Welcome to Harlem, U.S.A. (Pilot)
2013-01-07
On the corner of 113th and Lennox, in the heart of Harlem, you'll find the Black Ink Crew and all of their crazy antics. While PR man Puma mysteriously loses his front tooth, Dutchess the Southern Belle settles into life in the big city and tries to get used to the scrutiny of her playful boss, Ceaser. Meanwhile, manager and front desk girl Alex gets into it with a Mixxxy (Black Ink groupie) over her choice of tattoo and Ceaser has just about had it with his employees who clearly don't respect his authority. After a hard night of partying, Ceaser arrives at his shop to find his staff AWOL. Alex and O'S**t are late so Cease is forced to call in other employees to help out. Puma arrives direct from the doctor's office; delivering some big news...a new, pint-size member of the Black Ink crew will be arriving shortly! When one of O'S**t's clients comes in with a messed up tattoo and Shit is still nowhere to be found, Cease struggles between being a tough boss and a loyal friend.
This, That, and The Third
2013-02-18
Post -Vegas, Ceaser is coming to terms with his feelings for Dutchess...despite all of the guys in the shop busting his chops about his upcoming trip to North Carolina to "meet the parents." Because of O'S**t's impressive performance in Vegas, Cease rewards him by putting him in charge of the shop while Cease is down South. Puma and Quanni are also taking a big step when they begin their search for an apartment and they have a discussion about their future as a family. Alex, who was a no-show in Vegas, is living her separate life away from the shop. She gets a surprise visit from Walt, who motivates her to make a visit to the shop to speak with Cease. But when she arrives at Black Ink, Dutchess also has a few things to say.
In the Dirty, Dirty
2013-02-25
While Dutchess and Ceaser hit the road for the Dirty South, O'S**t is left in charge of the shop, and he has that s**t handled! Clients come in one after the other, and Black Ink is making more money that it has seen in ages. Down in North Carolina, Cease faces a guy's worst nightmare while meeting Dutchess's family. What began as a "small family dinner" turns into a huge family reunion and Cease has to face the fire with questions about marriage, kids, etc. His nightmare reaches a peak when Dutchess's dad takes a very hung over Cease to the gun range to ask what his intentions are with his daughter. When Cease's phone rings with an update from Harlem, he is surprised to hear that O'S**t's reign has come to an abrupt end.
So Much on My Biscuit
2013-03-04
Ceaser and Dutchess cut their trip short to pick up O'S**t from "The Barge," the New York City prison he has been locked up in for days. Though O'S**t's future as a free man is in question, the crew is hardly sympathetic, except for Cease who faces jail time himself. Alex and O'S**t face each other for the first time since the night he went to jail, but a heated argument pushes the two "friends" further apart. Alex also has a face-to-face with Teddy, who makes plain his vision of their future together.
Dropping the
2013-03-25
Dutchess makes a peace offering at the shop, apologizing for her bad behavior over the past few weeks and filling everyone in on her heart condition. Alex confides in her old tattoo artist about her frustrations with the crew at Black Ink. When Ted's alleged child is born and the pictures, in fact, look a lot like Ted, Sassy and Ceaser put the pressure on Ted to get a paternity test. Walt meets up with his new muse, Alex, for a photoshoot, and an angry Cease catches them hanging out at the shop. With his impending court date looming, O'S**t becomes more emotional about the possibility of being locked up and Cease is given an ultimatum by the Family Court judge...come up with the 2K you owe your baby mama by two o'clock or go directly to jail.
Family First
2013-03-25
When "Mommy", the woman who brought Ceaser up in the tattoo world, comes to the shop for a memorial tattoo from Cease, she has some strong opinions about Cease and Dutchess's relationship. Dutchess and Cease visit a trainer to try and get Dutchess's heart health in check. Coley and Lulu arrive to support O'S**t in the days leading up to his indictment, and S**t gets emotional at the thought of a future behind bars and away from Lulu. Ted receives the test results from the DNA lab and is left asking some serious questions about his future. Alex and Dutchess finally meet face to face. Puma pops the question to Quani, causing a hesitant Cease to feel the pressure of commitment. Dutchess finally tattoos Cease, but both he and Dutchess continue to have second thoughts about their relationship. Kaylin, Coley and Puma join S**t at Bronx Criminal Court on the day of his hearing.
