based on the French graphic novel “Le Transperceneige,” issues of class and income inequality. A series based on a film
this TNT drama takes place on a 1,001-car train holding what’s never sounds like a great idea, but “Fargo” worked, so we’re
left of humanity after a climate disaster. Much like in Joon-ho’s cautiously optimistic.

Everything Hurts WHEN YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH

For those of us still struggling Whoever would have
to shed our winter weight, guessed that irritation
“Everything Hurts” has basi- smelled like amaretto
cally become our motto on gym sours? The “Fuck This”
days. Wearing these socks candle from Whiskey
while you hit the treadmill lets River Soap Co. helps set
the world know the misery a relaxing mood for all
you’re going through, and they those days when you feel
still look cool on those days like you’re ready to burn it
when you can’t be bothered to all down.
leave the couch.

Smells Like
Rebellion
You’re a free spirit, a tattooed rebel who goes
his way. That doesn’t mean that you can’t smell
delightful too. With hints of rum, leather and
sweet tobacco, Dark Rebel by John Varvatos is
the ideal cologne for a man who doesn’t play by
anyone’s rules but his own.

36 | INKEDMAG.COM
 Kicking Skulls In
There’s an old saying in tattooing: you can never go wrong with skulls. The
same applies to motorcycle boots. These handmade boots from American
Legend Rider give you everything you need for a riding adventure, and they
look pretty bitchin’ too.

Protect That Brain Relive Your Best Rides

The only way to kill a zombie is by removing the head or destroying
There’s a lot going on when you’re out for a ride, and you don’t always
the brain, but even if you aren’t a zombie it’s still a pretty good idea to
get to take in all the scenery. The GoPro Hero8 Black, in a bundle
protect your noggin. The LS2 Assault helmet is lightweight enough to
complete with head strap, lets you strap it on and record unobtrusively
be comfortable, but durable enough to get the job done. It’ll help protect
while you ride.
you through even the worst zombie apocalypse.

38 | INKEDMAG.COM
 The Inked Playlist
by Jaz Paulino
Working out of Fleur Noire Tattoo in Brooklyn, New York, Jaz specializes in tattooing across many styles
and listening to hot jams. Here’s a peek of tunes that keep her going through a session..
Otis Redding Mac Miller
The Jackson 5
Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay Dang!
Looking Through the Window

Queen Amy Winehouse

Drake and Michael Jackson
Don't Stop Me Now He Can Only Hold Her
Don't Matter to Me

Frank Ocean DeBarge

Biggie Smalls
Nights Rhythm of the Night
Juicy

Our Only Hope

A Mongol invasion has decimated Jin Sakai’s
clan of samurai on Tsushima Island. Sakai is the
only thing standing in their way before a full-on
invasion of Japan. The lone samurai must master
a new fighting style if he is going to save his
homeland in the exciting PS4 adventure “Ghost
of Tsushima.” The open world adventure-stealth
title places you right in the middle of feudal
Japan, forcing you to wield your katana wisely if
you are to stop the Mongol hordes.
 hit the
road
Here are 10 motorcycles we are
completely stoked to ride.
By jonny watson
Whether you want to burn rubber, cruise the
nation’s highways, or leave the road far behind
you, we’ve got a bike suited for every type of
rider. If you don’t believe us, this list has one
iconic brand releasing the most powerful
engine ever created for mass production and
another giant in the industry delivering an
emissions-free electric engine. There are so
many rad bikes to choose from, it’s a shame
we can’t ride them all. Or can we?
BMW Motorrad Vision DC Roadster
BMW Motorrad
Vision DC Roadster
The 2-cylinder boxer engine has been
the calling card of BMW motorcycles
for over 90 years, but now, much like
Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival,
BMW is going electric. The Vision DC
Roadster is still instantly recogniz-
able as a BMW—an electric motor
and battery have replaced the boxer
engine, without losing the iconic
appearance—while producing zero
emissions for a cleaner Earth. This just
might be the future of motorcycles.
2020 Aprilia RS 660
2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America
2021 Harley-Davidson
Pan America
Harley-Davidson has been around
for 117 years—it would be safe to
say that we know what to expect
when we see a Harley. The 2021
Pan America shatters all of those
expectations, as this motorcycle is
something truly new from the iconic
brand. This is Harley’s first foray
into the adventure bike category
and it looks to be a winner. No
matter where you want to go, no
matter the terrain, the Pan America 2021 Honda CBR10 0 0RR-R Fireblade SP
can get you there. 2021 KTM 890 Duke R

2020 Aprilia RS 660 2021 Honda Fireblade SP 2021 KTM 890 DUKE R
This is the sportbike that we’ve With a name like “Fireblade,” this bike is Ever since it was unveiled at EICMA 2019 in Milan,
all been waiting for. Coming to us expected to cut through the road at blistering riders have been champing at the bit to get their
from Noales, Italy, the Aprilia RS speeds. Amazingly, this street legal but track hands on the middleweight 890 Duke R. This version
660 takes a hefty dose of power ready bike from Honda lives up to every is an upgrade from the 790 Duke, offering a fully
(twin-power 600cc engine capable expectation. Delivering 214 horsepower and adjustable suspension system and a souped-up
of 100 horsepower) and places it on 83 foot-pounds of torque, combined with version of the parallel twin engine offering more power
a light 370-pound frame. You know a 440-pound frame and an aerodynamics and torque. Equally suited for the racetrack and windy
what that means? The RS 660 can package inspired by the RC213V race bike, mountain roads, this bike has it all.
absolutely fly. the Fireblade is one fierce competitor.
 2020 INDIAN
CHALLENGER
Prepare yourself for one of the most
powerful bikes that Indian has ever
produced, thanks to the PowerPlus
engine. The liquid-cooled V-twin engine
produces 122 horsepower and 128
foot-pounds of torque, making it the new
standard within its class. In addition to all
that power, this sleek bagger also sports
some cutting-edge technology, including
a seven-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth
2020 Indian Challenger 2020 Triumph Rocket 3 connectability and keyless ignition.

2020 TRIUMPH
ROCKET 3
It’s hard to know where to start singing
the praises of the Triumph Rocket 3, but
we may as well start with the world’s
largest production motorcycle engine ca-
pacity of 2500cc. In addition to that beast
of an engine, this iteration of the Rocket
is 88 pounds lighter than its predecessor.
This bad boy can go from 0-60 mph in
an astonishing 2.73 seconds, making it
obvious why it’s called the Rocket.

Kawasaki W800 Cafe

2020 TRIUMPH
2020 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally
TIGER 900 RALLY
The Triumph Tiger 900 Rally is perfectly suit-
ed for both those who ride to get their blood
pumping adventuring off road and those who
prefer to stay on the more beaten path. No
level of comfort or style is sacrificed in the
name of performance and vice versa. This
bike sports an all-new 900cc triple engine
and four different riding modes.

KAWASAKI
W800 CAFE
The Kawasaki W800 Cafe is rideable proof of
the maxim “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Rocking
the same classic style that it’s called its own
since the ‘60s, this bike gives a nod to the past
while still being equipped with all of the mod-
ern technology that makes it a true standout.
The affordable price point, starting at $9,799,
is almost as exhilarating as the ride.

2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700

2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700

Who’s ready to get dirty? The Yamaha Ténéré 700 is a perfectly fine bike to ride on pavement, but keep-
ing it on the road would be like keeping a tiger in a cage. This bike shows its true stripes when in the dirt,
thanks to a highly adjustable suspension and spoked wheels mounting 21-inch front and 18-inch back
tires. The triple-disc brakes are outfitted with a selectable ABS, allowing riders to switch it off when they
want to get wild.
 ANYTHING BUT

