BLACK INK CREW NY SEASON 10 RECAP: BLACK INK & HARLEM ARE LIKE PB&J
By Sidra Lackey
Black Ink Crew NY episode 6, season 10 starts off with Ceaser and his girlfriend at their home, him telling her he’s thinking of closing Black Ink 125th. She asks him why and he tells her his landlord all of a sudden wants a month to month lease. He says he wants to stay in Harlem but doesn’t know if he can.
At Black Ink Brooklyn, more gifts of flowers and chocolate come from another OnlyFans admirer for Alex, as Tatti points out. Spyder arrives at the shop with a big, fake alligator for Puma, to the crew’s confusion. Young Bae comes into the studio and states Alex, “found his talent” with OnlyFans when she hears of him getting more presents. She starts eating some of his chocolates and Puma warns her with a straight face, she could have “died” if someone had poisoned them. She starts to spit them out and asks in horror, “were they sealed?” before being told they were. They find out officially Nychelle went back to Texas for the time being. They all agree they like her.
All of a sudden, a random woman comes into Black Ink looking for Bux. Puma jokes Bux really is a Black Ink member when someone, “pulls up on you!” The woman says she’s been messing around with Bux but Bux insists they’re not anymore. The woman is aggressive and tells Bux point blank that he’s “unloyal” and how he talked about Spyder’s wife to her. Spyder perks up and tells the woman, “easy!” at the mention of his wife. Puma makes more jokes saying, “pillow talk” is “breaking the rules of Black Ink.” Spyder says he’s concerned about how the woman obtained the information about his wife. The woman tells Bux to come out of the bathroom but he won’t so she leaves telling everyone spitefully to, “enjoy the rest of your day!” Tatti says, “welcome to the real Black Ink!”
At Gods Of Ink in New Jersey, Krystal says Rok needs to transition from employee to boss and tells him it’s not cool he’s playing video games in front of clients. She asks him about the meeting he had with Ceaser. Rok replays the conversation he had with Ceaser to her. Krystal says nothing has been resolved. She wonders how Puma and Young Bae have their own shops and are still with Black Ink but why it’s an issue for them to have their own shop. Rok promises he’s going to support Krystal 100%. But Krystal says a lot of times Rok should have defended her but didn’t. She tells him they have to be on the same page with Gods Of Ink. Rok tells her he changed and “manned up” by going to Ceaser. She tells him he needs to take care of his responsibilities. Rok sarcastically says, “thanks” and that he’s going for a walk. He says off camera that Gods Of Ink is “tearing them apart” and how Krystal needs to talk to Ceaser.
Meanwhile, Alex has met up with rapper and fellow OnlyFans creator Safaree, to talk. Alex says his OnlyFans is growing and he thinks he can “take over” seriously. He has on an obscene chain that says “Vagina Slayer” on it as he tells Safaree he needs new content. Safaree brags that he made $80k his first week on OnlyFans and Alex proclaims, “I can be a millionaire in no time.” Alex asks him what are the ladies looking for? Safaree’s advice to him is, “oil up” and “grey sweatpants.” Off camera producers ask Alex, what is it about grey sweatpants? Alex swears they show off a guy’s goods. Alex is confident he may, “own OnlyFans by the end of the year.” Safaree suggests they have an audition which Alex is down with and he declares the two of them together will, “cause trouble.”
Back at Black Ink Brooklyn, Ceaser comes into the studio and asks why Bux has his coat on. Puma says right away Bux had a, “pull up.” Ceaser is shocked and asks Bux what he has going on. The guys all make jokes at Bux’s expense but he’s not laughing with them. Spyder comes into the shop, brushing past Ceaser who notices something is up. Spyder says he feels hurt, angry and betrayed. Bux says he needs to talk to his “brother.” Spyder says there’s, “always consequences to everything.” Bux tells him, “I love you more than my real brother. Are we cool?” Spyder tells him shortly, “we’re good.” Off camera, Spyder says that translation meant he’s, “not going to f**k with him” anymore.
