Last Friday @ City of Ink

Last Friday was a beautiful day in City of Ink history. Corey Davis had his first solo art show. I have uploaded a lot of the photos on my facebook page. I'm very proud of Corey, I have watched this kid grow into a young man and a marketing genius. His art show was filled with people of all ages, races, and scenes...it was a very balances show. He had these japanese beers, so I was feeling GOOD...congratz Corey Davis, I hope you inspired Samba, Chris, Melvin, and Sophie to also do solo art show...lets see.

and Tuki Carters FIRST SOLO art show will be on Sat. Sept.19 (his bday)

Rick Ross & Tuki Carter @ City of Ink

Today Rick Ross has released his 3rd CD "Deeper Than Rap" Rick Ross was getting tattooed by Tuki on this video. See what happens when you leave your camera at work, those dripping star cats don't know how to act when they see a camera..LOL There is NO place like City of Ink....drop by yall tattoos starting at only $40 and we are open 1pm-10pm no sundays....you never know who will be up there...we always have a few surprizes....blessings yall...and go buy that Rick Ross CD...peaceeeeeeee!

Rick Ross was NOT arrested at City of Ink...THE REAL VIDEO

Rick Ross was NEVER arrested or even handcuffed...the police didn't even talk to him...all the rumors are FALSE....the only person handcuffed (NOT ARRESTED) just handcuffed was Chris Carter, asst. manager at City of Ink...it was only a NOISE COMPLAINT. The reported created a story just to make the news....he should be FIRED for making up fairy tales, REAL reporters don't make up stories....The only reason the police came by was because Rick Ross's tour bus was parked out front and it was left running, so it woke up some of the people living in the area (we sorry for the noise yall)...Rick Ross thanks for supporting City of Ink.

Here's the REAL VIDEO...and Chris is wayyy to skinny to be Rick Ross..lol So how the hell this that reporter mix up Chris and Rick Ross...I guess niggaz all look alike..lol

Worth the Time.....

A lot of people ask me why do I take tattooing and my art so serious.. The answer is it's my LIFE... Everytime I do a tattoo I think about how many hours it will take me to do..and if this person even cares that I haven't seen my son in days because I'm sitting in one place allday tattooing and working to feed my family. Since I rarely get to see any of my children, I put that love, pain, struggle, and emotion in EVERY piece I do...yes I can be picky who and what I tattoo on people thats because I have to ask myself "Is this tattoo worth my time away from my love ones?" I have missed sooo much of my childrens life working and serving the people, and I'm afraid they won't understand why I work as hard as I do...I don't want my children to struggle like I did growing up...I remember watching my mother work 2 and 3 jobs to make sure we had food to eat...I remember my mother not eatting dinner because she wanted to make sure all 4 of her children had enough to eat and make sure we are ALL full. Now just imagine you eatting dinner, and your mother cooked it for you but not eatting herself to make sure her babies were full first....thats the strength I come from..these are the visions thats feel my heart and mind EVERYTIME I do a tattoo....I don't know if my kids even read my blogs..and like most men...its hard to express my emotions at time...but Algeria, Egypt, and Prophet..daddy LOVES you..I PROMISE I will make more time for you...I do it ALL for yall...

Hollyweerd TONIGHT @ The Starbar in Little 5 Points!

Hollyweerd will be performing tonight in Little 5 Points at the Starbar (across from the Vortex) They hit the stage @ 9:30pm....be there!!! Support the NEW Atlanta music scene....I will be there after my last tattoo appointments...so I will see yall there, blessings yall!...Miya Bailey

Tomorrow night @ City of Ink 7pm-10pm

Corey Davis's FIRST solo art show is tomorrow night @ 7pm...be there yall! Here is a message from Corey himself....

Hello everyone!
It's me, Corey Davis, finally taking a break from the acrylic paint and pencils to write you this brief invitation to my first solo Art Show this Friday @ City of Ink [323 walker st]. It's FREE to everyone, and I pushed on the boundaries of High and low art to make sure the work is affordable for everyone. Thanks to everyone whos been there to encourage and inspire me. I'd also like to thank my sponsors. I'm so stoked, I think I'm gonna Puke... lol, but I hope you all come out and enjoy the work. Please come dressed like futuristic punk-rockers from space. I know my outfit is gonna be nuts.

Sounds by DJ Wreckineyez
Doors open at 7PM

Good//Bad//Beautiful AFTERPARTY @ Cenci [1259 Glenwood Ave]
11PM-3AM. DJ Mafiaso. Free Crunk Juice for everyone! $5 all night! Check out my blog on Greedmontpark.com for more info and pics.