Ordinary
THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS HAS RETURNED WITH HIS FIRST SOLO ALBUM
IN A DECADE, "ORDINARY MAN." WE SPOKE WITH OZZY ABOUT THE ALBUM,
THE MYTHS SURROUNDING HIM, HIS LEGACY AND MUCH MORE.
by charlie connell photos by ross halfin
To suggest that Ozzy Osbourne has led an “ordinary” life is one of Backed by a star-studded band featuring Duff McKagan (Guns N’
the most patently ludicrous statements ever made. More than five Roses), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Andrew Watt
decades since Black Sabbath’s debut, Osbourne is considered pulling double duty as producer and guitarist for much of the album,
a heavy metal god. He is one of the very few celebrities who is “Ordinary Man” certainly doesn’t sound like the work of a 71-year-
immediately recognizable by first name alone, and his exploits, both old. Osbourne’s voice is as strong and other-worldly as it was 50
on stage and off, are legendary. From micturating upon The Alamo to years ago on Black Sabbath’s debut album.
biting the heads off of various winged creatures, there is no way to
separate fact from fiction when it comes to the singer. How much of It was an innovative collaboration with Post Malone that led
what we’ve heard about The Prince of Darkness really happened? Osbourne to create the album, and it is another unlikely collaboration
on the album’s title track that gives us one of the record’s defining
“There are so many good stories,” Osbourne laughs. “They’re all true. moments.
I’m not proud of it, but I’ve done some fucking stupid crazy things.
But I can’t complain, I’m 71 and about to have a No. 1 album, you “When I wrote ‘Ordinary Man’ it reminded me so much of an Elton
know?” John song,” Osbourne says. “We’ve been friendly with him for a long
time. I said to Sharon that it would be so cool if we could get Elton
That, in and of itself, is far from ordinary. Many of Osbourne’s to put something on it and she said, ‘Well, ask him.’ And he agreed.
contemporaries retired from the music business a long time ago. Of He’s such a genuinely great man, he’s the most generous man I’ve
those still carrying on, many are simply touring on the strength of ever met.”
their hits from a couple of decades ago. There are practically zero
septuagenarian rockers jumping into the studio, with the exception of It would be one thing for Osbourne to simply record an album after
Osbourne, that is. all this time, but it’s incredibly rare for an artist to create something
that still sounds contemporary five decades into the game. This
It had been almost a decade since Osbourne recorded an album, certainly wasn’t how Osbourne saw his career panning out back in
leaving many fans to believe that he was easing into retirement like 1970.
so many of his peers. Then a chance encounter with a friend of his
daughter Kelly got the ball rolling. “I didn’t think I’d be fucking breathing for 50 years,” Osbourne says.
“By all rights I should have been dead by the time I was fucking 30
“My daughter said to me, ‘Would you think about doing anything with with all of the shit that I put through my body. I remember thinking
Post Malone?’” Osbourne says. “I said, ‘Who is Post Malone?’ Then when that first Sabbath album came out, ‘Oh, this’ll be good for a
I met him and we did the thing, and it was great.” couple of years.’ Fifty years on the road, it’s just amazing.”

The unlikely duo recorded a pair of songs together, “It’s a Raid” and The times have changed greatly since Osbourne first started
“Take What You Want,” the latter song also featuring Travis Scott. recording, particularly in regards to tattoos. In the metal genre,
Recording the two songs lit a fire under the ass of Osbourne. It musicians are almost expected to have tattoos. It wasn’t always that
wasn’t long before he had an album’s worth of lyrics ready to go. way, and much like how he was a pioneer of metal music, Osbourne
was one of the first rock stars frequently showing off a tattoo
This burst of creativity couldn’t have come at a better time for collection. It all started with those iconic knuckle tattoos—OZZY.
Osbourne. As he struggled to deal with the physical effects of both
Parkinson’s disease and the consequences of a nasty fall that further “I did those when I was about 15 years old and my father kicked my
injured his neck and back, Osbourne was also grappling with his ass,” Osbourne says. “I did it myself with India ink and a needle. The
own mind. “I was feeling really dull after the accident,” Osbourne two Zs don’t quite line up, one is smaller than the other. I spent a
says. “I was down in the dumps, I haven’t been able to walk properly short time in prison where I learned the art of tattooing. I’m not really
for a year. But recording the album really brought me back to life.” good at it. [laughs]”

That life, that vitality, can be heard right from the beginning of “Straight Prior to the release of “Ordinary Man,” 50 different tattoo shops
to Hell,” the album’s opening track. A choir sings out, setting an around the world hosted a listening party. Legions of fans showed
almost angelic tone, only to have an absolute earworm of a riff rip up to get tattoos inspired by the metal icon, and more than a few
things apart, right before Osbourne’s iconic voice wails, “Alright, showed up with “Ozzy” knuckle tattoos of their own. Even after years
now!” The album catches a full head of steam within the first 15 of seeing tattoos dedicated to him and his music, Osbourne still isn’t
seconds and continues to barrel along at breakneck speed for the quite used to it.
next 50 minutes. “Ordinary Man” is arguably the most complete solo
album Osbourne has released since 1991’s “No More Tears.” “I’ve seen some fantastic tattoo work with pictures of me,” Osbourne

48 | INKEDMAG.COM
says. “Some of them are so fucking well done. I’m a Beatles fan,
but I wouldn’t have John, Paul, George and Ringo tattooed on my
arm.”

Whenever fans come up to Osbourne requesting an autograph on

a body part instead of an album or poster, he knows exactly what’s
going to happen—a tattoo. “I’m a bit reluctant because I think one
day you’re going to wake up, and your wife’s gonna ask, “What’s
that fucking thing say on your arm?’” Osbourne says. “You’re going
to have to explain that it’s Ozzy Osbourne’s name and she’ll go,
‘You have fucking Ozzy Osbourne’s name tattooed on your arm?’
[laughs] On one hand, I’m very honored. On the other I’m thinking
that one day you’re going to go, ‘Why the fuck did I do that?’”

Given his reputation, it comes as a surprise how much

consideration Osbourne has put into his own tattoo decisions.
“I think when you have a tattoo you have to really think about it,”
Osbourne says. “I have a few that when I look at them I say, ‘What
the fuck was I doing?’ You can’t change your mind, you can’t say,
‘I want a different fucking message on it now.’ It’s why you should
never get your girlfriend’s name tattooed on you.”

Osbourne does have a woman’s name tattooed on him—Sharon.

But don’t think this makes him hypocritical in his tattoo beliefs.
“Yeah, but I’ve been with her for 40 years,” Osbourne quips. “I’ve
got no plans to go anywhere else.”

This past year has been a particularly rough one for Osbourne,
most notably because he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
In January the singer first opened up about what he was going
through. “I’m not really good at keeping secrets,” Osbourne says.
“I’d let a few people know, then the press caught a rumor going
around that I was dying. So I thought, stop the bullshit, come
clean.”

The outpouring of support since doing so has been overwhelming,

lifting Osbourne’s spirits during the time that he was forced to
postpone his world tour. Ever resilient, Osbourne is hoping to get
back on the road. “The thing is, I need to be 100 percent sure that
my body is up for it,” Osbourne says. “If I have to postpone it again,
or cancel it, people are going to think that I’ve fucking lost it. I want
to make sure that when I go out there I can stay out there.”

Sitting in a studio is certainly no substitute for standing on stage

in an arena listening to thousands of fans chanting your name, but
that doesn’t mean it can’t be comforting. “Ordinary Man” hadn’t
even hit record stores before Osbourne started working on a
follow-up album.

There is nothing ordinary about Ozzy Osbourne, and there

likely never was. He’s led an extraordinary life filled with enough
adventure (and misadventure) for two or three lifetimes. At 71,
Osbourne has earned the right to sit back, relax and enjoy a
pleasant retirement. But that wouldn’t suit him one bit.

“When I retire,” Osbourne says, “you’ll know it by hearing the

sound of soil being dropped on a box.”

JULY 2020 | 51
THE WILL OF A
CHAMPION
UFC FIGHTER MEGAN ANDERSON PULLS
BACK THE CURTAIN TO REVEAL HOW
MUCH INTENSE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL
PREPARATION IS NEEDED TO SUCCEED
IN THE OCTAGON.

words by charlie connell photos by bo flores

JULY 2020 | 53
 The life of a fighter is not an easy one. Mixed martial arts fighters
spend months carefully regulating every aspect of their lives to
make sure they’ll make weight. They put themselves through rigor-
ous training sessions to maintain their stamina and train their mind
so that once they get in the octagon instinct will take over. After
all this work, even the most talented fighter still ends up getting
pummeled on their way to victory. To a layperson, it sounds quite
painful. Yet, for Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight
contender Megan Anderson, that pain is nothing compared to
going under the needle.

“Getting tattooed is way worse. One hundred percent,” Anderson

says with a laugh. “The only thing I’ve had in my fights is a broken
nose and I’ve broken my hand, but I didn’t realize they were broken
until after the fight. Even then it wasn’t too bad. It is, for sure, way
worse getting tattooed than any fight that I’ve ever been in.”

It probably helps that, more often than not, at the end of the fight
the referee is holding Anderson’s arm in the air. Before coming
to the UFC in June 2018, she was the Invicta FC Undisputed
Featherweight Champion. Anderson has compiled a professional
record of 11-4 with nine of those victories coming via knockout or
submission.

The Gold Coast, Australia, native didn’t grow up dreaming about

having a career in mixed martial arts. In fact, she barely knew that
such a thing would even be possible. Megan wasn’t even the most
athletic Anderson child at the time. “I was really unathletic growing
up,” she says. “I played the piano and cello from 4 until 15. My
brother was the athletic one, he played rugby growing up. It’s kind
of funny how now our roles have reversed and I’m the athletic one
in the family.”

It wasn’t until her 20s that Anderson started training for the sport
after a chance meeting while taking in the fights. “I would always
watch boxing fights, so I went and picked up tickets to a local
MMA show,” Anderson explains. “I got to talking to this guy and he
was a coach. He asked, ‘Oh, do you train? Come in and have a try,
see if you like it.’ So I did and that’s pretty much it.”

Prior to starting training, Anderson knew she was a competitive

person, but once she got in the gym that side of her personal-
ity flourished. As she first got a couple of fights under her belt,
Anderson kept working full time in admin and data entry jobs. It
wasn’t until she got a call from Invicta Fighting Championships
that she started to consider the prospect of a career in MMA.

Changing careers often means changing locations, and for

Anderson it meant the culture shock that comes from leaving the
Gold Coast for Kansas City, Missouri. “I went from the beaches
of Gold Coast to the middle of the Midwest. Not the most logical
move,” Anderson laughs. “It was because my management at
the time also managed my coach, James Krause, who also fights
in the UFC. That’s how I got connected to my gym and came to
Kansas City.”

