Black Ink Crew Chicago

The 9MAG and 2nd City Ink teams adjust to life post-shutdown, Ryan considers expanding his business, and Charmaine faces conflict at work when she reunites with some of her old crew.
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Black Ink Crew Chicago | Episode 512 | Highlights

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Black Ink Crew Chicago | Episode 510 | Highlights

2 Videos

Cast

Ryan Henry

Cast Member

The owner of 9MAG and the reigning tattoo king of Chicago, Ryan enjoys a reputation as one of the most sought-after artists in the country. But despite his success, it can still be a struggle to hold down his fractious crew. Now, in the aftermath a three-month lockdown and a salacious scandal that threaten his business and reputation, he's forced to close ranks to all but his most loyal crew members.

Charmaine Bey

Cast Member

After spending years under Ryan and his relentless management style, Charmaine broke away to start 2nd City Ink. She's a constant hustler who places a high value on family and loyalty. But recently, a falling-out with her business partner, the loss of her mother, the birth of her daughter during the pandemic, and her dad's cancer diagnosis upended her Charmaine's world and left her shop in jeopardy.

Don Brumfield

Cast Member

Though he's been a fixture at 9MAG from day one, Don's personal life is far from constant. He's been through many ups and downs over the years, including past infidelities that threatened his home life. Now, after a health scare that put him in the hospital, Don is on a journey of spiritual, mental and physical growth, that, which includes branching out from the shop and opening his own gym.

Phor Robinson

Cast Member

Phor is a man of many artistic passions. When he's not tattooing at 9MAG, he's usually focused on music, both of which -- like tattooing -- hasve always been an important outlets for his self-expression and mental health. But now that he haswith a son on the way, Phor is anxious that becoming a father may mean the end of his rock- star ways.

Jessica

Cast Member

Jessica came all the way from across the pond to take over the tattoo game in Chicago. The London native teamed with Charmaine to start the female-forward 2nd City Ink and give Ryan and his crew a run for their money. But after Kitty came onboard, a rift formed between Jessica and Charmaine, putting the future of their partnership in jeopardy.

Draya

Cast Member

Tattoo Artist, 2nd City Ink

Draya is a fun-loving, confident, self-taught tattoo artist who mastered her craft by watching YouTube videos. Her sunny and positive attitude masks the fact she is attempting to escape an abusive relationship, a father who abandoned her and a mother who died by suicide. As a recently converted Buddhist, Draya believes in samsara, the cycle of rebirth. She hopes 2nd City will lead to a bigger and brighter future when she can be reborn as the best version of herself. When a possible sibling reaches out to Draya on social media (on behalf of her supposed father), will Draya's past threaten her happy future? 

Prince

Cast Member

Prince is both talented and funny, but that doesn't mean his life is free of obstacles. For more than a year, the Wild Wild West Side native had to tattoo from home while serving house arrest for a gun charge. And while his relationship with his son's mother is definitely looking up, she's made it clear to him that he needs to step up.

Fly Tatted

Cast Member

2nd City Ink's Fly Tatted is a soft-spoken, caring bad boy from Chicago's West Side who used his tattoo artistry to get away from the streets. His father was a hardened street soldier, but Fly is taking a different path to set an example for his younger siblings.

Plug

Cast Member

Draya is a fun-loving, self-taught tattoo artist who mastered her craft by watching YouTube videos. Behind her sunny disposition is a lot of pain, including an abusive ex, a father who abandoned her and a mother who died by suicide. As a new convert to Buddhism, Draya hopes 2nd City Ink will lead to a brighter future in which she can be reborn as the best version of herself.

Neek

Cast Member

Neek is Charmaine's husband and the father of her child. Neek keeps Charmaine grounded and helps her keep the drama in check. He's always been there for her and really stepped up when Charmaine's mother passed away. However, he and Charmaine did ruffle a few feathers when they decided to elope.

Van

Cast Member

A founding member of 9MAG, Van is now on the outs with the crew. Never feeling like he got enough credit for his role in helping build Ryan's empire, Van eventually left to start Loyal Ink with several other crew members. He later came back into the fold, but Ryan cut him loose. Now he's focused on being a dad and building up his fashion line.

Danielle

Cast Member

As 9MAG's first receptionist and Charmaine's cousin, Danielle was a core member of the original 9MAG crew. But that didn't always make for happy times. When tensions began to grow between her and Ryan, and the rest of the crew started to fracture, Danielle had to decide whether she wanted to stay a part of the drama or focus on her sometimes-rocky relationship with Terrence.

Lily

Cast Member

Never one to bite her tongue, Lily is known for her feistiness among other members of the crew. A driven tattoo artist who is working hard to make a name for herself, Lily is also trying to put past drama behind her, including a fiery and dysfunctional relationship with Junior, and the murder of her father.

Ashley

Cast Member

Ashley has been with Don ever since they met in college, but staying with him hasn't always been easy. Don's history of infidelity has tested their relationship numerous times, but Ashley has fought hard to keep their family together. However, after a major health scare, she began contemplating a move to Texas and ending things with Don once and for all.

Nikki

Cast Member

Nikki was seemingly the perfect girlfriend for Phor. The salon owner and weave entrepreneur was a devoted partner to him for years and worked hard to support his music career. But Phor's rising star and sex symbol status caused tension in their relationship, which ultimately ended when his infidelity came to light.

Cobra

Cast Member

Cobra is a tattoo artist in pursuit of self-love and confidence, even as she battles powerful inner demons. Fueled by her father’s dying words to never give up on her dreams, Cobra is ready to prove to 9MAG and the world that she is the real deal. But after Hurricane Harvey left her family unhoused, Cobra found herself thrust into the role of sole provider.

Junior

Cast Member

A gifted and driven artist native to Chicago, Junior is a force to be reckoned with. He used tattooing to escape from a long family history of gang involvement. But sometimes Junior's brash attitude and reckless sense of humor can cause friction between him and other employees at 9MAG, as demonstrated by the epic street brawl he helped instigate in Jamaica.

Bella Tatted

Cast Member

With her quirky and unpredictable personality, 9MAG assistant Bella Tatted took the crew by storm. Always the life of the party, she injected a whole lot of energy into the shop, even though it frequently got on Ryan's nerves. But when the partying stops, Bella is a devoted single mom working hard to do right by her daughter.

Kat

Cast Member

Forget Chicago, Kat is one of the most sought-after tattoo artists in the whole country. A founding artist of 9MAG, her work quickly stood out, but some felt she was more focused on her own career than the shop itself. And when things got messy between her and Ryan, she ultimately decided to bounce and take her talents to L.A.