Description
The tattoo industry is changing, but not every artist feels they receive the same opportunities, recognition, or respect.
In this Onyx Vision interview, we sit down with **The Needle Bxtches**, a collective of women tattoo artists, to talk about their journeys into tattooing, the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, and why supporting Black women artists matters.
The artists share how they got started, including the role their families, artistic backgrounds, and friends played in their journeys. They also discuss discrimination involving women and melanated skin, assumptions about female artists and their abilities, and the importance of creating a safer, more supportive environment.
We also get into the debate over AI-generated tattoo designs. The artists share different perspectives on using AI as a reference, why artistic skill still matters, and how tattoo artists can adapt to a changing industry.
Plus, they discuss building their own collective, using social media to attract clients, and why the tattoo experience is about more than just the finished design.
**Topics covered:**
- The story behind The Needle Bxtches name
- How the artists got started in tattooing
- Challenges facing Black women tattoo artists
- Prejudice, stereotypes, and recognition
- Why the artists formed their own collective
- AI-generated tattoo designs and artistic creativity
- Social media, marketing, and booking clients
- The need for respect, safety, and support in the industry
Watch the full conversation and join the discussion.
Subscribe to Onyx Vision / Hood Affairs for more interviews with artists, creators, and the people shaping culture.
🔥 SUBSCRIBE TO HOOD AFFAIRS TV:
https://www.youtube.com/@hoodaffairstv?sub_confirmation=1
🎬 EXPLORE OUR CONTENT:
Discover documentaries, cultural stories, and original series from the HOOD AFFAIRS TV archive:
https://www.youtube.com/@hoodaffairstv/playlists
📺 ABOUT HOOD AFFAIRS TV
HOOD AFFAIRS TV documents authentic stories, people, and experiences that shape urban culture.
From historic hip-hop archives and exclusive music footage to automotive culture, HBCU experiences, community stories, lifestyle features, and original documentaries — we capture the moments, voices, and perspectives that deserve to be seen.
Whether it's a rare moment from the past or a new experience happening today, HOOD AFFAIRS TV brings you authentic content with a cinematic eye.
🌐 PART OF THE ONYX VISION NETWORK
STAY CONNECTED:
🌐 ONYX VISION NETWORK:
https://tv.onyxvision.net
📸 INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/hoodaffairstv
🎵 TIKTOK:
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoodaffairsondemand
📘 FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/HoodAffairsTV
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Meet The Needle Bxtches
00:08 How They Came Up With the Name
00:27 How Long Have They Been Tattooing?
00:32 Their Journeys Into Tattooing
00:59 Starting Young and Learning the Craft
01:24 The Challenges of Being Women in Tattooing
01:29 Discrimination Against Melanated Skin
01:39 Working in a Male-Dominated Industry
01:53 The Advantages of Being Women in the Industry
02:11 What They Want to Change About Tattooing
02:17 Why Black Women Need More Support
02:42 Building Their Own Tattoo Collective
03:09 How Social Media Helps Tattoo Artists
03:24 Why Clients Research Artists Before Booking
03:39 Why the Client Experience Matters
03:42 Are They Traditional Tattoo Artists?
04:08 AI Enters the Conversation
04:18 “Stop Giving Us AI”
04:24 Can AI Help Clients Explain Their Ideas?
04:43 Should Tattoo Artists Embrace AI?
05:09 How Many Tattoo Conventions Do They Attend?
05:22 What Needs to Change in the Tattoo Industry?
05:31 Prejudice and Creating Safer Spaces for Women
05:43 The Problem With “Pretty Privilege”
06:08 Being Underestimated as a Tattoo Artist
06:13 Surrealism, Large Pieces, and Artistic Range
06:34 Closing
#HoodAffairsTV #UrbanCulture #LifestyleChronicles #HipHopCulture #StreetDocumentary #AutomotiveCulture #HBCUCulture #OnyxVision #WomenInTattooing #BlackWomen #TattooArtists #TattooIndustry #TattooInterview #AITattos