Ryan Henry Talks Maturing, Psychological Wellness, Moments With DMX, & “Black Ink Crew Chicago” Season 8

The evolution of actuality tv is a case examine all its personal, however partnered with a era dominated by social media makes unscripted reveals an untamable beast. Whereas it’s acknowledged that actuality TV is a type of leisure that thrusts on a regular basis individuals into the highlight, there are nonetheless fanbases that take these storylines to coronary heart. For seven seasons, hundreds of thousands of viewers worldwide have tuned in to observe Black Ink Crew Chicago, led by Ryan Henry, and people followers have helped catapult the tattoo mogul and his 9Mag group to new heights. Nonetheless, the ever-changing forged has additionally put a few of their most contentious moments on show, making them targets for criticism, controversy, and viral takeovers. 

Henry is aware of passionate responses from strangers who’ve watched him face scandals over time. Black Ink Crew Chicago is stuffed with drama as Henry has misplaced shut associates, fired a number of staff, revamped 9Mag, and admitted to infidelities. It has brought about him to be tacked with loads of unfavorable labels, however he has taken it in stride now that non-public progress and accountability are on the forefront of his every day life.

With the brand new season of Black Ink Crew Chicago premiering this night (August 9), Ryan Henry caught up with us for an earnest dialog about studying from his earlier disgraces. Success in fatherhood, enterprise, and maturation appears to be his main focus, and whereas he understands why he has typically been within the crosshairs of vitriol, he’s grateful for individuals who can see past the errors he is made in his previous as they develop in maturity with him with every unfolding season.

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Previous to his actuality tv and 9Mag fame, The Chi-City native had a roster of superstar shoppers that he informed us he as soon as tattooed out of his house, and on Black Ink Crew Chicago, we have seen individuals like Nicki Minaj, G Herbo, Erica Mena, King Louie, Krayzie Bone, and Diamond from Crime Mob are available in for his or her flip in his store’s chair. Whereas all the private drama makes for excellent rankings, Henry finds it necessary to symbolize Chicago to indicate the world that the Windy Metropolis is greater than your misconceptions. 

“I believe 9Mag and Chicago go hand in hand. Individuals world wide can see that. Like I mentioned, I believe the perfect half that we get from being on TV for therefore lengthy is that folks can relate to how real we’re. That is the factor, we stand on being in Chicago,” Henry informed HNHH. “You understand, there’s the stigma from individuals exterior of Chicago, what they consider Chicago. I am from the identical issues that folks have a stigma about, however I all the time needed to indicate it is by no means nearly that… We had been capable of finding a method out of the streets and be Black enterprise homeowners, be good fathers, and be associates. Having the ability to present that, and present that Chicago’s power, may be very, very vivid.”

Learn by way of our complete interview with Ryan Henry as he particulars what to anticipate from the upcoming season of Black Ink Crew Chicago, why individuals ought to train warning earlier than getting into unscripted tv, how addressing psychological well being and wellness has modified his inside views, why he purposefully steered away from that includes too a lot of his superstar shoppers on the present, and revisit a heartfelt reminiscence that includes an impromptu go to from DMX that made for one of the vital “significant” moments in 9Mag historical past.

This interview has been barely edited for readability.

HNHH: We’re years deep into Black Ink Crew Chicago now, and it looks like all people has type of grown up with you. What can we count on from this season as in comparison with what we now have seen from Ryan Henry and the entire crew earlier than?

RYAN HENRY: Now that we’re eight years in, that is a whole lot of time for individuals to see a whole lot of progress with you. I imply, I began after I was 28, I am 36 now. So, simply with that, I’ve grown as a father, I’ve grown as a good friend—and positively, most significantly, as a enterprise particular person, but additionally as a person. In doing that, you realize, exhibiting a lot of our private life, you get to see a whole lot of modifications, which each and every particular person goes by way of so much from their 20s to 30s, and even simply eight years of progress.

Individuals see all of our faults from the start of being youthful children to being adults and the issues that we now have to undergo, to make errors after which be taught from them, particularly in entrance of the world. That is type of very unstable, however I believe that in itself is one thing that folks can admire. The rationale why we have been capable of have the assist of individuals for therefore lengthy is as a result of so most of the issues that we do take care of, regardless that they’re on the forefront, are very relatable, and other people perceive that. I admire individuals simply with the ability to assist that, after which, largely, having love from it and respect from it, of the expansion that comes from the issues that occur…as a result of issues are all the time gonna occur.