Miya Bailey's VIMBY.COM Interview....

After that bullshit story on FreddyO.com I had to post something positive..props to AJ and Vimby for this interview....props yall! and thanks A LOT!

VIMBY - Miya Bailey

Bullshit Rick Ross & City of Ink story..........

Man, some niggaz kill me with bullshit stories tryin' to make a name for themselves. As some of yall know the police came over and started fucking with Rick Ross because his tour bus was making too much noise over at City of Ink...FreddyO.com posted FAKE BULLSHIT story about what happened that night...Rick Ross was NOT handcuffed..in fact the police never even talked to Rick Ross....they handcuffed, Tuki's brother (Chris Carter) for no reason at all...no charges happened and no one was arrested...it was funny because some dude jumped out the shadows with a camera tryin' to a story to make a career for himself...he even lied and said "She sister was in the shop" no female was at the shop period...here is the video..LOL

Tori....The Apprentice @ City of Ink

I would like to introduce you to Tori, the newest apprentice at City of Ink. I met Tori through Chris McAdoo....Tuki started training him a few months ago...once he is ready I will let him start watching me tattoo...but until then he will be drawing, and cleaning up City of Ink....next step is let him tattoo himself...I hated that part when I first started...but you can't tattoo anyone until you tattoo yourself...an apprentice at City of Ink will go under training for about 3 years...once we feel they are ready, then the fun starts....



PS...don't forget to come out to City of Ink on APRIL 17th @ 7pm for Corey Davis's FIRST SOLO Art Show...I'm excited about this show!

April 17th.....COREY DAVIS!!!

My babyboy, Corey Davis first solo art show will be on April 17th @ 7pm.....at City of Ink of course....Corey have a few surprizes...see yall asses there!

Tuki Carter tattoos Rick Ross....

Yesterday I got a call saying Rick Ross was at the shop again, but this time he was getting a tattoo by Tuki Carter. We are honored that Mr. Ross decided to pick ATL's #1 Tattoo shop for his new ink...Yesterday Tuki tattooed just a small word on his face, but tonight Rick Ross will be back up there to get a real tattoo from the world famous, Tuki Carter....I can't tell yall the appointment time...too many wild girls in the area...LOL but it's going down again tonight. Yesterday Rick Ross did a live webcam show promoting his new album at City of Ink..so props to that. He also did a guest appearance for our TV show (coming soon)....shoutout to Gino (Rick's main tattoo artist in MIA)...we will see you when were are in COI hits Miami..

To book a tattoo appointment with TUKI CARTER, call: 404-525-4465 (1pm-10pm) closed on sunday.

Everyday life....

A lot of people ask me how do my day start...well, I usally wake up around the time my wife is getting my son ready for school. I get out the bed, look out the window, and say a prayer to myself. I ask the Most High to protect my childen, ask for my wife to make it to work safely and hope that everyone in my world have a blessed day and get home safe from their everyday lives. I then roll a blunt and do about 30 min of drawings. I try to remember all my dreams, and sketch it down real fast while it's fresh in my mind. My dreams are usally, business related, art related, and I'm a man so you know whatelse I dream about...but all those dreams are used for business ideas or for my artwork. I roll up a blunt, and began checking all my email. I get about 50-150 tattoo related emails per day. I smoke my blunt and reply back to ALL the emails. I want to stay close to my people so I don't let the City of Ink managers check my emails (I just let them set the appointments after I have replied back to their emails) Most of the time I don't even bring my cellphone home after work..so all my boys house the crib. After the emails, I check my myspace page and reply back to all the messages...after myspace, I check my twitter and facebook accounts....I usally get some very inspiring messages on facebook..so I stay on that site the longest...then I check my youtube page message..I get more business related messages on that site....people always asking me to post more videos of me tattooing and more of my personal side...and opinions on life..I then go to google.com and type in "Miya Bailey" to read the lastest blogs and articles about me or City of Ink (I try to keep up with what the people are saying about us)..by this time I'm feeling good from the blunt. I work out for about 45 min. to an hour, turn on the TV (sometimes Demayne, Icky, or Mr. Soul will drop by after that and we smoke another one) I go to my closest put on some music..and depending on the music is how I will dress for the day..I feel fashion should be a major part of all artist lives. Clothing reflects how you feel about yourself and one of the best way to show expression...I mostly wear black..I have a serious black fetish...maybe it's because I love vampires so much...or maybe because I grew up reading some many Black Panther books...either way..I love black clothing....I take my sons Sponge Bob cd player and put in Purple Rain (Prince) or Love Supreme (John Coltrane)..I take the cd player in the bathroom with me and jump in the shower, I get in a zone and think about how my day at City of Ink will be and how much money I want to make that day...I then walk to work,..the reason I love walking is because thats the ONLY time I can be alone.. I'm always surrounded by people..and I feel all humans should have time alone...one of the other reasons I don't like taking my cell home with me...it's only a 15 min. walk...I take a few photos on my walk to work...I love taking pictures of misc things I see in the street...and I put them all in my artwork...I walk inside City of Ink and ask Samba who is my first appointment for the day, he introduce me to my first appt...sit down next to them and ask them their spending budget and their tattoo idea....how bout yall just check out this video..City of Ink life.....