Anderson’s Invicta career got off to an inauspicious start, as she

lost her first fight by submission. It would serve to be a learning
experience, as she then rattled off four straight victories, eventu-
ally claiming the Featherweight Championship. It was at this point
that she made the move to the UFC, which provided a whole new
set of challenges. It was here that she worked on not only training
her body, but also her mind.

“When you get to the UFC level, everyone is good at everything,”

Anderson says. “Everyone has great cardio, everyone is really

54 | INKEDMAG.COM
good at striking. Everyone has really good wrestling. Everyone has
really good jujitsu.
“It really comes down to the mentality,” Anderson continues. “I
think that’s what sets people apart, being mentally prepared and
being able to rise to the occasion. If you fight somebody who has
a willingness to win and the drive to win and their mentality to be
the best is stronger than yours, nine times out of 10, they’re going
to win.”

Anderson credits a specific part of her training for developing her

mental game—fighting against three different types of opponents.
By training against opponents that are less skilled, a fighter can
work on implementing what they’ve learned in a live session and
gain confidence while knowing they’re going to win. Training
against an equally matched opponent allows a fighter to feel what
it’s like to really grind to obtain victory. Lastly, training against a
better opponent lets a fighter know what it’s like to have their ass
kicked, while teaching them how to rise through it.

“You need to have the balance of being able to win in the gym,”
Anderson explains. “But you also need the balance of not being
the better fighter when you’re trying to improve and trying to get
better. That’s a really big part of it.”

Keenly aware that eventually the physical and mental stresses that
come along with MMA training will take their toll, Anderson has
been setting herself up for a career outside of the octagon. She
has a popular YouTube channel where she breaks down fights,
showing that she has the potential to become an analyst.

“I’m realistic in knowing that you can’t fight forever, and I don’t
want to be fighting forever,” Anderson says. “In May, it will be
seven years. Which is still relatively young in terms of the sport,
but it’s not just about the years. It’s about the miles on your body.
[Fighting] is very physically demanding on the body. I don’t want
to get to a point, like some other fighters have, where people are
calling on me to retire. I want to leave on my own terms.”

When she’s not honing her skills for a second career, and despite
the pain it causes her, Anderson spends a lot of time adding to
her tattoo collection. Ever since she first started getting tattooed,
she’s been attracted to black-and-grey, and with the exception of
a tiny speck of blue behind her ear, her entire collection is devoid
of color.

At first, Anderson is uncertain if there are any stories behind her

tattoos. Then, as she opens up while discussing them, it becomes
clear that there might not be one one story behind an individual
piece, but when taken as a whole, her collection reveals a lot
about her personality and beliefs.

“On my right arm, I have the Gates of Heaven and I believe—this is

going to get real deep here,” Anderson pauses before continuing.
“I believe that people are inherently good when we’re born, but
circumstances make us defer from that, so we fall from Heaven.
On my other sleeve I have the Gates of Hell, with Hell hounds and
a warrior that’s guarding the gates. I believe that we also have the
ability to be good again. So I have an archangel on my bicep that
is fighting to get the demons back into Hell.”

One can’t help but see a parallel here between Anderson’s revela-
tory tattoo and her ethos toward her sport. Even when you’ve been
beat down, even when circumstances are against you, an iron will
combined with mental toughness are the key tools you’ll need to
succeed. This outlook has carried her from doing data entry to the
top ranks of the UFC. Wait to see where it takes her next.
 STREET SMARTS
HOW CHEF ROY CHOI COOKED UP THE WORLD’S FOOD
TRUCK OBSESSION.
by devon preston photos by troy conrad
 inked profile

It’s 1 p.m. and you’re strolling through the streets of Los In culinary school, Choi experienced a huge change, going
Angeles. The sun is caressing the top of your head and there’s from the kid who goofed off in the back of the class to the stu-
a gentle wind at your back. The only item on your agenda is dent at the front of the room with his hand up. He finally found
finding something to fill your belly and you come across a something he excelled at and was motivated to be the best
cluster of food trucks. One of these trucks is Kogi BBQ, the he could be. Wearing a suit in a law office was never going to
pinnacle of Los Angeles’ food truck movement, which serves click for Choi. “When the knife hit my hand and I put on the
up a menu of Mexican and Korean fusion. While the combi- chef’s coat,” he says, “I felt like something had interlocked and
nation may sound strange on the page, owner Roy Choi (who come together.”
you may recognize as the cohost of Netflix’s “The Chef Show”
with Jon Favreau) has found harmony between these two After culinary school, Choi hit the ground running as a hotel
countries’ cuisines. “When the jalapeno meets the soy sauce, chef cooking for everyday men and women. Despite the job
the rice vinegar meets the lime, the cilantro meets the sesame not being as sophisticated and sexy as that of a fine dining
leaf, the ginger meets the garlic—it’s a magic potion and it’s chef, he attributes his time as a hotel chef to building up his
like it was meant to be,” Choi says. “It’s the food of hardwork- muscle memory and shaping his outlook on life. “Being the
ing cultures and, in many cases, countries that lived directly bricklayer is not romanticized, but for me, that was the most
off the land.” influential part of my cooking career because I found out how
to cook for people universally,” Choi says. “It’s not just about
Choi was born into a hardworking Korean immigrant family Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m., doing my
and grew up in his family’s restaurant. Hustle was instilled into own artistic viewpoint of the world and thinking I’m a genius. It
him at an early age, and only later in life did he realize that this was, ‘What do you want?’ It’s important to be engaged in that
was his first taste of entrepreneurship. “Most of us come to moment with the people right in front of you and what’s not
this country with no money, no connections, no trust funds, cool.” Going against the grain of what was on trend, Choi cre-
and there’s nothing being handed down to us,” Choi explains. ated Kogi as a food truck and his time as a hotel chef helped
“We had to figure out life between the creases, and where not him to understand how to feed hungry people quickly.
many other people are going, that’s where we as immigrant
families went. It wasn’t defined as entrepreneurship growing While food trucks have earned acclaim in both the culinary
up because this was just a way of life.” and mainstream world today, Choi recounts a very different
world when he started Kogi. “In popular American culture,
Despite growing up in his family’s restaurant, he never wanted food trucks were looked at as dirty and they were called roach
to become a chef as a kid or even a teenager. However, from coaches,” Choi explains. “You were told that if you ate there
a young age, he had a passion for food. “Even in high school, you were going to get diarrhea. But it’s not that people who
all of my jobs were in restaurants and all of my interests, even viewed street food that way are necessarily bad people, they
before I had a culinary mind, were about searching for the were just never exposed to it and they only saw it from their
best banana milkshake,” Choi says. “My whole day would be car with their windows up.”
getting stoned and then going to try three banana milkshakes
from different places all throughout the city. I was very par- Choi put everything he had into starting what would become
ticular with everything, from movie popcorn to sandwiches to the food truck revolution and used social media to get the
Taco Bell sauce packets. It was all there, it just took me a long word out about Kogi. “With Twitter, our food and the fact that
time to figure it out.” we were all the children of immigrants, we created a bridge
and a dialogue for people to look at food trucks differently,”
In his early 20s, Choi struggled to find his passion and ended Choi says. “Through that and our own survival, we were
up attending law school at Western State University, later somehow able to affect culture. Instead of hearing things like
dropping out after one semester. His decision to pursue culi- ‘roach coaches’ and ‘you’ll get diarrhea,’ you heard things like
nary school came at a low point in his life, when there weren’t ‘gourmet’ and ‘food truck movement,’ and you saw food trucks
other options available. “I didn’t really have an ’aha’ moment at Golden Globe and Oscar parties. But it also opened up a
that made me decide to become a chef, I hit rock bottom,” dialogue for us to be a little more human with each other, and
Choi shares. “By being punched in the face with life, my own I’m really proud of that.”
addictions and my own struggles, I was at the end of a very
dark spiral of gambling and drinking from, like, 21 to 25.” One Next time you stop at a food truck for a taco, a slice of pizza
day, Choi woke up in the middle of the day on his couch and or a hot dog, take a second to think about how amazing it is to
“Emeril Live” was on TV and at that moment, he realized he get food that’s delicious, fairly priced and convenient. There
was meant to become a chef. “I’d done everything I could to are countless entrepreneurs out there whose end goal is to
run away from who I truly was and this is the moment when life put as much money as possible into their own pocket. But for
looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Listen, the door is open but Roy Choi, his mission is to feed the people—both rich and
it’s closing,’” Choi says. “And I finally listened.” poor, tattooed or not. And that’s the kind of spirit we should all
be hungry for.
inked profile

