UPDATE: Tattoo Film Project

These are scenes from the tattoo film... This is an interview with my brother (author, poet, painter) Damion Bailey... He was talking about the streets and how we came out of it....


Me tattooing my brother, Damion aka Dada.....


Me tattooing Samba Sillah, painter, illustrator, City of Ink manager...


The interview with tattoo forefather, Lord Yatta at his art studio....


Posted from my iPhone

Damion Bailey's Bird Tattoo

On the 2nd Free "Friends & Family" Tattoos Days @ City of Ink I got to tattoo my brother, Dada... I wanted to give him a matching bird tattoo... To match the one on my neck...I gave his bird a different pose... It's looking "back at all the struggles of the past" I love you bruh.... It was an honor.... Let's do this more often I miss you.





Posted from my iPhone

Location:323 Walker St. Atlanta, GA 30313

High Top Fades & Rat Tails

I'm at my drawing desk working on my book when I get a text message... I look down and it's picture of an old school rat tails... My homeboy, Samad sent it to me...I thought to myself "why he sending me old haircut pics?"


Another text message came and it's the front view.. And it's ME... All I can do is laugh..Samad's grandmother would cut me and my brother, Dada's hair every 2 weeks... If I wanted to be fresh for the girls... She would even invite me over to her home and cut me & Samad's hair in private.. She was the only female barber I had even seen...and her sister was also a barber...they were a few of my role models back home...


Samad then sent me 2 more photos... These 2 are pics of my brother, Dada.... Rocking the high top fade... I think he was the last person in Asheville to cut off his flat top ...damn those were some fun times...we were broke but we had the most fun.. Shit everyone was broke so it didn't matter.. Asheville life before crack.. Beautiful





Posted from my iPhone

Book Release PARTY Saturday JAN.23 in Asheville, NC

My little Brother, Dada (Damion Bailey) will be having his book release party in Asheville, NC this saturday JAN.23...It was HELL trying to cancel appointments to host this event..I couldn't cancel my first appointment because they had bought their plane tickets and hotel already..and the refund would have cost me wayyy too much..so after that tattoo I will be hitting for road for 3 hours to get to the mountains of NC and support my brother on his big night...I will only be in Asheville for the party so if your in Asheville I BETTER see yall at Club "828"....I stole the post below from Dada's blog DamionBailey.com his words always inspire me...we have both came a long way in life and I'm VERY proud of him...I will try not to get too drunk at the party....so I hope my Asheville niggaz have some blunts rolled up for me :-)if yall need me, hit my cell 404-644-1912...I will drop by and see my daughters first them jump fresh on yall asses....can't wait to see home...love you bruh!


A Post by Damion "Dada" Bailey from DamionBailey.com

It's back. The celebration of "My Journal My Journey". This is my 2nd self-published book of poetry. The 1st book was entitled "Often Thoughts". I say tell folks it went Ghetto Gold in sales. Asheville was my strongest support. This is why I wanted to bring my 1st event home to Asheville. Once I decided this I put a bug in my homies ear. In October, I called Timmy Smith. He has shown success in having parties and a positive circle of energy. 2 things that motivated me to look for his assistance. It also helped that we were friends in high school, college, and to this current day. Turns out Timmy was the perfect partner. We have the same goals...similar aspirations. He's not afraid to let me know if my idea won't work. Also assisting Timmy with hosting this event is my big brother Miya Bailey. I love this guy immeasurable amounts. I've never held a bond so strong with anyone. Growing up he was by big brother, father figure, and inspiration. This guy means the world to me and I am grateful that he can take timeout of this busy schedule and alter appointments to be there for me.

So now we approaching our big day for the 2nd time (1st time got snowed out) January 23rd. Asheville, NC. Club 828. 10pm.

Hosted by:

Timmy Smith of http://twitter.com/SocialLifeAvl and http://sociallifetimes.blogspot.com

Miya Bailey of http://twitter.com/MiyaBailey and http://miyabailey.com
Posted by Damion Bailey at 7:30 PM 0 comments

My brothers book release....

My younger brothers's (Damion Bailey) book "My Journal My Journey" has been released and is now ready for sale online....he's words alway get me in the mood to paint...if your a lover of poetry this book is for you... It's only $10 (plus shipping) so support him...he is following his dreams and all dreams inspire others...thank you, Dada for finally releasing this book.... In this day and time words like yours are needed....love you always your big brother, Miya

Just Click here is order, my brothers book...I hope all yall support him...COI is a movement of ALL arts....We are ALL Dripping Stars "Inspire Your City!"

PS...check out his blog site: http://DAMIONBAILEY.COM




Posted from my iPhone

Who keeps me inspired: Damion Bailey & Mike Giant

Many people ask me who & what inspires me...my CHILDREN, wife & mother of course are my #1 inspirations, but its also 2 people that really keep me going...Writer, visual artist, and poet, DAMION BAILEY...he is my brother, we are year & half apart in age (I'm the oldest) I know where he come from and seeing his growth as a man, has changed how I see life in MANY ways...almost 9 years ago, Damion released his first published book titled "OFTEN THOUGHTS" this book changed my life...his words inspired images I wanted to keep in my past, but the words made me face all my fears like a man...subjects ranging from love to the street life, this book of poetry moved my soul...I'm not even a big fan of spoken word & poetry because I feel a lot of poets just use poetry to get pussy (just being honest) but me knowing Damion personally I FELT every word he wrote...he is the main reason I'm releasing a book also...thank you Dada (his nickname) for inspiring me lil' bruh...you are a perfect example of a family man..and I hope to be just as good as you oneday..you know i'm the rebel bad seed of the family..lol

The second person is visual artist, Mike Giant...from street graffiti writer, to tattoo artist, to fine art, books and clothing line (Rebel8.com)...I have watched this man, brand is name and products to the point where he don't HAVE to tattoo anymore unless he's in the mood to tattoo...thats the freedomm that I dream to have oneday...right now I'm at a point of my life where I HAVE to tattoo to feed my family and pay the bills...my goal (just like Mike Giant) is to brand my name, focus on books, films, clothing line, tattoo supplies, and other products, and only tattoo my loyal following, friends, family, and when I'm in the mood and inspired to do new styles of tattooing...Mike Giant is a open public weed smoker, like me so I respect his views on legalizing this plant...I feel weed will help out the recession using weed as a crop to bring in money for the people who grow it...

Thursday night my brother, brought me a copy of his NEW book..I havent had the free time to read it yet..but when I do I will post a review of the book for yall....he is selling his new book online, you can check my brother out on http://www.facebook.com/damionlbailey & http://twitter.com/damionbailey

To: Miya Bailey...From: Damion Bailey

To: Miya Bailey...From: Damion Bailey
RIP BILLY G.

Wassp big bruh. Nice post. You I left the day before you got there and we bonded, ate cashews, talked about old days, spirituality, and death. Billy never treated us any different from how he would have treated his own sons. Nikki is stronger than anyone I've seen and I let Billy know that you and I will make sure she's always taken care of. Momma wanted me to write a poem and I started one..kept getting choked up as I looked at the words I was writing. I took a pass on reading it at the funeral and now more than ever I am motivated to complete my book. I looked up to him because of the bad to good transition he made in his life. No other man in our lives have had such a positive effect besides you Miya. I've only felt pure love my whole life from him, you, and Uncle Bert when it comes to family. We know Uncle Bert is not concerned about his own welfare so I cling to you and love you harder than anyone else. So selfishly i say...don't you ever leave me fucked up out here by letting something happen to you. Love you more big brother. See you sometime this week