Black Ink Crew is an American reality television series that premiered on January 7, 2013, on VH1.[1] It has aired ten seasons and chronicles the daily operations and staff drama at an African American–owned and operated tattoo shop in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.[2]
| Black Ink Crew | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Black Ink Crew: New York |
| Genre | Reality television |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 10 |
| No. of episodes | 196 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 42–43 minutes |
| Production companies | Big Fish Entertainment (2013–2020) MTV Entertainment Studios (2021–2023) |
| Original release | |
| Network | VH1 |
| Release | January 7, 2013 – July 31, 2023 |
| Related | |
| Black Ink Crew: Chicago Black Ink Crew: Los Angeles | |
The show's success has resulted in similar spin-off series based in Chicago and Los Angeles.[3][4]
Production
editBlack Ink Crew's second season premiered on September 23, 2013,[5] with the season returning on March 31, 2014, for five more episodes.[6]
The third season premiered on January 26, 2015,[7] with the season returning August 24, 2015 for eight more episodes and a reunion special on October 19, 2015.[8]
The show was renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on April 4, 2016. In December 2016, the series was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered on January 18, 2017. The sixth season premiered on December 6, 2017. On August 20, 2018, the series was renewed for a seventh season, which premiered on September 19, 2018, with the season returning March 13, 2019, for eight more episodes. On July 24, 2019, the series was renewed for an eighth season, which premiered on August 14, 2019, with the season returning on February 26, 2020, for ten more episodes. On March 8, 2021, the series was renewed for a ninth season, which premiered on April 19, 2021.[9] The second half of season nine premiered on February 21, 2022.
On September 27, 2022, the series was renewed for a tenth season, which premiered on October 18, 2022. The second half of season ten premiered on May 15, 2023.
Cast
editMain
edit- Ceaser (born David Emanuel; seasons 1–9, supporting in season 10), the owner of Black Ink in Harlem, New York, who also owns tattoo studios in Brooklyn, Atlanta, Orlando and Houston
- Dutchess (born Crystana Lattimore; seasons 1–5), a former tattoo artist for Black Ink and the owner of Pretty-N-Ink
- O'Shit (censored onscreen as "O'S**t", born Richard Duncan; seasons 1–5, supporting in seasons 6–7, guest in seasons 8–9), a former tattoo artist at Black Ink
- Alex Estevez (seasons 1–2), a former receptionist at Black Ink
- Puma (born Paul Robinson; seasons 1–4, 8–10, supporting in season 7, guest in season 6), the former public relations manager at Black Ink and owner of Art2Ink
- Sassy (born Ashley Nicole Bermudez; seasons 1–3, supporting in seasons 4 & 8, guest in season 9), the former manager of Black Ink and manager of Art2Ink
- Sky (born JaKeita Days; seasons 2–8, guest in season 1), the former receptionist at Black Ink and former manager of Black Ink Atlanta
- Teddy Ruks (born Shariff Homer; seasons 4–10, supporting in seasons 1–3), the former assistant manager at Black Ink and Ceaser's cousin
- Donna Marie Lombardi (born Taylor Pinckney; seasons 4–9, supporting in season 3), a former apprentice of Ceaser and Dutchess, tattoo artist and piercer for Art2Ink
- Melody Mitchell (seasons 6–7, supporting in seasons 4–5), a former tattoo artist and manager at Black Ink
- Walter Miller (seasons 6–9, supporting in seasons 1–5), the assistant manager of Black Ink 113th
- Young Bae (seasons 6–10, supporting in season 5), a tattoo artist at Black Ink
- Miss Kitty (born Karis Phillips; season 8, supporting in seasons 5–7), the former brand ambassador for Black Ink.