At the age of 4, Danny Schneider discovered his Schneider explains. “I didn’t do it to get pity, but to
love for biking and learned to ride on a PW50 dirt help other people who’ve been diagnosed or have a
bike in his backyard in Switzerland. At 16, he began family member who’s going through chemo. People
competing in local motocross competitions and was asked me thousands of questions and I encour-
inspired to pursue freestyle motocross after seeing aged so many people, which I think gave me a good
Brian Deegan in “Crusty Demons: A Decade of Dirt,” mindset to have a good chemotherapy.” Not only
making the most out of his professional career for five did Schneider interact with others who were going
years. through similar struggles while he was in the hospital,
he also took the time to give back, setting up a fund-
“Then I broke my ankle in 18 places,” Schneider says. raiser to auction off his fellow bikers’ jerseys, outfits
“That was career-ending and a major turning point in and helmets to raise €5,000 for the Kids Cancer
my life. You’re a superstar, a rockstar, make tons of League in Switzerland. “Instead of staying in the
money and ride shows all over Europe. Then from one hospital crying, I could make something good out of
day to the next you lose all your sponsors, fans and my situation.”
fame.” Instead of letting his accident crush his spirit,
like it did his ankle, Schneider took the experience The most difficult part of Schneider’s treatment was
as an opportunity to pursue a new passion. “At the the time it took away from two of his passions: bike
beginning, I was bummed but I didn’t want to quit riding and building. “I wasn’t able to ride from August
riding,” Schneider explains. “Instead, I started build- to November of 2019 because the chemo makes you
ing bikes and decided to take a Harley and make it lose a lot of focus and balance,” Schneider says.
rideable as a street bike.” “After the first chemo session, I went back on my bike
for a little bit because it was good for my head and
Schneider realized that his new calling was to create I had to go out.” In addition to a temporary loss of
custom bikes and to show the world the versatility of focus, balance, eyesight and hearing from the chemo,
a Harley-Davidson. “People will say, ‘Oh, you can’t Schneider struggled to get back into bike building
ride fast on a Harley. Harleys are for old people,’” because his hands were swollen and in pain. “If you
Schneider says. “But if you have the right setup on it, build bikes, you have to unlock and tighten screws
you can ride really well, go fast and have a lot of fun. and bolts,” Schneider says. “I couldn’t even open
You can get a Harley and if you set it up right with a bottle of Coke. It was tough for me that I couldn’t
suspension and tires, it will ride like a sports bike but work because I love to work and I couldn’t do it.”
it’s still a Harley.”
Despite the pain that impacted nearly every aspect
Schneider’s main objective, aside from creating of his life, Schneider wanted to live—not just for
fast and functioning bikes, is originality. He doesn’t himself or his girlfriend, but for his daughter Charlie.
believe in creating a bike twice, even if the customer Schneider’s daughter, who was only an infant at the
is willing to shell out big bucks for it. “The custom time, helped him find a positive outlook on life and
bikes I make are one-of-a-kind and the only one in changed not only the way he saw cancer, but his
existence,” Schneider says. “Even though it would mindset on riding. “My riding was the same after the
be easier to follow a build, I would rather put myself accident,” Schneider says. “If you race, you have it in
into a situation where I have to find something new your blood to want to be the fastest. What changed
and push myself to build a better bike than the one my riding was the birth of my daughter Charlie.” Now,
before.” Schneider says that he’s much more cautious when
he’s on his bike and while he still goes fast, there’s
The accident that marked the end of his motocross been a big change in the way he rides since becom-
career was far from the biggest obstacle he’d have ing a dad.
to overcome, as life would soon take him on an
unfamiliar and frightening path. “I got diagnosed in Schneider’s life has been defined by the struggles
2018 with testicular cancer and had an operation,” he’s had to overcome, from his accident to his fight
Schneider says. “Then after that, all of the tumor with cancer, but the biggest impact came from the
markers were good for a year, but after a year the birth of his daughter. Although Schneider’s career
cancer came back with another tumor in my back. was rocked by the end of his motocross legacy and
Within three days, I was in chemo and on a high dose his body took a hit when he spent three months going
for three months.” Upon being diagnosed, Schneider through chemotherapy, nothing compares to the light
was approached by many people who wanted his daughter has brought into his life. “I never wanted
to scare him with the dangerous side effects of kids, to be honest, and a lot of people think that
chemo—such as tooth and hair loss. However, draw- having a kid means their life will be over,” Schneider
ing from everything he learned after his motocross admits. “But your life will gain so much in love and
accident, he chose to promote positivity throughout in meaning. I still go riding and work at the shop 10
his treatment. hours a day, I just take her with me. She made the
biggest impact in my life and helped me to process,
“I wanted to have my own experience and I docu- fight and heal from cancer, all while making me super
mented my whole chemo treatment on social media,” happy.”
ALONG FOR THE RIDE
FORMER FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS RIDER TURNED BIKE
BUILDER DANNY SCHNEIDER OPENS UP ABOUT MAKING
THE MOST OF WHERE LIFE TAKES YOU.
by devon preston photos by tino scherer
 THREE'S COMPANY
CHEAT CODES BREAK DOWN HOW THEY CAME
TOGETHER, COLLABORATING WITH DEMI LOVATO AND
LATE NIGHT TATTOOS.
by devon preston photos by peter roessler
|
 inked profile

Every band has their story of how they came together. DJ trio Kris Kross Amsterdam. Then, in 2017, Cheat
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger grew up together in Codes found broader success when they teamed up
Kent, meeting as teenagers to form The Rolling Stones. with Demi Lovato for their single “No Promises.” “We
Ozzy Osbourne caught the attention of his Black were working on that song with Lauv and Loote and as
Sabbath bandmates after putting out a local ad reading, soon as we heard it, we thought it would be perfect for
“OZZY ZIG Needs Gig.” The founding of Cheat Codes, Demi,” Dahl says. “Luckily, when we sent it over to her
on the other hand, began with a laundry room. “On team, she loved it. It’s kind of crazy that we manifested
January 4th, 2012, I moved to Los Angeles and didn’t that in our heads and it came together. At the time, for
know anyone. Through mutual friends, I found myself at her to take a chance on us was a really big leap of faith
a Denny’s and Trevor [Dahl] walked in with that exact on her part.”
yellow beanie,” says Matt Russell, one of the three DJs
of Cheat Codes. “I was like, ‘Hey, I remember you. We These singles helped put Cheat Codes on the map as
played a show together when I was 18 years old at this an electronic band to watch and allowed them to travel
pizza place in St. Louis.’ A couple of months later, he the world. Touring has been a big part of Russell, Dahl
needed a roommate and I wanted to save some money, and Kevi’s lives for the past several years and they’ve
so I told him that we had an empty laundry room and been on plenty of unusual adventures. “We’ve done
we’d only charge him $200-300 bucks a month.” some pretty bizarre stuff and it feels like an alternate
reality sometimes. But we’re lucky to do what we
“It was actually my idea,” Dahl refutes. “I said that no do,” Dahl says. “One time, we ordered more than 50
one was living in that laundry room and I could pay Moscow mules to our hotel room in Sweden. I got an
$300 a month, I’ll turn it into a studio.” After living elephant tattoo and it turned out great, even though the
together for a few years and making music on their own, artist was wasted too.”
Dahl met Kevin Ford, who goes by KEVI professionally,
and it didn’t take long for the trio to start making music Dahl wasn’t the only member of Cheat Codes who got
together. “I called up Matt and was like, ‘You’ve gotta tattooed that night, as both Russell and Kevi have their
meet this guy Kevi, he’s going to be my best friend and own stories from Sweden. “I got this big cross [points
he’s crazy,’” Dahl laughs. “So we all met up together to chest] right here and I remember looking in the mirror
in L.A. and decided to make a song, then see what and hating it,” Kevi laughs. Russell got an Om symbol
happens. We got in the studio and the first day we ever on the back of his neck, which he admits he “can’t even
wrote together we made a song called ‘Visions,’ which see, but hope it looks good.”
we put out as our first song as Cheat Codes.”
After spending months on tour, Cheat Codes decided
The trio had instant musical compatibility and despite to change things up and settled down for a little while
it being the first time working together, they were able to work on a brand new project. “We’re working on our
to find harmony from the jump. “We’ve all collaborated first album,” Dahl says with excitement. “Before this,
and worked with different types of people, whether we’ve only done singles and two EPs. This will be our
it’s writers, singers or instrumentalists,” Dahl explains. first time making a big body of work that feels cohesive.
“Sometimes you just get along with people and you It’s been a challenge, but it’s also been fun and different
create without any barriers slowing you down. It just for us.”
kind of happened without having to force it.”
In January 2020, they sat down for a few weeks and
They were able to find success working together recorded as many sessions as possible in the studio.
because, as Russell explains, they each brought “We had like 40 song ideas and slowly started picking
something unique and important to the group. “Trevor our favorites, letting our least favorites fall to the
has more of an eye for detail and I’m more big picture,” bottom,” Dahl explains. “It’s the next step in the Cheat
he says. “Kevi has a different perspective than Trevor Codes sound. It definitely sounds like us, but we’re
and I because he grew up in L.A. and has been around adding more hip-hop and less drops. It’s a bit less
creative people his whole life. He’s the most trendy one dancey and more Cheat Codes as artists, as opposed
and knows what’s about to happen that nobody knows to Cheat Codes as DJs.”
about. I’m from St. Louis and we always get shit last, so
I need that in my life.” With more music, more shows and more tattoos ahead
of them, this is only the beginning of Cheat Codes’
The group were able to gain momentum because of journey. And while we don’t know the nitty gritty details
their collaborative projects, beginning with their 2016 of their new album or who they’ll be collaborating with
single “Sex,” which was created alongside Dutch next, we can’t wait to tune in.
torn
b to r
t
q
y
t

