P. GAMBINO: In 2007 I decided that based on the rising popularity of tattooing and tattoo culture in the Black community, and the lack of representation of this tattoo culture in ANY of the tat mags on the US newsstands it was time to launch such a title. I believed it was time for this community to have a high quality print media to showcase their art, their artists and their celebs. And to have a forum to address certain issues unique to the Black tat community – ink color, scaring problems, etc.

P. GAMBINO: The challenges faced each issue are like those of any other magazine -- deadlines, copy editing, countless phone calls and emails, etc. However we do face certain unique challenges because we deal extensively with the public -- shop owners, artists, readers and they do not really have a sense of strict deadlines. And then there’s the celebs. Well, celebs are celebs and that comes with an entirely different series of challenges.

P. GAMBINO: The issue to hit the stands next includes tat artists Jose Lopez, El Hac, Christina Sparrow. Skateboarder Antwuan Dixon. Rap artist Busta Rhymes. NFL player Justin Miller. Plus a lot more.