Murdering Da Ink

The name NIKE is a globally popular name for an American sportswear company. In Greek mythology, the name NIKE means victory in battle and peaceful competition. In the streets of New York, a legend by the name of NIKE Harewood, owner and urban tattoo artist of Murda Ink Tattoos 2, is as influential as the company and triumphant as the Greek myth.

From angel wings to skulls to area codes, stars, crosses, and my favorite crowns, NIKE has inked hip-hop artists to local celebs to basic individuals across the country. Also known for his pioneering efforts in Hip-Hop fashion in the late 80's as one of The Mighty Shirt Kings, this entrepreneur has taken his artist craft to amazing and remarkable business-savvy levels. Urban Life News got a chance to stop by the Hempstead, New York Murda Ink Tattoos 2 (tattoo parlor) to explore the life, art-of-the-game, and wisdom of a true King and master illustrator.

Before the dookey gold rope chains, before the 3 finger rings, before the inventive merging of airbrushing to clothing, where does NIKE Harewood hail from?

I hail from Bedstuy Marcy Projects. I went to the High School of Art and Design where I discovered I was talented in art. I explored my talents throughout the high school years and as time went on I graduated and continued with my artwork. I worked a couple of odd jobs in and out. In 1986 I got with some schoolmates and we formed what we call The Mighty Shirt Kings.

When did your talented flare for art flourish?

My talent for my art flourished when I was about seven years old. I was watching my older sister make her own patterns and clothes and sew for herself. She went to the High School of Fashion Industries back then. It fascinated me to watch her. I said to myself, I wonder if I can draw? It was something that came to me. I grabbed the Sunday paper. There was a cartoon strip named Beetle Bailey. I started looking at it and picked up a pencil and paper and next thing you know I'm drawing. I realized I really had a knack for this thing. My sister wasn't the only one in the house with the flare for art. That's when I realized I had the talent and that's when my art started to flourish. �

How did The Mighty Shirt Kings originate?

The Mighty Shirt Kings originated back in 1986. It started with myself Clyde aka NIKE Harewood, my friend the deceased Rafael KASHEEM Avery, and the other partner Edwin PHADE Sacasa. We went to the High School of Art and Design together. As time went on I got a job doing construction with KASHEEM. KASHEEM got laid off and PHADE was making T-Shirts and selling them Uptown in Harlem. PHADE got a hold of KASHEEM and he said listen I got an idea that we should airbrush and I want to teach you how to airbrush. He said, where's NIKE? KASHEEM told him I was working at the job he recently left. They called me and said they wanted to airbrush some T-shirts in the mall. I told them I didn't know how to do that and plus I was still working. He said, "We will teach you. If you lose your job give me a holla." Low and behold I lost my job that next week. I got laid off. I called and said, "What's that shirt stuff y'all were talking about?" Next thing you know we got together. I started off with hand painting shirts because I use to do it back in Marcy Projects for a lot my friends. As time went on I picked up the airbrush because KASHEEM and PHADE made me. I learned it and mastered it in a matter of a week. Low and behold we called ourselves K&N Shirts, KNP Shirts but it didn't sound right to us. I said, "We are better than that we are kings of this here." They said, "You're right we are kings, we are the shirts kings." I said, "That's right that's who we are the shirt kings." That's the day June 6, 1986 The Mighty Shirt Kings were formed.

Those were the glorious days back on Jamaica Avenue back in the 80's. Like I said The Mighty Shirt Kings came about in 86.