- Tatiana Ritter (seasons 9–10, supporting in seasons 6–8), the manager for Black Ink
- Alex (season 10, supporting in seasons 6–9), a tattoo artist at Black Ink
- Spyder (season 10, supporting in season 9), a tattoo artist at Black Ink
Cast timeline
edit| Main cast members | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cast member | Seasons | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |||||
| Ceaser Emanuel | Starring | Supporting | ||||||||||||
| Dutchess Lattimore | Starring | |||||||||||||
| O'Shit Duncan | Starring | Supporting | Guest | |||||||||||
| Alex Estevez | Starring[a] | |||||||||||||
| Puma Robinson | Starring | Guest | Supporting | Starring | ||||||||||
| Sassy Bermudez | Starring | Supporting | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||
| Sky Days | Guest | Starring[b] | Starring | Starring[c] | ||||||||||
| Ted Ruks | Supporting | Starring | ||||||||||||
| Donna Lombardi | Supporting | Starring | Starring[d] | |||||||||||
| Melody Mitchell | Supporting | Starring | Starring[e] | |||||||||||
| Walt Miller | Supporting | Starring | Starring[f] | |||||||||||
| Young Bae | Supporting | Starring | ||||||||||||
| Miss Kitty | Supporting | Starring | ||||||||||||
| Tatti Ritter | Supporting | Starring | ||||||||||||
| Alex | Supporting | Starring | ||||||||||||
| Spyder | Supporting | Starring | ||||||||||||
| Supporting cast members | ||||||||||||||
| Cast member | Seasons | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |||||
| Quani Robinson | Supporting | Supporting | ||||||||||||
| Kathie Arseno | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||||
| Tiffany Winter | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Naeem Sharif | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||||
| Young Phoenix | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||||
| Tiffany Perez | Guest | Supporting | ||||||||||||
| Kevin Laroy | Supporting | Guest | Guest | |||||||||||
| Nikki Duncan | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||||
| Jadah Blue | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Tokie Renet | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Des Raymond | Guest | Supporting | ||||||||||||
| Genesis Ezekiel | Guest | Supporting | ||||||||||||
| Mama Bae | Guest | Supporting | Guest | |||||||||||
| Krystal Kills | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Charmaine Walker | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| SuperDope Q | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Mike Ac | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||||
| London | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Rokmatic | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Jessica Miller | Guest | Supporting | Guest | |||||||||||
| Crystal Torres | Guest | Guest | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||
| Euni Ruks | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||||
| Vanity | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Desiree | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Van Johnson | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||||
| Draya Penzo | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Suzette Samuel | Supporting | Guest | ||||||||||||
| Bux | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| Nychelle | Supporting | |||||||||||||
| AMH | Supporting[g] | |||||||||||||
| Liza | Supporting[h] | |||||||||||||
| Made Rich | Supporting[i] | |||||||||||||
| Jahnova | Supporting[j] | |||||||||||||
| Santana | Supporting[k] | |||||||||||||
| Trilla | Supporting[l] | |||||||||||||
| Ink Dreamy | Supporting[m] | |||||||||||||
| Miracle | Supporting[n] | |||||||||||||
Note:
- ^ Alex is replaced by Sky during episodes 14-18.
- ^ Sky replaces Alex during episodes 14-18.
- ^ Sky is removed from the show in episode 18 due to a physical altercation with her son, Des.
- ^ Donna is no longer a part of Black Ink Crew after episode 11.
- ^ Melody is removed from the opening credits after episode 14.
- ^ Walt is no longer a part of Black Ink Crew after episode 12.
- ^ Appears on the show from episode twelve onwards.
- ^ Appears on the show from episode twelve onwards.
- ^ Appears on the show from episode thirteen onwards.
- ^ Appears on the show from episode thirteen onwards.
- ^ Appears on the show from episode thirteen onwards.
- ^ Appears on the show from episode thirteen onwards.
- ^ Appears on the show from episode thirteen onwards.
- ^ Appears on the show from episode thirteen onwards.
Episodes
edit| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 13 | January 7, 2013 | March 25, 2013 | |
| 2 | 18 | September 23, 2013 | April 28, 2014 | |
| 3 | 21 | January 26, 2015 | October 19, 2015 | |
| 4 | 12 | April 4, 2016 | June 27, 2016 | |
| 5 | 19 | January 18, 2017 | July 12, 2017 | |
| 6 | 21 | December 6, 2017 | May 9, 2018 | |
| 7 | 22 | September 19, 2018 | May 1, 2019 | |
| 8 | 26 | August 14, 2019 | April 29, 2020 | |
| 9 | 22 | 10 | April 19, 2021 | June 21, 2021 |
| 12 | February 21, 2022 | May 9, 2022 | ||
| 10 | 22 | 10 | October 18, 2022 | December 20, 2022 |
| 12 | May 15, 2023 | July 31, 2023 | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "VH1 Rings in the New Year with New Series and Returning Favorites". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "VH1 Greenlights New Series 'Grand River Singers Project,' 'Black Ink' and New '100 Greatest Kid Stars' Special, Beloved Series 'Best Week Ever' Returns To VH1 To Anchor Humor Block On Friday Nights". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "'Black Ink Crew' Expands Franchise West with 'Black Ink Crew: Compton'". The Futon Critic. June 27, 2019.
- ^ "VH1's 'Black Ink Crew: New York' Returns Wednesday, August 14". The Futon Critic. July 24, 2019.
- ^ "VH1 Reaps a Harvest of New Series and Returning Favorites This Fall". the Futon Critic (Press release). August 27, 2013.
- ^ "VH1's "Black Ink Crew" Heads Back to the Shop for a Touch Up". The Futon Critic (Press release). March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
- ^ Baron, Steve (2015-01-20). "'Black Ink Crew' Season 3 to Premiere Monday, January 26 on VH1 – Page 353152 – TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- ^ "New Season of VH1's BLACK INK CREW Premieres Tonight". Broadwayworld.com. 2015-08-24. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- ^ "Get Your First Look at VH1's Newest Series, Black Ink Crew: Chicago". VH1. 2015-08-31. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved 2017-03-11.