skate
q
y u

s
q
t
r
Ny
NYJAH HUSTON HAS BEEN WINNING
COMPETITIONS SINCE HE WAS 10, AND
AFTER 15 YEARS OF GRINDING, HE SHOWS
NO SIGNS OF STOPPING.
by charlie connell photos by jsquared photography
JULY 2020 | 63
 After watching Nyjah Huston rip through a street course, pulling alone, he would make Mr. T look like a pauper.
off incredibly difficult tricks one after the other with considerable
ease, one might exclaim, “Damn, he must have been born riding Huston’s tattoo story begins in the same place where his career
a skateboard.” took off, although, thankfully, at a different time. The year was
2013 and Huston was in Florida for the Tampa Pro contest.
No one actually believes that a baby will come directly out of They were doing tattoos, little bangers, outside in the parking
the womb ready to kickflip frontside 5050 through the maternity lot. His friend Chase was going to get one and he was looking
ward. Yet, when talking about Huston, the truth really isn’t that for someone to join him.
far from the fantastical. He got his first board—a Tony Hawk
board, a precursor of what was to come—at the age of 4. By 5 “At first I was like, ‘God, no man, that sounds crazy,’” Huston
he was standing and starting to do ollies. At 8, Huston appeared laughs. “I wasn't ready for that and I don't even know if I ever
to be progressing in the sport at an astonishing rate. Then, at wanted one. And then he kept talking to me about it and then
the age of 10, he entered the 2005 Tampa Am. eventually I was like, ‘Fuck it. I’m down.’ And then I went outside
and I got it.”
“Everyone else out there was twice my age and twice my size,”
Huston recalls. “I wouldn't say [I was] scared. I would say more Huston had the classic Thrasher “Skate and Destroy” logo inked
so just intimidated, you know? And yeah, I guess it was a little onto his forearm. Within seconds of having the tattoo wrapped
scary to be out there on the course, especially a contest like up, Huston had to go back in and skate. We forgot to mention
Tampa. Anyone who knows it knows it's ruthless. It's like a that the contest hadn’t even started yet. “It was basically right
hundred people on the course at the same time. So I'm out before,” Huston says. “I can’t remember [how I did], I probably
there, like, trying not to get run over and shit.” got top three or something.” Huston and his brand new tattoo
finished second.
Huston didn’t get run over. He didn’t get intimidated by the
competition. He won the whole damn thing. It would have been Over the years, that first impulsive decision has been
an unbelievable achievement for a 10-year-old kid to simply surrounded by some truly impressive black-and-grey work by a
finish the contest in the middle of the pack—finishing first handful of artists. His collection includes tattoos from Thomas
was astounding. It was the first major step in what has been a Hooper, Paul Timman, Sam Dusenberry, Daniel Silva and more.
record-setting career.
One of the earlier additions to his collection—a portrait tattoo
A year later, with his amateur status cast aside, Huston on his chest—eventually became his first experience with laser
was competing as a pro. “That was the part that was really removal and a cover-up. Portraits get covered up all the time,
intimidating because I was out there skating with the people I but this one was a little tricky. It was a portrait of his mom.
looked up to ever since I started skating,” Huston says. “I mean,
P-Rod [Paul Rodriguez], Chris Hall, [Andrew] Reynolds, all “Obviously I love my mom so much and she's the best ever, but
those legends. It was weird to be out there so young skating I didn’t like the way it was,” Huston explains. “It was too light-
with them, but it was awesome.” colored for that area, and I wanted my chest to be darker. I'd
gotten some other stuff on the other side—a clock, a flower and
As strange as it may sound, especially considering that he was shit. After a couple of years, I was just like, ‘Damn, I fucking hate
still just a child, Huston was fully prepared to seize his moment. to do this over my mom's tattoo.’”
Huston grew up in a fairly strict environment, so one might make
the assumption that skating was his act of rebellion. In reality, it Huston pressed on. After four incredibly painful laser sessions,
was the opposite. His father treated skating like most parents he had the side of his chest redone. Perhaps he should have
treat clarinet lessons. healed up a little more first, the sessions were excruciating
because of the damage already done to the skin. In the end, he
“My dad was always on my ass about skating all the time, taking was very happy with his decision. But, more importantly, what
it really seriously all the time,” Huston remembers. “[He didn’t] did mom think?
really like seeing me have fun, skating with kids and stuff. [At
times] I did just want to be a normal kid and have friends and “She was laughing,” Huston says. “My mom's so chill about
have fun and shit. everything. She didn't mind. Oh, by the time I even showed her,
I had already gotten a new tattoo for my mom. So it's all good.
“But I can't hate on it now,” Huston continues. “I think that's She's still there.”
what got me to where I’m at now. At the time, I was bummed
that I couldn't go to school and do normal kid things, but now Laser removal is not something that Huston wants to undergo
that I look back on it, I'm thankful for the way I was raised.” again, and with that in mind he has been diligent about his
tattoo decisions. Even when he’s hanging out at the shop after a
All of the hard work and dedication clearly paid off. At only 25, couple of adult beverages. That’s not to say he won’t get some
Huston has won more money skating than any other pro. If he silly tattoos, he’s just found a spot to contain them.
were to attempt to wear all of his gold medals from the X-Games