It was a thing that we didn't know that it was going to take us where it took us. It was something new, something different for the people. We didn't start airbrushing. Airbrushing didn't originate from Shirt Kings but we had our own unique style with it. That's what made us stick out. We would take cartoon characters and dress them up in the latest fashion. The sneakers, the dookey rope chains, the three finger rings, and gold teeth that the people were wearing of that era. It took to a lot of people because they never saw anything like that before. So as time went on we had the whole Jamaica Avenue, to Hollis, to Southside. They were all coming down there spreading the word that these guys were in the Colosseum that called themselves Shirt Kings that make these hot shirts. Low and behold it was the time when the first rapper that came in the Colosseum which was Biz Markie. He came over saw what we were doing. He liked it, sat down with us, beat-boxed around us for a while, and said I want one of those shirts. I was the one that said I'll do it because at the time I was the only one out of the three of us that could do portraits well. So I did a portrait for him on a shirt and Biz Markie wore it on the cover of Right On! Magazine. That's what really did it for Shirt Kings. We were on our way. Biz Markie set it off for us. one to do the stuff for the rappers from the Bronx and that made a big impact on us when KRS-One put on that shirt and made that comment. Alongside him, a lot of other rapper said the same thing. Everybody just started feeling like yo you ain't nobody without a Shirt Kings shirt. It was like we were the Dapper Dans' of airbrushing at that time. It made a nice strong impact when KRS-One made that statement.

Please name a few celebrities you have custom designed?

Going back to what I said I've done shirts for LL Cool J. I've done shirts for DJ Red Alert which put us on the radio. We did nice radio commercials with DJ Red Alert. I did shirts for Heavy Dee, Prince Markie Dee of the Fat Boys, and Mike Tyson. We did the Audio Two album cover and their shirts. That is what made us get in contact with Malcolm Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show. Malcolm always wanted to meet us because he wanted to know, who were the guys that did the Audio Two album cover? He met us at a party and invited us to his place. At his place, we became friends and next thing you know we were going to the Cosby Show watching the screening of The Cosby Show live. I got to meet Bill Cosby backstage and I was able to give Bill Cosby a Shirt Kings jacket.

Once Biz Markie set it off by wearing it, all the other rappers came behind him. In order there was Salt-n-Pepa then after Salt-n-Pepa there was LL Cool J. LL Cool J made a big mark on us too by wearing it in the magazines. Then we got to do one for Mike Tyson when Mike Tyson was hot. KRS-One got his shirt from PHADE because The Shirt Kings were from different boroughs. I was from Brooklyn, KASHEEM was from Queens, PHADE was from the Bronx. So most of the rappers that came from the Bronx PHADE got a hold of like KRS-One and Heavy Dee (God bless the dead). PHADE would be the

Tell us about meeting the American icon Bill Cosby?

Just to get close to a person like Bill Cosby is an honor. It's like surreal. It's unexplainable. He was nice. At the time, he was going through a little problem with the timeslot for The Cosby Show with The Simpsons. He asked us to make him a shirt. Astonished, I asked "Mr. Cosby, what would you want us to put on a shirt?" He said, "I want you to put Bart Simpsons' face on my body and put my face on Bart Simpsons' body and make it seem like Bart Simpson is chasing me." I said, "Ok, cool." I really didn't get it but what Bill Cosby wants we would have done it. But for some reason it got put to the side because Malcolm called me telling me to hold off on the shirt. I guessed they got their time slot. But to meet Bill Cosby it definitely was an honor and it was surreal.

It would have to be Biz Markie. Biz was crazy as it is. His style was different and unique. He was my friend out of all the rappers who I really hung around the most and he would always challenge my art. He even had me design his album cover, him sitting on the toilet picking his nose. It went to the song "Pickin' Boogers." He was in the bathroom and I had to put all the names of people on the wall like it was a real gritty bathroom. I pulled it off. As time went on, he had me doing jackets with all his favorite cartoon characters of the 60's and ?O's. I pulled that off twice for him. I would have to say Biz was the one who really challenged me as far as doing the crazy artwork on the clothes.

How did you transition into urban tattooing?

Unfortunately, the style of wearing airbrush clothing was dying down in the late 90's. It was time to take my art talent and skills to transcend to something else but didn't quite know. KASHEEM was the one that said we need to start inking. I said "What are you talking about?" He said, "Tattooing." I really wasn't for it because I didn't want to deal with people's blood but we had to eat. I wasn't trying to go back to getting a job. I would have felt funny. For Christ's sake, we were the Shirt Kings. I either had to start my own line of clothes or get with this tattooing idea. For tattooing in 95, there wasn't really anybody doing it. I said let me give it a shot. It was another form of art to try and conquer and that's how Murda Ink came about. What was the day like filming your scene in the 1998 American hip-hop classic film Belly?