Ceaser and Puma talk to the side at Black Ink and Puma suggests he has a “Puma Production.” He throws out the idea of a 420 skate party, now that NY legalized marijuana and how they can hopefully get new clients from the party. Ceaser comes out and tells Puma that Black Ink 125th is about to close, how he hates to lose it and it’s going to be the, “end of an era.” Puma says he understands what is happening because of COVID but it hurts because he saw Black Ink as a Harlem staple. He tells Ceaser that he wants to get his son’s name tattooed on him and Ceaser points out he’s never tattooed him before. Ceaser says it would be an honor to tattoo Puma. Puma says he’s bad at taking tattoos. He slyly mentions that Ceaser’s ex Dutchess tattooed his daughter’s name on him. Ceaser curses in response. Puma gets his first tattoo from Ceaser while groaning all the way. He gets the nickname “Rager” in black script.
Somewhere… Alex and Safaree hold auditions for Alex’s OnlyFans content. He says he’s looking for a freaky girl who loves the body she’s in and feels empowered making OnlyFans content with him. The two have a slew of willing women showcase their “skills.” Alex says the experience is, “crazy” and he expected just twerking. The last woman who auditions comes in with whip cream, a banana and some sort of toy and does a trick that leaves Alex and Safaree with mouths open. After seeing it Alex says, “my whole life flashed in front of my eyes!” and Safaree agrees. In the end, three women are chosen as Alex’s new OnlyFans collaborators.
At Puma’s party, Ceaser tells Puma, “it’s dope” and Puma jokes, “is that a compliment? Is hell freezing over?” The crew starts to come and mingle with the other guests skating and partaking in 420 usage. Alex asks Spyder about Bux and Spyder says, “why would I ever trust him again?” and if it weren’t for him, Bux wouldn’t be part of the crew. Krystal joins the party with Rok to everyone’s surprise. Puma is wary saying, “we don’t need no fights in the skate key.” Ceaser sees her talk to everyone else and tells Ted he feels disrespected. Ted says he agrees with his cousin but he understands Krystal and Rok too in that, “some people may have other dreams.” Puma gives Ceaser advice, “don’t go full Ceaser” on Krystal before she comes over to talk to him.
Ceaser simply tells her, “what’s up?” Krystal says she can’t let herself down and they left on a bad note. He says he heard that from other people and asks why she didn’t come to him already to talk. Krystal starts to cry and Ceaser says she has to tell him what she wants, “You’re either Black Ink or you’re not.” He says he doesn’t hate her and actually, “f**ks with” her. She says she can’t give up on her dream of owning her own shop. Ceaser says she can’t do both and expresses how hard it is to work in and run multiple shops. Rok enters the conversation and tells Krystal, “whatever you wanna do, I’m with you.” Ceaser says, “it’s gonna happen with or without you. Rather with you.” The tense exchange finally ends with Krystal agreeing with Ceaser and saying hello to Black Ink New Jersey. Ceaser announces he has “bad news” to the crew and that 125th is closing. He says the 125th crew is joining forces and working at Black Ink Brooklyn until further notice. Puma thinks it’s a bad idea. Ted notes off camera, “nobody reacted in no type of way,” to the shop closing but probably because everyone was, “so stoned” and hopefully they keep the same energy back at work the next day.
The final scene in this episode of Black Ink Crew NY takes place at the iconic Black Ink 125th. Ceaser, Ted and Puma recall signing the lease, the first toga party they had there, Ceaser tattooing the late DMX and the advice he shared with him. Puma laments, “Black Ink and Harlem are like peanut butter and jelly” — that Harlem without a Black Ink “doesn’t make sense” like “Ashford without Simpson, Martin without Gina, Jay-Z without Beyonce” — before the three close up shop for good.
Black Ink Crew NY episode 7 sneak peek shows Black Ink Brooklyn integrating with Black Ink 125th and it not going well so much that Tatti storms out, Spyder and his wife discussing the Bux situation and Ceaser having a Black Ink bootcamp but without Tatti…