64 | INKEDMAG.COM
 t

y
 y

t
“That’s what I’ve done with my left leg,” Huston explains. “There's The work it takes to get to the top is hard, but Huston’s competitive
like a couple random emojis on there, drawings from a couple drive is still burning strong. He hopes to be skating competitively
homies. Honestly, just a bunch of random shit. Seriously, I love the until at least the age of 30, and when he eventually does put
way it turned out. I really wouldn't change anything about it.” competitions behind him, skating will still be a major part of his life.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Huston still has one major
When he is passionate about something, Huston doesn’t half-ass accomplishment in his sights—an Olympic gold medal.
things. This is as clear in his skating as it is in his tattoo collection.
Anybody can get a quick banger tattooed on their arm, but sitting The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (which will be taking place in
for 20 hours while Thomas Hooper goes to town on your neck 2021 due to the coronavirus, but the event is keeping its 2020
takes some serious dedication. name) will see the debut of skateboarding as an Olympic sport.
Huston will be there with Team USA.
The first two days took place in Austin, Texas, and then Hooper flew
out to L.A. to finish the job. The neck is such a vulnerable part of “It’s wild to see skateboarding get in there,” Huston says. “I think it's
the body to have tattooed, and Huston understood how important it good for the growth of skateboarding and good for the Olympics. I
was to be working with an artist who really knows what he is doing. feel like they needed some new talent and some new vibes in there.
It’s obviously a way bigger stage with way more people watching it.
“It was a mission,” Huston says. “That's one of the hardest things to There’s a lot more on the line. So I’m going to be going for it, that's
do about committing to something like that. It's knowing, ‘Damn, I for sure.”
know I'm going to be hyped on this after, but I really have to sit here
for 20 hours and go through this shit.’ Just that thought of, ‘I have to Ripping up a street course filled with adults twice his size wasn’t
be in pain for this long.’” a problem for Huston when he was a child, so skating in front of
the watchful eyes of the entire planet should be a piece of cake. If
In the end, it was all worth it. Just like all of the years he spent history is to be any indicator, Huston will be adding another medal
working hard on his skating and missing out on goofing around with to his collection. It’s what he was born to do.
his friends. The dedication paid off.
photos by tara lei photography
 $
74 | INKEDMAG.COM
uicid
deboy
How $crim and Ruby da Cherry came together and took
charge of hip-hop’s underground
by devon preston
photos by muhammad elarbi
$
At 24 and 25, New Orleans based cousins Aristos Petrou and Scott picked one of the songs and told him that I wanted to do a video for it.”
Arceneaux Jr. made a pact to allot the next five years of their lives to From this video, Petrou and Arcenaux began leaning on each other for
making it in the music industry. If they failed, the consequences were their solo music, but after a few months they decided to come together
steep. “We decided to give this ‘til we were 30 and if we didn’t make on a song. “He made this beat that I really liked and he really liked, so
it by 30, we’d fucking kill ourselves,” Petrou, who’s now known to the we both hopped on it,” Petrou shares. “After making that song, we
world as Ruby da Cherry, says. “This is all we wanted to do and if we were both blown away by how well we worked together and how well
couldn’t do it, we didn’t see a point in living.” the song came out with us both doing a verse. So we decided to fuck
doing shit solo and started doing this together.”
The duo cultivated a passion for music at a young age, with Petrou
playing in punk bands from 12 onward and Arcenaux beginning to When they came together as artists and made the pact, both Petrou
produce beats at 19. Neither had an initial intent to pursue hip-hop, but and Arcenaux were struggling financially and didn’t have many options.
after reconnecting as adults, the pair began rapping together in their “I had no job because I’d gotten fired for my tattoos and was a heroin
spare time. “Around 2013, we linked up and I got this DSLR Canon addict who never wanted to go back to working the 9-to-5,” Arcenaux,
P3I as a present for graduating college, and I wanted to start shooting who’s now known as $crim, says. “He was working two shit pizza jobs
and editing to practice,” Petrou says. “I called Scott because he was just to keep the lights on in his house.” With nowhere to go but up,
making solo music just for fun, he was making 30 songs and mixtapes the cousins began their hustle, promoting their music on a local level
every three months and putting them out there for no one to listen to. I by giving out CDs at colleges and on the corner of gas stations. This
old-fashioned method didn’t lead them in the right direction, While some have condemned Suicideboys for their lyrics, fans
which prompted Petrou to find the underground rap scene on from around the world have related to the topics their songs
SoundCloud. “After a year or so of failing, watching people express. “Every story is the same and I get chills talking about
throw [our CD] away, and not really going anywhere, he it now, but these kids are talking about how we saved them
called me up really excited and told me to come over. When from killing themselves or how they’re clean off of drugs,”
I got to his house, he pulled up SoundCloud, which we Arcenaux says. “Kids who are scared to get therapy and
were completely ignorant to how powerful it was,” Arcenaux scared to be stigmatized or, because of the way the system is,
explains. “He showed me a bunch of people who were finding may not be able to afford to go get help—they find that in our
success in the internet rap scene and it was kind of the music.”
missing piece to the puzzle. It showed us everything we were
doing wrong and how the game was changing.” Suicideboys have made a point to share their struggles with
depression and substance abuse in their music, particularly
Petrou and Arcenaux took inspiration from rappers like Bones in their newest project—“Stop Staring at the Shadows.” This
and Yung Lean who’d found success on SoundCloud, as well mixtape came together after the pair took a nine-month hiatus
as OGs like Lil Wayne, and began pumping out tracks to build from making music, during which Arcenaux entered rehab
a presence on the platform. “The way we started by dropping (he’s now been sober for over a year). The project marks a
Suicideboys’ songs was doing the ‘Kill Yourself’ series one change in direction for the group, not only in their sound, but
through 10,” Petrou explains. “Each series had three tracks in their perspective on making an impact on their listeners.
on it and maybe a few bonus tracks.” Suicideboys started “I’ve always been very open about my life in my lyrics and
dropping music in June 2014, releasing one song from the sometimes I was very negative and dark,” Arcenaux says.
EP each week and moving on to a new EP at the beginning of “There’s part of me that actually hates our old music because
each month. of the mindset that I’m in now and it brings me back to that
time. We’ve seen people drop like flies in the past couple
By flooding the site with constant tracks, Suicideboys gained years and I was next in line if my behavior kept up. I know a lot
a following on SoundCloud and in less than a year, had 10 of kids look up to us and we’ve heard a lot of personal stories
EPs under their belt. After the “Kill Yourself” series, the pair from them, so now more than ever it’s very important to give
decided to take their approach in a new direction and in early them something positive to look up to.”
2015 dropped their first mixtape, “Gray/Grey.” They took
a liking to cultivating larger bodies of work, and from there, Through taking ownership of their own struggles, both
dropped another seven mixtapes within a few years. “We just Arcenaux and Petrou have worked to separate their personas
wanted to be in everybody’s face at all times,” Petrou says. “We from their personal lives. The pair created $crim and Ruby da
figured if we weren’t dropping music at this constant rate, Cherry as alter egos, to get people’s attention and help them
somebody else would be and nowadays people’s attention get in the zone. “No matter how real you are in your music,
spans are obviously worse than they've ever been. If you don’t what you’re trying to sell people is your persona.” Arcenaux
stay relevant, don’t stay in people’s faces, and don’t even says. “When I went through therapy, that was a big thing that
switch up your style from time to time, there’s always gonna be I went through with my therapist. I was trying to avoid reality
another dude or another girl that’s coming up.” at all costs within my addiction and all the trauma I’d been
through to the point where my persona actually became a part
Suicideboys found SoundCloud at just the right time, as of me. It was a coping tool for survival and I was introducing
they gained a following when the community was pure and myself as $crim to everyone. When I got sober, I finally started
the mainstream hadn’t caught on to the phenomenon. As introducing myself as Scott again. I remember how shocking
artists like Lil Pump, Lil Peep and XXXTentacion graduated that was and how it felt when I did that.”
the underground and broke into the mainstream, the phrase
“SoundCloud rap” came along with them—which, according Although they are part of their persona and add to the dark
to Petrou, polluted the site with artists. “Back in 2015 and allure of their image, Suicideboys’ tattoos are one hundred
2016, there was this whole community on SoundCloud and percent the real deal. Both discovered a love for tattooing long
it was pretty insane how many artists were on there working before coming together to make music and for Arcenaux his
together,” Petrou says. “It was a beautiful thing, but that’s tattoos are part of the reason he left behind his life working
all over with now. People started saying, ‘Oh my god, all I a 9-to-5 in order to pursue music full force. “When I was
have to do is upload this to SoundCloud and start posting it working at the furniture store and whenever I got some steady
around,’ then the floodgates were opened. I would argue that income, I would get tattooed and I kept pushing it to the point
Suicideboys were one of the last artists to jump through those where I’d gotten sleeves,” Arcenaux says. “Eventually, I got to
gates before they were shut. By the gate closing I mean it my hand and I asked my job, which was super corporate, if I
getting too fucking littered with too many artists and way too could get my hands done. They said no, but me being the little
many comments of self promotion—before it got spammy.” young, dumb, hardhead that I was, I went and got my hands
done anyway—even against the tattoo artist’s advice.” After
Once SoundCloud went mainstream, Suicideboys had more a few weeks trying to hide his forbidden tattoos at work, by
eyes on them than ever before. This led many parents and wearing gloves or covering his hands with makeup, Arcenaux
journalists to clutch their pearls at the group’s image, which was eventually caught red-handed and was fired. Without a
many, including the Suicideboys themselves, would call job taking up his time, Arcenaux and Petrou came together to
controversial. “I do think we’re controversial,” Arcenaux admits. create Suicideboys—and the pair hasn’t looked back since.
“When we started we took inspiration from Riff Raff, who
was so out there, and we wanted to figure out how to grab Getting tattooed has been an integral part of this duo’s
people's attention. If you take it at face value, of course it’s story and without those hand tattoos, who knows where
super controversial. But then you get to know our backstory Suicideboys would be today. We by no means recommend
and understand that we’re talking about real things that have getting tattooed in order to become the next hot rapper. By
happened in our lives. We weren’t rapping to really flaunt now it’s become a cliché, but that act of rebellion helped
anything, we were talking about the hate we had for ourselves cement Suicideboys’ core belief—fuck the establishment and
and it just so happened that’s how our image developed.” what anyone thinks of you.

JULY 2020 | 77
SEWP
TATTOO
FOL L O W: @S EW P

JULY 2020 | 79
Tattooing in the West has long been connected to the dark side.
Macabre imagery—grim reapers, tombstones, skulls, etc.—is
the bread-and-butter of tattoo designs. While a simple skull and
crossbones was good enough for grandpa, today people are looking to
crank the creep factor to the max. Toronto’s Brian Kennedy, also known
as Sewp, can deliver the tattoo your dark hearts have been dreaming
of. His haunting designs have quickly earned him a reputation as a
master of the macabre. We sat down with Kennedy to hear about how
tattooing found him and what he’s dying to tattoo next.

What was your upbringing like and how did it lead you to become a
tattooer? My mom had me when she was 21 in a weird city called
Brampton, Ontario, and she hustled like an absolute queen to give
me a good childhood. I was a shit student because I was constantly
distracted and doodling. I just figured everyone doodled all the time.
Any time I watched a sick movie or heard a new band I liked, I always
felt compelled to draw. It was like something had to get out, and the
only way to do that was to draw. I was diagnosed with ADD as a teen
and given Adderall to curb my tendency to get distracted easily. That
shit turned me into a fucking zombie and my friends and I would usually
pop them like ecstasy when we were bored, so ultimately not a very
bueno situation. Sure, I didn’t get distracted and I got a lot done, but
I got a lot of mediocre shit done. At least off the drugs I was making
art I was proud of, albeit at a slower pace. I worked shit labor jobs all
through my teens and drew all night, for like eight years and into my
20s. Eventually I moved to Toronto for university, dropped out twice
and landed an apprenticeship at a small shop in the East End called
Elevated Ink when I was 24.

How did you create your current style of tattooing and which artists
helped inform that decision? I have a weird issue with the term “style.”
It implies an artist has landed on one consistent way of making art and
will forever be that way. For me, that isn’t the case. Some of my main
artistic influences getting into tattooing were illustrators like Ralph
Steadman, Gerald Scarfe, Mcbess and especially Stephen Gammell—
he’s the dude who illustrated the “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”
books. Apparently those are banned in schools in the UK because of
the illustrations, but we had them in Canada and I would steal them
from the library.

