I commend him for that,” a grateful Henry said. That brother helped me through my hard times when I was tattooing in the basement of a place that nobody even knew I had. And when I didn’t stay on that path, he had the patience to let me know that wasn’t what I needed to be doing and helped guide me to where I needed to be. He gave me things to read, and things to listen to.

“He saw what I didn’t know and gave me the tools to start learning business. Hubbard refused to let Henry fall behind and made sure he kept his eyes on the prize, which was still challenging. But, I had someone who still saw the potential in me and picked me back up,” Henry said about Hubbard, who he considers a brother. None of my friends supported me when my relationship was in the worst place and I got put out of my house. Hubbard has been by his side through the good, the bad and now back to the good, Henry said.

If it wasn’t for fellow artist Earl “Greezy” Hubbard, who is also the general manager of 9MAG, he wouldn’t have the business acumen to remain in business, employ others and lift others as he climbs.

Ryan from black ink crew chicago