Additionally, one thing that looks as if an necessary level is to focus on the numerous facets of Chicago as a metropolis. A lot of you’re natives, born and raised, and it appears that evidently you shine a light-weight on issues that go on inside the metropolis past the stereotypes of, “Oh, it is violent.” Are we going to see extra of that as seasons progress?

Yeah, completely. I believe 9Mag and Chicago go hand in hand. Individuals world wide can see that. Like I mentioned, I believe the perfect half that we get from being on TV for therefore lengthy is that folks can relate to how real we’re. That is the factor, we stand on being in Chicago, you realize what I imply? The issues we do, whether or not or not it’s some issues from a neighborhood outreach, or simply even being in tune with all people, from a few of us being road guys, after which all the things that is in between that.

You understand, there’s the stigma from individuals exterior of Chicago, what they consider Chicago. I am from the identical issues that folks see and have a stigma about, however I all the time needed to indicate it is by no means simply that. It was all the time the lane of like, “Man, we from that, too,” however we had been capable of finding a method out of the streets and be Black enterprise homeowners, be good fathers, and be associates. Having the ability to present that and present that Chicago’s power may be very, very vivid. Every thing that we do, and nonetheless being in tune with the town day in and time out, and all the things that comes by way of and from right here, I really feel like that is essentially the most distinguished a part of what represents 9Mag. You understand, 9Mag and Chicago are type of the identical phrase.

I am from the identical issues that folks see and have a stigma about, however I all the time needed to indicate it is by no means simply that. It was all the time the lane of like, “Man, we from that, too,” however we had been capable of finding a method out of the streets and be Black enterprise homeowners, be good fathers, and be associates. Having the ability to present that and present that Chicago’s power may be very, very vivid. Every thing that we do, and nonetheless being in tune with the town day in and time out, and all the things that comes by way of and from right here, I really feel like that is essentially the most distinguished a part of what represents 9Mag. You understand, 9Mag and Chicago are type of the identical phrase.

Yeah, I can see that. I learn an interview the place you mentioned that you just by no means had any intention of being on tv. It wasn’t your intent to be some actuality TV star, however now that you just’re right here and we’re eight years deep, I do know that as social media grows, there are extra those who wish to have their actuality fame or second. What would you say to somebody who desires to be part of unscripted tv? What recommendation would you give them?

I really feel prefer it takes a sure kind of particular person to need to be within the lane of fame and notoriety. I depend it as an important blessing {that a} ability that I used to be blessed with—and traits that I used to be blessed with and that we had been blessed with—to have the ability to simply be real to one another, to have the ability to be supportive of one another, have the ability to come collectively and, you realize, create one thing with onerous work and let or not it’s seen and let or not it’s picked up after which explored by the world, simply by us being us. There was a larger blessing in doing that, after which us taking up fame and stardom because the again finish of it.

Individuals ask me on a regular basis, like, “Oh, man, I need to be on TV, how did you get in contact with the networks?” Man, we shut up and did the work and so they referred to as us. I do not assume there is no different real method than doing it. Individuals ask on daily basis, “Can I be on the present? I need to be on the present, can I be on the present?” That does not matter, you realize? It does not matter as a result of if that is what your aim is, understanding that world and that realm, you possibly can have your 15 seconds of fame, but it surely will not imply something if you do not have one thing of substance, one thing of relatability that enables for individuals to attach with you after which need to follow you and need to develop with you and need to see you or be related to you extra than simply initially seeing you.

I can convey anyone on the present that may dunk from the three-point line, and it might be wonderful and do three backflips and doing this or that. As soon as that trick is over…effectively, it is over. It is a one-trick pony, and no one will keep in mind it. However with the ability to be ourselves after which have individuals from world wide see and respect and relate to, “Oh man, these Chicago individuals and that is what they do.” I am extra impressed by individuals strolling as much as me on the road and as a substitute of simply, “Oh, hey, what’s up, man, you from the present? Lemme get an image,” them saying like, “Hey, man, I admire the way you look out to your individuals. I admire how you’re a good good friend to your brother that was going by way of a psychological scenario, the way you caught it out to your those who had been going by way of one thing.” You understand what I imply? “How you are a father to your children, how you set stuff apart for enterprise.”