I was also influenced a lot by graffiti artists. At first, I was really into
street art, but quickly I felt like it was the lamest, most pretentious
version of vandalism on the fucking planet. Proper street and train
graff, raw fuck you vandalism is king. Seeing fire extinguisher tags
on designer store fronts gets me fully torqued. Something about the
perfect cocktail of adrenaline rush and creativity really kicked it off
for me and I still catch tags to this day. In my early 20s, I spent a lot of
sleepless nights in the deep Canadian winter painting trains and walls
in -20 degree weather with hand warmers packed under the paint.

What appeals to you about bats, spiders, dark ladies and other macabre
images? I’m really not sure why I’m drawn to subject matter like
that, but I’ve always equated creepy to cool. Something about
sharp and dramatic graphic features in designs always caught my
eye. Nowadays, I’m drawn to a whole range of stylistic approaches,
but within my own work, I like to maintain a consistency while also
allowing myself to experiment.

How do you go about recreating similar images in an original way for

new clients? There are literally millions of reference photos out there
that lend themselves to great tattoo compositions. It’s really a matter
of using the graphic tools to lay out a new approach every time, such
as using heavy black somewhere different, adding pattern work,
incorporating animals, warping, or melting aspects of the design.

What do you hope to tattoo more of in the future? I’m really leaning
into more pattern-based work that dresses the body. Less of a
focus on the imagery within the tattoo and more of a focus on the
body of my client being the artwork.

What else should our readers know about you? I love to collaborate.
9œÕ­Ì…iVˆi˜Ì®>˜`]Üi½Àiœ˜̅iÃ>“i«>ވ˜}wi`…iÀi°7i½Ài>
team and we’re gonna smash this shit outta the park.
 ROBERTO CARLOS
F O LL OW: @ RO B ER T O C AR LOSA R T_ TAT T O O

82 | INKEDMAG.COM
Roberto Carlos Sanchez Mesa’s path to becoming a tattoo artist
would have been unthinkable decades ago, but as the industry
evolves, his story is becoming common. After pursuing a degree
from art school, Mesa brought the fundamentals of painting into
his work on skin. His journey wasn’t straight and narrow—he spent
many years learning tattooing through trial and error, but today
he’s one of the most sought-after artists in Caracas, Venezuela.
We caught up with Mesa to learn how his love for art began, what
inspired him to move to Venezuela, and what advice he’d give to
aspiring artists.

Take us through your upbringing in Cuba and how it led you to become a
tattoo artist. From an early age I've always had a great affinity for the
arts, and drawing was one of the things I enjoyed the most. At the
end of my teenage years, I had the opportunity to take the aptitude
tests to get into an art school in the city of Santiago, Cuba, and
since then I have dedicated my whole life to art. From those years of
studying, where drawing and painting were a constant exercise, as
well as reading art history books, visiting galleries and exhibitions
and living in that environment, I was able to get tattoo magazines
that gave me a lot of motivation. At that time, Robert Hernández gave
me inspiration and the desire to experiment. This led me to build my
first machine, which I made with a radio cassette engine, a Sharpie
marker and pen tips.

Do you think art school helped your tattoo career? Art school was
crucial for me. Learning about the aesthetic content, language of
the artwork and its symbolism has helped me to develop as a tattoo
artist.

How would you describe your tattoo style and who are some artists
that inspire you? Nowadays, realism and surrealism determine
the course of my work. Today, tattooing is constantly evolving, so
defining an artist’s style can be a bit difficult.

Hernández was, and still is, a driving force in my career. Artists like
Dmitriy Samohin, Jeff Gogue, Paul Booth, Nikko Hurtado, Sergio
Sánchez, Yomico Moreno, Darwin Enriquez and Emersson Pabon
also inspire me.

What’s your process for designing a tattoo and how long do your
sessions typically take? I really like to create stories. From the moment
a customer tells me their idea, I try to translate each word into an
image and in this way, I begin my creative process. Each session takes
approximately six to eight hours, which allows me to sketch the work
and take into account its complexity. I like to tattoo the way I draw
CPFRCKPVUQVJGƂTUVUGUUKQPKUWUGFVQUMGVEJVJGKFGCQPVJGDQF[
and after the healing process, I emphasize and deepen the contrast,
nuances and depth in color or shadows.

What role does texture play in your work and what are some of
your favorite textures to create in a tattoo? One of the things that
+ƂPFOQUVKPVGTGUVKPIYJGPRCKPVKPICTGVGZVWTGUCPFVJKUJCUDGGP
something I’ve tried to transfer to my tattoos. I consider it a very
important additive within the work—the visual texture forces the viewer
to stop and, psychologically, it causes an impression. Achieving this
on the skin is very interesting and becomes a challenge, as I take into
account the canvas. My favorite textures to tattoo are found in wood,
dried leaves and corroded material, among others.

What advice would you give to artists who want to tattoo like you
and how long did it take to get to where you are now? Art requires
constant study and dedication. In the case of tattooing, painting
and drawing are fundamental, because they give artists a greater
understanding of the elements of visual language and the treatment of
volume, color, light, shadow, proportion, composition, etc. Searching
the work of prominent artists in different styles and attending events
or seminars where you can better observe the processes of art is
ETWEKCN6JKUKUVJGƂTUVVJKPIVJQUGYJQCTGUVCTVKPIKPVJKURTQHGUUKQP
must do and all of us who already are in it should continue. In order
to do a good tattoo, you must keep drawing and never get tired of
experimenting, studying and researching.
 CAT
CASTRO
F OLL OW: @ CAT CAS TRO TAT TO OS

84 | INKEDMAG.COM
As a Jane of all trades, Cat Castro knows how to please any client
who walks into the shop. Whether it be neo-traditional, black-and-
grey or color realism, she’s ready to take on the challenge. Will she
settle down with a signature style one day? Perhaps! Or instead,
will she continue churning out versatile tattoos that run the gamut
of genres? Who knows, only time will tell.

How were you introduced to tattooing as a career and did you have a
formal apprenticeship? I knew I wanted to get into tattooing since I
was 12 years old. I practiced drawing as a portrait artist for years
until I was 19 and a tattoo shop asked me to show my work at
their art show. When the owner saw my work, he said, “If I can
get you tattooing like that, you’re gonna make me a lot of money.”
Consequently, I was offered an apprenticeship so it was perfect
because I was already looking for one.

As far as apprenticeships go, I had a very traditional one. I started

off working with coils and wasn’t allowed to tattoo until I learned to
take my machine completely apart and put it back together. It was a
lot of grunt work, paying my dues and learning how to go from paper
to skin.

Why do you like to tattoo in different styles and do you have a

favorite? Tattooing in so many different styles was never something
I planned for. Somewhere along the way, I liked the challenge of
giving the client exactly what they asked for. I wanted to know I could
do it and I didn’t want to disappoint. It’s hard to choose a favorite but
I noticed that I have a lot of fun doing large-scale black-and-grey,
color realism and portraits.

What techniques, rules or approaches to tattooing do you carry

throughout your tattoos no matter the style? No matter what, I always
aim to produce the best quality that I can. I pay attention to the
details and always “washline” my tattoos. I try to consistently keep
things looking sharp.

As someone who’s mastered so many styles, how do you think you

would fare on “Ink Master?” It’s hard to say because I know I can
be my own worst enemy and critic. No matter how many skills I’ve
mastered, working under pressure makes me afraid that I won’t
perform well. With that said, in the past, whenever something was
thrown my way, I made it my mission to step up to the challenge and
apply myself to achieve things I didn’t know I could. Who knows,
for the sake of the show, it might actually help for me to be used to
tattooing in different styles.

What is the tattoo scene like in SoCal and how does it compare to
other cities that you’ve visited for work? It’s funny, everything in
the tattoo scene is so well connected with amazing artists always
traveling and everyone meeting at expos and on social media. I’ve
had the privilege of traveling to multiple countries across seas and
still found that the same trendy tattoos were popular and being
tattooed all over the world. Nowadays, you can find every different
style of tattoo being done in SoCal and every other city. The
differences usually lie in the tattoo shops and the way that owners
design and run their businesses. It even varies between tattoo
shops on the same street.

As a SoCal native, how do you recommend clients take care of their

fresh and healed tattoos when spending time in the sun? Don’t go in
the sun. But of course, if they’re in the sun anyway, I recommend having
the tattoo completely covered and avoiding any direct sunlight if it’s
still healing. Use Dial soap to wash off any sweat immediately after. If
KVoUJGCNGFFGƂPKVGN[CKOHQTCJKIJGT52(UWPUETGGPCPFEQPEGPVTCVGKV
directly on the tattoo. If the skin gets burned, use aloe vera. If the skin
gets dry, argan oil will do wonders. People underestimate how much
longer lasting and how much more vibrant tattoos will be if they take
the time to really take care of them.
 SÉBASTIEN COSTON
F OLL OW: @ S H O OBY_ TATT OO

86 | INKEDMAG.COM
Want a pop culture tattoo that pushes the bounds of the
imagination? Look no further than Sébastien Coston or, as
Instagram knows him, Shooby. Shooby honed his craft in the
suburbs of Paris and has won the world over with his impressive
approach to color realism. Over the last decade, Shooby has not
only mastered black-and-grey and color realism, but sets himself
apart from the pack by expertly blending the two styles into one
tattoo. We caught up with the talented tattooer to learn how
he’s perfected his techniques over time and why he’ll never stop
hustling to create better tattoos for his clients.