I originally wasn't apart of that scene. I wasn't supposed to be in the scene. I just happened to be inside the place where they were shooting because my tattoo parlor was downstairs. It was apart of the barbershop. Nas was a good friend of mine. He knew me from Shirt Kings and he realized I was in the building. As they shot the scene, I was sitting upstairs with the rest of the barbers on the bench acting like I was a c ustomer waiting for a haircut. As Nas saw I was sitting there, as he was exiting the barbershop before the shooting scene, he would always grab me and pull me up to him and say, "Stay up" and I would say "You too" then he would walk out. We did that scene twice. Hype Williams, the director of the movie, realized like who is this person that is not really written in the script. He came over to me with the producers and told me it was alright that I say something to Nas but do me a favor and sit inside one of the barber chairs, put a cape on as if you are getting a haircut, but you can't really say anything because you don't have any lines. Just shake your head when Nas waves his hand at you. I said no problem fine. It was a nice experience because I got to see how the movie was made and the actual scene that took like 6 to 7 takes to complete. I also got the chance the meet DMX. He and Nas came down to my tattoo parlor and we had a good time drinking and talking. I wasn't supposed to be apart of the movie but if you look at the movie you see me in the chair. I'm the one that shakes my head as Nas walks out and waves to me. After maneuvering into this new occupational profession, how did Hempstead, New York become your new professional home? And how many years have you graced this neighborhood with your artistic expertise?

Hempstead became my new home with my artistic abilities when I met a couple of brothers from out here named Sincere and Born. They came to my shop in Queens because they heard about me. They asked my employees at the time, which was Yaya and Derek, where was I, where's the boss? Who can they speak to regarding bringing somebody to Hempstead? They wanted to open a tattoo parlor out here. I met with them the next day and we talked. I told them I didn't mind coming to Hempstead Long Island and gracing Hempstead with our skills. I made the move and at the same time I still had Murda Ink on Jamaica Ave. I let Yaya hold it down. As time went on and I got comfortable in He mpstead and I made new friends and a new environment for myself. The people showed mad love out here and I showed it back. I let go of my parlor in Queens and gave it to Yaya. I was doing my thing out here and history was made. I became NIKE of Murda Ink in Hempstead. It was a good move. I like it out here. I've been out here since 1998 and I'm still here and its 2014 so you do the math. I've been out here for quite awhile. Reality 1V shows like VH1's Black Ink Crew and Oxygen Channel's Best Ink are now showcasing the artistic craft of tattooing. Do you feel these shows have unearthed a new stream of business in the tattooing community?

I'm not one to want to hate or criticize but I for one don't think there's enough art being showcased on that Black Ink show. I know there is a lot of drama on reality shows but when it comes to tattooing, especially if it's black people doing it, this is your time to shine. You are getting an opportunity to show that we can do this art too, as well as, anybody else to perfection. It's a time to show that you are a real artist. To me that's what is should've been more about. You know you have Tattoo Nightmares where you have a cover-up and the artist wants to show how they can cover-up something you want to get rid of. I don't see known of this on Black Ink show. I'm kind of disgusted with the show to be honest. I don't even watch it. I saw two episodes and that was enough for me. I'm an artist by nature and by heart and I want to see artwork done. I don't want to see drama. If I want to see drama I will stick my head out my store if I want to see drama with no problem. A lot of people say this should be Murder Ink. We should've been on lV. Yea well if it was meant to be it would be but I'm bigger and better than that. When I was Shirt Kings, I was on Yo! MTV Raps.

These shows most definitely have unearthed a new stream of business in the tattooing community. It's keeping tattooing going strong. It has grown to be more popularly accepted even more. You have corporate people that have tattoos. They might not show them but they have them, believe that. You have doctors, nurses, lawyers. I've seen doctors with their tattoos. Once they find out you are a tattoo artist, they like to show that they have a tattoo. So with tattooing these shows have done what they are supposed to do, showing that it is a good business to be in. But if the show doesn't portray your skill and your art, what good is it, to me?