LOVE...friendship..and Loyalty

I try to surround myself with positive souls only. I have some really good friends in my life, even some of the groupies who aren't really into the art movement are cool ass hell...and everyone services a purpose. I believe everyone cross paths for a reason, good or bad..we learn from each other. I have an open mind so I welcome anyone in my world who is willing to have an open mind and don't judge others...my friends are good to me...my family is good to me...I'm really blessed. Even the people I have cut off for personal reasons, I'm also thankful for them for teaching me lessons in life...Everytime I walk into City of Ink I can feel LOVE...that place was fueled by love. We didn't have any money, but we had love for each other, and we worked VERY hard to make sure it was a perfect place for people new to our lifestyle. I just want to thank City of ink, The Bailey Family, The Prophet Family, Binkis, Jungle 45, Patchwerks, Asheville, and THE PEOPLE for believing in me...the older I grow the happier I become....I feed off of life..and I wish everyone would find their inner peace inside...because I'm working on my inner peace with SELF....

My Little Peacock Tattoo....

Me and this young lady always have the best convos...she told me about a story, when she went to Cuba and got to meet up with Assata Shakur. That story along inspired me, and she never stress me about time..she let me eat first before I start the tattoo... you won't believe how many people get mad because you want to take a break before you start the next appointment...but she is always cool....so I had to share one of my favorite clients to the world....thanks sis!



This tattoo is also a COVER-UP...but I had forgot to take the "before" pictures...maybe we got a picture of her old tattoo...you know when u smoke you forget get the small things...

My life...my dreams...happiness

I have one more tattoo to do tonight. I'm a lil' tired but I'm a man I can handle a few more hours. I bought a couple of movies from the movie man that comes by with all the new shit. I got something nice to smoke..and I think I still have some wine at the crib...so I'm going straight home and relax to a Hollywood night. I'm at a happy place in my life...and I really do feel blessed. The people are supporting City of Ink and believing in our dream..and the people can see it grow into reality...It's amazing to see your baby grow up. I only lose one friend (he know who he is) in this raise of City of Ink...and it's always good to drop negative energy so I don't feel bad for that lame at all...have a blessed life, fight your inner demons, and once your man enough to talk face to face I will be here ready for that invite....Within this 30 days, we have been featured in INKED magazine (again), URBAN INK (again), and PLAYBOY's A-List for best tattoo shops just 2 days ago....life is good...I'm feeling good..and all I want to do is see my family, kick off my shoes and be close to my love ones....

PLAYBOY Magazine has listed City of Ink on their "A-LIST" for BEST Tattoo Shop!

Playboy Magazine has listed City of Ink as one of the best tattoo shop on their "A-LIST" of tattoo shops....we are HONORED and thankful to Playboy magazine and the writer Jason for believing on out movement...things are changing for us and we are blessed, humbled and thankful for ALL the support from all over the world...

Check out the link from Playboy magazine:

http://www.playboy.com/articles/tattoo-parlors/index.html



http://www.playboy.com/articles/tattoo-parlors/index.html

This is what Playboy wrote about us:

While everyone and their soccer mom focuses on tattoo TV shows, the African-American tattoo world is undergoing an under-the-radar renaissance. As high-profile inked hip-hop stars grab the mike, a legion of artists are grabbing tattoo machines and pushing the art forward. Atlanta's City of Ink is one shop at the center of the evolution. Owners Miya Bailey and Tuki Carter relocated the shop from North Carolina with a plan to re-think the way they approached the art of tattooing. (Namely, no more gangster imagery.) The bright pink and purple shop includes a resident DJ who drops beats as Bailey, Carter and resident artists Corey Davis, Chris McAdoo, Melvin Todd, Ant and Sophie lay down everything from comic book art to spiritual images, all bursting in color. The shop's rep and vibe have attracted Usher, Young Jeezy and other stars who come in to cruise the shop's art gallery and spend time getting inked. Don't worry—they can handle any skin type, even pasty white boy.