What was the first tattoo you did and how did it lead you to becoming
the artist you are today? My first tattoo was done on my wife’s youngest
brother 11 years ago, when my wife was on a trip to Argentina. I had just
bought a machine from a friend who was a tattoo artist, and he gave me
some advice about tattooing and told me about all the rules of hygiene.
So, I asked my brother if he wanted my first tattoo and he said, “Ok, my
brother.” I tattooed him on the table in my living room and did a Roman
numeral VII on his right buttock, which took two hours to do. I shared the
photo of my first tattoo on Facebook and my wife was surprised to see
that her boyfriend tattooed her brother on the living room table. Since
that day, I had only one desire and that was to tattoo again (and again).
I retried that adventure and it’s what made me the artist I have become
today. From the start, I’ve only been looking to continue the adventure.

What is the tattoo scene like in Paris? I work in Lagny-sur-Marne, which

is 25 minutes from Paris and 10 minutes from Disneyland. In Paris, there
are a lot of tattoo artists with varied styles, like in many big cities. There
aren't many of us practicing realism in or close to Paris, and from what I
can see in Parisian salons, they have more demand for black work.

How do you go about combining color with black-and-grey? Where can

other artists go wrong when trying to attempt this? The technique of
mixing black-and-grey and color requires strong contrast to make the
tattoo beautiful and durable over time. I try to put enough black in the
tattoo so that the whole design is easily readable. For the grey, I use
a mix of grey wash and opaque grey. The colors are saturated as for a
classic color piece.

I think people can go wrong with this technique in several ways. Either
they don’t saturate their colors enough or they cut their colors with water.
As a result, the tattoo will be bland and age badly. Sometimes their greys
are also too light, and that will cause a problem because the colors will
stand out too much by comparison. To do this technique, you need to
understand contrast.

Where do you find inspiration for your tattoos and how do you go about
combining contrasting images in a cohesive design? I find my inspiration
for tattoos in films, from the work of tattoo artists I follow on social media,
in museums and at art exhibitions. But what inspires me the most are
the photos. I try to find the best possible references for my designs by
choosing photos with strong contrasts and a good balance between
dark and light. Then I combine photos together and try several possible
combinations for each project until I arrive at a result that I like. Often I’m
lucky I can do something that I like quickly, but sometimes it takes much
longer.

How did you learn to draw and then tattoo realism? How long did it take
you to master this skill? I learned to draw when I was young. I drew at
school instead of doing the required exercises and was often punished
for that. I drew as soon as I could and my mother helped me a lot.
She’s a painter who paints realistic still lifes. Before being a tattoo artist,
I sold my paintings and when I became a tattoo artist, I tattooed in all
VJGFKHHGTGPVUV[NGUVJGƂTUV[GCTU6JCVVCWIJVOGCNQVVGEJPKECNN[UWEJ
as making beautiful lines, solid black, colors, greys and gradients. I
YCKVGFƂXG[GCTUVQUVCTVTGCNKUO9JGP+HGNVTGCF[+UVCTVGFVQRTQRQUG
projects to my clients and realized that it was really very complicated
to create realistic rendering, especially in color. This type of realism
requires a lot of concentration, working days are longer, creating
VGZVWTGUKUFKHƂEWNVCPFKVTGSWKTGUCNQVQHVKOG
 ART FLOWING
THROUGH HIS VEINS Isaac Pelayo is a modern day Renaissance man, following in the footsteps
of his father, Leonardo Da Vinci and Tupac Shakur.
Isaac Pelayo was destined to be an artist. The signs were there even during his youngest days. When other
kids were playing football and pretending to be the next great NFL star, Pelayo was constantly drawing and
dreaming about 15th century Florence. “I remember exactly how I felt the first time I came face-to-face with
a master painting,” Pelayo recalls. “I was stunned and left with a burning obsession.”

That obsession was turned into a thriving career. Pelayo took the time to speak with us about his start, the
influence of his father and his adoration for Tupac.

What was your first experience with art? II first showed space served not as my second home, but my first. That alone
interest in art as early as 2. My dad actually has a tattoo of my propelled me onto the path I walk on still to this day, nearly 24
first drawing on his forearm. Art came to be the one thing that years later.
truly spoke to me, even as a kid. I never got the chance to get
involved in any sports or other activities due to circumstances. Your father, Antonio, is also an artist. How did this influence
I grew up extremely solitary, alone, quiet and to myself in a your path? My dad has been an artist before I was even born.
house full of adults. I didn’t mind barricading in some corner of His work is highly realistic with the use of pencil. His drawings
the house with a few sheets of paper and pencils. Allowing my are some of the best I have ever seen, period. As a kid, prior to
mind and creativity take control, I just tagged along for the ride. painting, my goal was to reach that level of realism with pencil.
I used to re-depict his drawings as closely as possible over
I was completely enamored by 14th-17th century art—the likes and over. Now that I’m decent enough in oil painting, our work
of Da Vinci, Rubens, Velazquez, Caravaggio and Rembrandt has come together in collaboration. Mixing our mediums and
stood as mentors right from the start. I wanted to be in that styles together as father and son in ways that have never been
time. The Renaissance seemed like the perfect place for my executed before. Working with him can be both rewarding and
screaming desire to educate and carve my eager mind. When frustrating at times. But I guess that comes with the territory. . .
I was a kid I didn’t go to sports events or amusement parks.
I was taken to museums, galleries and art fairs. The gallery Tell us a little about how you came to work at Disney and

88 | INKEDMAG.COM
by jonny watson

JULY 2020 | 89
90 | INKEDMAG.COM
what you do there. Well, my dad has also worked at Disney
since before I was born. He began working there around
the time he was 19, landing himself a position in Disney's
legendary Ink & Paint Department creating original, limited
edition animated cels as done in the early production
days of Disney in the 1920s, eventually serving as the last
remaining inker and painter after nearly the entire department
disappeared. Growing up I would frequently go to work with
him and play with the materials and tools used to create the
artwork. He taught me how to ink and paint cels. The first
time I tried I must have been around 7. Over time, I got a little
better, even more so after I started tattooing when I was 15.
Being a tattoo artist gave me a steady hand, especially when
creating lines both thick and thin. About three years ago
his department was in search of another inker and painter,
they really wanted someone who had potential longevity in
the company. Most people who know how to ink and paint
are either retired or close to it. There I was waiting at the
forefront, ready to test my skill. I was hired quite quickly but
remained in training for six months. My office is currently
across from my dad, the perfect distance for shooting rubber
bands during lunch hours.

Do you feel like something is lost in digital art when

compared to working with paints? I’ve dabbled with
Photoshop and Illustrator and know people who are
definitely Rembrandts of the craft, but I think there is an
element of love and passion missing. When you have the
tools physically in the palms of your hands you gain this
sense of power. Almost as if carving breathing life with a
few strokes here and a few strokes there. Digital art doesn’t
exactly contain the mess and fleshy thickness that an oil
painting does.

Tell us about "Isaac's Lisa.” “Isaac’s Lisa” was solely an act

of education. I never thought to myself, “I’m gonna repaint
Mona Lisa and call myself the new DaVinci.” Leonardo
stands as the almighty in the name of polymaths in my eyes.
I simply wanted to understand and explore his technique
when painting portraits. His ability to capture life with such
power and mystique is almost indescribable. I cried for that
knowledge. I asked myself if I wanted to be included in the
realm of the great masters what could I do to achieve that?
So I decided to challenge myself and take on the role as a
14th century student in the workshop of Leonardo DaVinci
painting La Gioconda. Like a method actor, I jumped in head
first. I came home to a low lit studio, the smell of linseed oil,
open windows and even the sounds of medieval music and
towns people working found on YouTube. I needed to go
back in time and actually be there. I painted Mona Lisa as if I
were alongside the maestro himself. Doing so I picked up the
technique, Sfumato. DaVinci was most prominent in this.

What inspired you to paint portraits of hip hop legends,

like Tupac, in the style of the Renaissance? Throughout
this interview I realized I’ve dropped some easter eggs on
my many points of interests including being a tattoo artist
however, I’m also an aspiring musician, writer, rapper and
producer. With that being said, my idol has and always will
be Tupac Shakur. Pac was not only a brilliant lyricist, but he
had a brilliant mind, period. His perspective and philosophy
on life is poetically thug and real. I also grew up with a single
struggling mom trying to raise a man, so that shit hit me
from the jump. I come at a painting with that thug mentality,
always. If I didn’t that energy could’ve been projected
elsewhere. For me, Pac is a master and deserves the
position to be seen amongst them. Maybe 500 years after
my death someone will think the same of me…

JULY 2020 | 91
 @torierobot @trevor_wagner_

@itsdonbenjamin @allieharding

@officialsalicerose
@ashleyquiroz_

@_johnathoncainee

@rauwalejandro

@angelamazzanti
@flower_friendly

creating a buzz on TikTok

Meet the tattooed influencers
SocialTakeover
 @theefemalebossss
@winniethejroo

@stefanjames @wholepotato

@babygoth420 @theartofreese
@inkstajane_

@elporter1 @cocoblake

@wish_rathod

JULY 2020 | 97