All of these issues imply extra. Like I mentioned, let or not it’s a reward to your onerous work, similar method it might be with cash or one thing else. Let that be a reward in case your onerous work, fruits of the labor versus fishing for that [TV moment], as a result of that will not final lengthy.

Bearing on that, coping with psychological well being and psychological wellness has been a spotlight of the present. I do know you’ve got talked about in different interviews, going to remedy, and why you determined to do this at the moment. It is actually necessary inside the Black neighborhood, inside the Hip Hop neighborhood, and particularly amongst Black males that we begin having these discussions. I simply needed you to speak slightly bit about your progress inside that course of as a result of we noticed a few of that unfold. Are we going to see extra of that and people conversations? And simply in actual life, how has that been for you, as effectively?

Completely. I imply, we do come from the stigma of, you realize, having to suppress the issues which can be alleged to be normalized with us, issues we’re alleged to be desensitized to. It is bottled up after which we really feel like we now have to take care of it on our personal. As you change into extra of an grownup—not only a man, however extra of an grownup—and perceive, for me, that remedy allowed for me to have, greater than something, accountability. You understand, an outlet and a lane for me to be extra trustworthy with myself with, initially, an unbiased opinion that may permit for me to listen to issues about myself that have to be mentioned with out it being biased from a good friend or from your self or what you are pondering, after which really making use of it, figuring out that that is for a cause. Then, you need to use these instruments and people methods to start out studying how you can higher your self, and that is helped me tremendously.

For all my guys, I pushed for them, like, “Yo, man, you gotta get that out.” As a result of we’re bred to maintain it in. We’re bred to implode due to that. We had been bred to change into, by statistics, the indignant Black man due to this, due to that, due to what we have not uncovered, due to the issues we now have unresolved, due to the traumatic points that we have not handled, the unresolved issues that we now have in our households that we grew up with.

When you deal with it, you realize, it is a launch. It is a stepping stone to get you to the subsequent level as a result of it is answered questions. We stroll by way of life with unanswered questions and really feel like we bought to reply them ourselves. If you get previous that time of pondering, “Yo, I haven’t got the reply,” and anyone else may also help me discover the reply. As soon as I’ve the reply, I can change into a greater particular person, I can discover a higher resolution for therefore many various issues. It is made me tremendously a greater particular person, simply due to that.

Having a few of your controversial moments unfold on tv, with hundreds of thousands of individuals watching and social media making them go viral—these clips, they’re etched into actuality without end—there have been emotional responses. How do you determine what a part of your life you need to share and what to answer from the general public? I do know that which may have modified from the primary season to the place we are actually, as a result of each you as an individual and what you are promoting have grown, however how do you outline your boundaries?

I really feel like what remedy has allowed me to do essentially the most was develop as an individual to change into trustworthy with myself first, one thing that in my youthful life I wasn’t capable of do. That allowed for the issues which can be journeys and falls or mishaps or errors that occur over time to be scrutinized a lot extra versus should you had been truthful about it to your self first. When you’re truthful about it to your self first, an outdoor opinion does not matter to you that a lot. When you’re not, then you definately’re voluntarily in search of the acceptance or the siding of most individuals, and all people’s not going to do this. Everyone’s not going to agree with you. Everyone goes to really feel a distinct kind of method, particularly now.

Within the local weather of social media, it is 10 occasions [worse]. You’ll be able to put up one factor now—should you look on a weblog submit and so they say, “Here is a child,” you are gonna have some individuals calling the newborn ugly, some individuals calling the newborn fats, some individuals calling the newborn probably gradual, some individuals saying the newborn was fortunate for being born wealthy. There’s gonna be so many opinions, after which when you’ll be able to be trustworthy with your self first, it permits so that you can not care a lot about what these opinions are gonna be as a result of individuals are gonna have them anyway.

