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Inked and Alarmed: 10 Things You Never Want Your Tattoo Artist to Say
By [Mike Unt]
Getting a tattoo is a bold, often meaningful decision—but no matter how much you’ve researched designs, artists, and studios, there’s one variable that can still send shivers down your spine: your tattoo artist’s mouth. Whether you’re going under the needle for the first time or adding to a well-worn canvas, here are 10 things you absolutely never want to hear from the person holding that buzzing machine.

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1. “Oops.”

The universal sound of regret. Whether it’s a crooked line, a misplaced dot, or something worse—if your artist says “oops,” it’s a full-body panic moment. You’re not getting a haircut; this is permanent.

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2. “I’ve never done this design before, but how hard can it be?”

Confidence is great. Blind optimism? Not so much. Complex designs require experience. You don’t want your skin to be their trial run.

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3. “Hang on, let me watch this YouTube tutorial real quick.”

If your artist is crowdsourcing their technique from the internet mid-session, run. Your body is not a DIY project.

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4. “I was out late last night. My hands are still kinda shaky.”

A needle-wielding artist with the motor skills of a newborn deer is a nightmare scenario. Steady hands are the foundation of good ink.

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5. “Wait…which side were we doing this on again?”

Indecision is not cute when you’re about to get something drilled into your skin forever. Always clarify placement before the needle hits skin—and maybe get it in writing.

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6. “Don’t worry, the infection usually goes away.”

Usually?! A reputable artist should be religious about hygiene. If your artist shrugs off sanitation, it’s time to bounce.

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Tattoos are art so choose carefully

7. “I kinda freestyle as I go. It’s more artistic that way.”

Great if you’re into abstract surprises. Terrifying if you came in with a meaningful design. Creativity is cool—within boundaries.

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8. “You’ll probably want to touch this up in like… a month.”

A quality tattoo should hold its own for years, not weeks. If your artist is already hinting at a do-over, that’s a red flag flapping wildly.

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9. “My ex’s name used to be there—funny story, actually…”

You don’t want a cover-up artist who overshares about their own regrets mid-session. Keep the therapy for the couch, not the chair.

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10. “Wait, are you bleeding more than usual?”

There’s normal bleeding, and then there’s more than usual. Either way, that’s something your artist should know how to handle—not say with alarm while they’re working.

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Final Thoughts:
Tattooing is a mix of trust, technique, and talent. If your artist drops one of these red-flag phrases, don’t be afraid to stop the session and reassess. It’s your skin, your art, and your forever. Choose wisely—and listen closely.

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Got a tattoo horror story or something your artist said that made you pause? Tag us on social with #TattooRedFlags—your skin-saving story might make our next feature.

“Hollapoint: The Heartbeat Beneath the Hype”
By Mz Lil Lexie | Feature – Culture &amp; Sound | WINNER: Best Profile Feature, National Music Journalism Awards

He walked into the room like a storm with swagger—loud, magnetic, unmistakably Hollapoint. Diamond-studded chains caught the light. The scent of Creed cologne hit before his grin did. He wore that signature mix of high fashion and street heritage: Dior on his chest, loyalty in his eyes. I’d interviewed war zone survivors with steadier pulses.

The first thing he said?
“Damn, Lexie. You always this fine when you writing about people?”

I sighed. Here we go.
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The First No

Let’s get one thing clear: I am not easily flustered. I’ve sat across from senators, murderers, moguls. But Hollapoint is a different beast. He didn’t just flirt—he performed affection. Every “no” I gave him, he swatted like a feather: dramatic, amused, undeterred. A wink here. A compliment laced with suggestion there. By minute twelve, I was mentally reviewing HR protocol—even though I was the only woman in this room and this story was mine to write.

He leaned in during a question about his latest album, Mad Science Flow, and said with a crooked smile,
“You sure we talkin’ about music? ’Cause I feel like you feelin’ me.”

“Nope,” I answered flatly.

He laughed. “You the only woman ever told me no with a straight face. That’s… kinda sexy.”

God help me.
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Behind the Chainlink Armor

I could’ve walked. A lesser reporter might’ve. But I’d come for more than soundbites. Hollapoint isn’t just a rapper. He’s an architect of emotion—mixing street survival, deep South gospel harmonies, and unfiltered rage into every verse. His songs hold grief and glory in the same breath. I had to know: what makes someone like that tick?

So I did what I do best—I waited.

Somewhere between his third overconfident compliment and his second serious take on fatherhood, I saw it. The moment he dropped the act. A question about his brother, lost to gun violence, made his voice crack. A pause. A breath. Then:

“I carry him in every verse. Some people write to be rich. I write to stay sane.”
His eyes didn’t flirt then. They searched.⸻
The more he spoke, the more I realized Hollapoint didn’t flirt because he’s disrespectful. He flirts because it’s armor. It’s easier to be the player than to be the poet who cried when his daughter was born. Easier to talk about my lips than the fact that he didn’t speak until age six, traumatized by watching his birth-mother overdose.