So many urban Americans are becoming "addicted to ink", what is the most popular tattooing style of the day? Such as name tattoos, realism tattoos, tribal tattoos, etc.

All those tattoos that you asked about from tribal to name to realism, that's never going to go away. But all types of tattoos have had their time. Like there was a time and era when every young lady wanted a butterfly or wanted a rose. Then the guys wanted the panthers or some tribal. Names to me are the dumbest tattoos to get unless it's a name of your parent or children or your grandparents. To get your loved ones name tattooed on you is silly to me because that's not forever. You are going to wind up getting it covered up. Cover-ups are not that easy to do but its part of the game. The most popular tattoo to do right now are sleeves. Everybody wants sleeves and sleeves are beautiful. It's like you really should take your time and put your sleeve together. You should not just throw anything and everything you want on your body. That's the mistake a lot of people make when it comes to this tattooing thing. They just throw anything on their body without sitting down and really thinking about it. This is something that's going on your body for life. You know y our body is your temple so you have to treat is that way. Tattooing is art. Art is priceless. Art is beautiful so you have to really sit down and think and plan out your sleeve. The end result you are going to be happy. I'm going to make you happy because I know what I can do and I know what Solomon can do. I'm not a fan of facial tattoos. I'm not knocking Gucci Man or Lil Wayne and Rick Ross and all these other artist but I've done a couple of facial tattoos. The most popular is little stars or teardrops. These guys are the guys were either in jail or lost a loved one. That is when they get the tears. The young ladies may want to get the stars on their face, that's kind of cute or a heart. There was one time I did the New York Yankees symbol on a friends face. Other than that, I haven't indulged in too many facial tattoos. That's really not my thing. My thing is to do back pieces and sleeves because that's where you can really show your skill and portray your art and really do a really nice piece on somebody.

Your entrepreneurial spirit was created through ingenuity (making something out of nothing), from the days of name tagging subway trains to building on an idea for urban fashion to monopolizing asan urban tattoo artist, what advice do you give to up-and-coming artist expanding their artistic boundaries?

The advice I give to them is don't give up. Keep the faith. Believe in yourself. Believe in your art no matter what anybody says or whoever tries to shun you down. I had that problem with my father when I was a child. I would try to express my love with my art to him by drawing pictures and framing them in his house. My father and mother were divorced. When I would spend time with my father I would do this and he would always shun me down. He thought my art wasn't going to get me anywhere in life. He said I wasn't going to make any money doing this and i t scorned me. I had to really believe in myself. I had to really believe that I can get somewhere with this. He discouraged me for a little while and it hurt. Later on, I showed him that I was better than that. My art can get me somewhere in life. When I became the Shirt Kings, my father came around and saw what I became with art, he couldn't believe it. One day, I drove around with him for awhile and I gave him a gold ring off my finger with diamonds. He said, "What is this for?" I said, "For you." He hugged me and started crying. This is why I'm saying don't let anyone discourage you. Believe in your art. Hone in on it. Do the best you can. Go hard and you can become what you want to be with your art because art is priceless and art is beautiful.

What is life and entertainment like outside of Murda Ink Tattoos 2?

Life for me is great. I don't have my family together like I use too. Things happen in life but I get to spend time with my youngest son. I enjoy my friends, going here and there. I speak to my mom making sure she's ok. I spend time with my sisters and brother-in-laws. My nieces and nephews keep in touch. Most of all, I leave all the art and the business where it belongs when I leave Murcia Ink and enjoy life staying healthy.

Check out NIKE and his business partner Solomon Grungi at:

Murcia Ink 2 Tattoos 167 Henry Street Hempstead, NY 11550 (516)292-3600

Facebook Murcia Ink Tattoos Two Twitter Murdalnktattoo lnstagram @TattoosbyMightyNike lnstagram @S_Grungi