After I was in lots of private conditions, being within the public and subjected to being slandered by so many individuals…that is gonna occur anyway. There’s so many individuals going by way of the identical precise factor, it is simply not on the forefront. I imply, it isn’t on entrance web page information and so they’re going by way of the identical precise factor that you’re, that you just’re getting scrutiny behind. It makes it simpler so that you can need to hope that it does not worsen so that you begin wanting into what could possibly be greatest. In doing that, you will discover the unhealthy and it could possibly internally rip you aside should you care that a lot about it. And should you’re not studying from it, you realize, all people makes errors. When you’re making repetitive errors since you’re not studying from something, then you’re subjected to all the time being talked about and all the time having one thing hooked up to you. You will by no means develop, and you may by no means develop from what individuals noticed you as of their life since you are nonetheless of their life.

If you an identical method from season one to season eight, and that is how individuals all the time considered you, it is like, “You did not make the change.” Individuals could be there for the leisure, however additionally they ain’t dumb and so they see change. You’ll be able to actually see individuals say stuff about me and be like, “Man, I do not like him, however he mentioned one thing actual. He did one thing actual, he true for that.” You understand what I imply? The actual can all the time acknowledge the true in it, even when it is slightly little bit of a foul style in your mouth. You’ll be able to develop, you may be that, you are not all the time gonna be caught the place you’re in that one mishap that everyone all the time has should you’re not studying from it. When you’re studying from it, then you realize, it is up to now. Any individual’s gonna maintain on to it all the time. Any individual will look previous Kim Kardashian being a mom and a billionaire and all these items and be speaking about her intercourse tape nonetheless. So what?

I need to change gears slightly bit and speak about celebrities or Hip Hop artists you’ve got highlighted on Black Ink Crew Chicago. There was Nicki Minaj, Erica Mena, King Louie, G Herbo …are we going to see extra artists as seasons go ahead that are available in and assist the enterprise? 

Transferring ahead, I believe I could be extra open to exhibiting extra artists or, you realize, individuals of notoriety now. What I caught to my weapons on, from the start of the primary season all through, was that I by no means needed to take advantage of the truth that I had been a star artist, that we had been capable of be superstar artists, as a result of, with the platform of actuality TV, I by no means needed individuals to really feel like we weren’t down for the tradition of the common particular person. That is what grew us and that is what grows us. I used to be tattooing celebrities in my home and I used to be tattooing within the hood.

When it got here to tv, I knew that folks shall be pondering that since you’re on tv, then you definately simply go away all the things that grew you behind and all you do is tattoo celebrities and stuff now. I purposely saved celebrities and other people of notoriety off of the present for myself as a lot as I may as a result of I did not need the general public and the individuals who grew us and helped develop us—the typical particular person on daily basis who comes get tattooed 100 occasions greater than a star, the individuals who nonetheless need to probably be tattooed by us as a result of these are what encourage us artistically—I needed them to not really feel slighted. Like, “Okay, they’re at a hierarchy, now they cannot mess with us anymore.” No man, we had been all the time in regards to the individuals.

I by no means needed to push them off or make them really feel that method. Now that we have established that 9Mag and myself are in regards to the artwork, catering to the consumer, respecting the shoppers, it is about being there for one another, then we will have some enjoyable with it now. Begin dibbling and dabbling extra into it, as a result of we do these. We do tattoo individuals of notoriety, it is simply that I by no means needed to take advantage of it. I needed it to really feel good versus individuals feeling like, “You do not even tattoo common individuals no extra, you simply solely tattoo celebrities.” No, we wish you to know that we’re right here for you.

Are there any memorable tales of a rapper or artist that you have tattooed or labored with? Perhaps a chunk that you just did that type of caught out or one thing of that nature?

I’ll say in all probability one in every of my most memorable interactions can be not me personally, however one in every of my fellow artists from the present Phor. He had referred to as me up, in all probability about 11 o’clock at evening, and I wasn’t even on the store. He was like, “Man, DMX on the town, he desires a tattoo, bro. Come on, man, come open up a store for me.” To us, it is like, man, it is X. Proper? I got here, we opened up the store, after which we bought to see an idol of ours, you realize what I imply, in particular person.

I did not tattoo him however Phor tattooed him in my workplace. He introduced all his individuals with him, and DMX was simply such a real particular person. He simply vibed with any and all people and it is like, man, I do know what it is prefer to tire of individuals and the admiration and issues like that, at a sure level. For him to be 20, virtually 30 years into this sport of doing that, and him being so real with all these those who he do not know—he would stroll round and shake all people’s hand. I do this in admiration of individuals like that, being real on a regular basis and, you realize, that love to remain real that a lot. He made you are feeling like he was at house, you realize. We vibed, we kicked it, partied…and that was simply on a late-night whim. Nevertheless it was with an icon and a legend. I am glad we bought to do this earlier than he handed. It was very significant to us.