<h1>The Sweetness Beneath the Steel</h1>
A heart behind the bricks

He’s spent so long proving he’s untouchable, he forgot he wants to be touched—for real. Not lust. Not fantasy. Connection.

“I keep chasing women who want what I show ’em,” he said softly. “But you ain’t buyin’ it. You see past all this.”

“I do,” I said.

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The Real No—and the Unexpected Yes

I didn’t give Hollapoint my number. I didn’t meet him for drinks. I didn’t melt into his million-dollar gaze.

But I gave him something he hadn’t gotten in years: the truth.

“You’re talented. You’re beautiful. You’re sweet. But that doesn’t mean I owe you anything.”

He didn’t blink. He nodded.

“Fair,” he said. “And that’s why you got me shook. You not just another girl, Lexie. You the one that saw me.”

He shook my hand before leaving. Firm. Respectful. No slick comments. Just a man, unguarded, seen.

The Takeaway

So here’s the secret no one tells you about Hollapoint: beneath the platinum records and prison scars is exactly what every girl says she wants. Honest vulnerability. Earned strength. A heart that hurts out loud.

And the irony?

He found the one woman who wouldn’t fall for him—and in that rejection, maybe he found someone who finally understood him.

I came for the music. I stayed for the story. And I left knowing that even the loudest hearts beat quietly when they’re finally heard.

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End.
© Mz Lil Lexie, The Culture Issue | Vol. 47 | Urban Hip-hop -N- Ink

From Basement to Billboard: How Underground Rap Became the New Mainstream
By [Joseph McCurdy ]

Once the gritty heartbeat of the streets, underground rap was a sound you had to dig for—burned onto CD-Rs, passed around in barber shops, and championed by a small but loyal subculture. Fast forward to today, and the very elements that once defined underground rap—raw lyricism, independent hustle, regional slang, and defiance of industry norms—are now front and center on the charts, in Super Bowl ads, and all over TikTok.

So how did the underdog become the blueprint?

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1. The Internet Changed the Game

The rise of SoundCloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, and later TikTok gave underground artists a stage that didn’t require radio play or major label backing. Artists like XXXTentacion, Denzel Curry, and Joey Bada$$ built global audiences from bedrooms and basements, proving that viral energy and authentic voices could rival label budgets.

2. Authenticity Became Currency

As mainstream rap became more polished, fans started craving something more real. The vulnerability and storytelling in underground rap—whether it’s Detroit’s gritty street tales or the introspective bars of New York’s boom-bap revivalists—connected with listeners tired of corporate gloss. Now, what once sounded “too raw for the radio” is exactly what fans want.

3. Indie Is the New Major

Today, being independent is a power move. Artists like Tech N9ne, Russ, and Griselda’s Westside Gunn built empires without traditional labels. They proved that with savvy branding, direct-to-fan marketing, and touring hustle, underground rap could be profitable and culturally dominant. Even major labels have taken notice, often scooping up indie talent after they’ve already built loyal fanbases.

4. Regional Sounds Went Global

Underground rap was always a gateway to local culture—think Bay Area hyphy, Memphis horrorcore, or Chicago drill before it exploded. Now, regional styles are being broadcast worldwide, often without compromise. What used to be “too niche” is now the sound of the moment. Artists like Icewear Vezzo, BabyTron, and Ken Carson aren’t bending to the industry—they’re forcing the industry to adapt.

5. The Underground Aesthetic Became a Brand

Grainy music videos, distorted 808s, lo-fi cover art, and minimal promo used to be signs of budget limitations. Now, they’re strategic. Mainstream acts are borrowing the underground aesthetic to appear edgier and more “in touch.” Even Drake and Travis Scott have flirted with underground collaborators and styles to keep their sound fresh and relevant.

6. Gatekeepers Are Losing Grip

Blog era heads remember when tastemakers controlled who got attention. But today, your song can blow up on a meme page or get added to a Spotify playlist by a fan. The people, not the press, decide what’s hot. That’s democratized the game—and allowed true underground talent to rise, unfiltered.

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So… Is Underground Still Underground?

That’s the paradox. When what once lived in the shadows becomes the light, does it still count as underground?

The answer lies in mindset. Underground rap today isn’t about obscurity—it’s about independence, authenticity, and resistance to homogenization. It’s not about where you rap from, but how you rap. It’s about owning your voice, even if a million people are now listening.

In 2025, underground is no longer a hidden corner of hip-hop. It’s the core.

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Sidebar: 5 Artists Who Took Underground to the Top
•	Griselda – Revived grimy, sample-heavy New York rap and took it global.
•	$NOT – Started on SoundCloud, now charting and collaborating with mainstream stars.
•	Armani White – Turned a viral moment into major label buzz without losing his underground roots.
•	Baby Keem – Kendrick’s protégé who blurred the line between experimental underground and chart success.
•	Destroy Lonely – A new wave icon proving underground energy can drive mainstream hype.

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Final Thought:
What was once called “underground rap” is now just rap—unfiltered, undeniable, and impossible to ignore. Welcome to the new mainstream.

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