I’ll say in all probability one in every of my most memorable interactions can be not me personally, however one in every of my fellow artists from the present Phor. He had referred to as me up, in all probability about 11 o’clock at evening, and I wasn’t even on the store. He was like, “Man, DMX on the town, he desires a tattoo, bro. Come on, man, come open up a store for me.” To us, it is like, man, it is X. Proper? I got here, we opened up the store, after which we bought to see an idol of ours, you realize what I imply, in particular person.

That is so good. It is loopy, after I discuss to individuals otherwise you simply examine, you realize, tales involving DMX, it is—

So many individuals say the identical factor!

The identical factor! He was one of the vital constant artists when it got here to how he interacted with individuals. Okay, so that is my final query and I ask it to everybody. I type of touched on it earlier than that there are expectations from individuals which can be celebrities, proper? Somebody equivalent to your self, the world sees you as one thing, the trade sees you as one thing else, all people type of has their notion and perspective of who you’re primarily based on what they’ve seen. So, once we take away the veil and phantasm of superstar, what’s one thing about Ryan Henry as an individual that does not all the time translate to the general public that you just want individuals may see extra of?

I believe rising up within the metropolis, rising up within the hood, I did not all the time perceive…it allowed for me to place it off, the truth that all individuals would think about me now, being on this place now, is that I’ve bought some seems. Being on this place, individuals really feel that every one I’m is a few seems. For me, I grew up having to defend wanting a sure method as a result of I’d be the primary one picked on, I would be the primary one talked about. All the blokes I grew up with, simply because they do not appear to be me, as a result of like I am combined and I bought a distinct look, rising up, individuals all the time attempt to attribute to the seems—even in the case of the present now, individuals speak about how I look, how I look, how I look.

For me, I could not care much less. At all times could not care much less about it as a result of it is like, man, I am enjoyable, I be appearing a idiot. I am humorous, I be clowning, I be joking. I am a real particular person and I hate that folks can solely see that half from a sure worth. So, that is why I admire so many individuals nonetheless supporting us, as a result of, over time, they get to see previous that. They get to see previous the very fact of what’s going to initially be on a actuality present on TV.

Some individuals would assume, “All you bought some seems.” Man, I am an artist, I am a father, I am a person of God, I am a philanthropist to some individuals, I am a therapist to some individuals, I am a superb good friend, you realize, I am humorous. That is primarily what I used to be saying, like, yeah, I am humorous, you realize what I am saying, I do not care about no seems! [laughs] However as a result of it is a lot of a stigma, they make or not it’s to the place it is like, that is all you may have of worth. Some individuals, that is all they bought to convey to the desk. Realistically, I do not care about it, and past that, know that a few of us fellas don’t love being objectified, additionally. You understand, it ain’t cool, particularly if that is not what we’re in search of. You understand what I imply? It’s downright disgusting generally. It is identical to, man, do you see me in any respect? Nevertheless it’s all you simply see.

I am a superb good friend and I am human. The identical method a girl would not prefer to be objectified. I hope that folks—by way of so many various issues that they’re going to see on tv, on the web, on social media—that they’re going to have the ability to see there are such a lot of totally different elements to that particular person, that is simply not the factor. They be slicing out after I’m appearing a idiot on the present as a result of generally it does not match the narrative after I bought to be a boss, and so they need me to look meaner than I’m. Man, y’all ain’t see how I used to be simply cracking jokes on all these fools! That is how I do, I be clowning.

That is what I hope: I hope for extra individuals to see extra of my inside and I hope that it is exuded by way of a whole lot of the episodes, by way of social media…if they cannot see that, then hopefully when anyone will get to fulfill me, then they get to see and be taught the true me, if something.

I admire that so much. That is all I’ve for you right now. Thanks a lot to your time!

Thanks. Good ebook assortment!

[Laughs] Oh, that is simply the primary half.

I can inform. [laughs]

The eighth season of Black Ink Crew Chicago premieres tonight, August 9 on VH1. Watch the supertrailer beneath.