BJ Betts

Damn, it’s been a long time…

bjbetts — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:41:48 +0000

Don’t even know where to begin, really.. so much has been happening since my last post…
I’ve been all over the damn world.. literally.. my Grandmom passed away.. my daughter started high school.. got a few new sick ass tattoos.. that’s just the first few I can think of right now.
The last few weeks have been so damn hectic.
First week in October, I was invited to go tattoo at Hart & Huntington, in Vegas.. believe it or not, that was my first time ever in Vegas, and the dudes at the shop treated me like gold, and showed me an amazing time. I also did a lettering seminar at Mario Barth’s tattoo convention while I was out there, so it all worked out. I tattooed Aaron Lewis, from Staind… did some cool tattoos while I was there..
Vegas is a crazy place. As my good friend Matt Fontana put it, “it epitomizes everything that’s wrong with the United States”.
I witnessed the following, and not in any particular order -
- Some dude crying on the phone to his wife, that he just lost all the money, including money for the bills/mortgage, and needs more.
- A gang of drunk bachelorette party women trying to convince each other it was ok to go back to the room with some random dudes.
- Some other dude lying on the floor, that apparently couldn’t quite make it to the men’s room.
- Eating in the employee dining room, at 3 a.m., listening to the strippers/dancers talk about the “guy in the front row had a huuuuuge boner”
- Having sushi at a dope spot while a DJ is playing “hoochie mama”.
- Sylvester Stallone dropping a WAD of cash right on my foot and not even realizing that it fell out of his pocket.. probably 20g’s…
I could go on and on, but I’m sure most people have been to Vegas, so you understand..

Got back from Vegas on Monday morning, and left for China on that Wednesday..
I went to China for an Adidas event. “523″ was the Adidas campaign, and also they were launching the Def Jam pack, which I did some work on.. and did some paintings for the show.
That was the first time I was in China, and I gotta say, it was pretty amazing.
They put me up in the Ritz Carlton, which was fuckin dope. I’m not used to all that fancy shit, really.. so it was a real experience. Sushi and french toast for breakfast? sure, why not..
Contrary to what I thought, I guess egg rolls, spare ribs and shrimp fried rice, isn’t REALLY served in China..
Now, I LOVE trying different foods in EVERY country I visit, and China was no exception.
I never really thought I would eat sharks fin soup, but it was actually pretty damn good..
Oh, and apparently, there isn’t very many large, heavily tattooed American dudes that visit Shanghai very ofter, so I stood out a bit.. ok, A LOT.. almost uncomfortably too much, really.
I met some pretty amazing dudes while I was there. DJ Tommy, Jahan.. All the Adidas Shanghai crew..

Got back from China really late the following Tuesday night, then off to Puerto Rico on Thursday.
I worked at my boy Eddie’s shop in San Juan, Senzala Tattoo.. fuckin killer shop, killer crew.. Shout outs to Manolo, Demian, Edgar, Josean, Olgy, Appocolypto (lol), Sharon & Eddie for having me..
Did some dope tattoos on the guys there and got a nice one while I was there as well.
I was pretty stressed out after all the traveling but there’s just something about laying on a hammock, under a palm tree, on the beach, and eating fresh marlin steaks and mofongo, that tends to relax me.. crazy right?
I absolutely LOVE it down there.. f’n love it.
Just the smell of the ocean.. the food.. the people.. it’s such a dope spot.. I could DEFINITELY live there and tattoo there.. no doubt.

Just got back from P.R. on Wednesday night.. Back to work, though… been pretty busy with some bigger appointments, and I’m opening up a new shop pretty soon, in Kennett Square, PA… Just a ton of stuff going on in my life at the moment, and sometimes it’s almost overwhelming, but I just gotta keep it moving and stay busy or it feels like I’m gonna come apart at the seams.. ha…
I’ve got hundreds of pics to upload, so I’ll update again later…
Hope everybody is good!
Peace
B

� 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags:

paper planes

bjbetts — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:13:31 +0000

What’s good.. sorry I’ve been M.I.A. lately.. been going through it.. been super busy with so many things.. life, tattooing, art.. just the daily grind. Gonna take a break real soon before it really takes its toll on a brotha.
Funny how it’s supposed to be ‘fun’ and it’s slowly becoming ‘work’.
So, it’s time for a break.. gotta get my head right, and get back to it.. gonna travel and tattoo for a month or 2, or 3 or 9.. whatever it takes.
Went to London a few weeks ago and had an amazing time as always..
You know, I’ve flown around the world, I’ve flown in coach, economy, business class, first class, cargo net seats, on the floor of a cargo plane, jumped out of ‘em. However, I’ve never flown the serious first class on British Airways, until this trip.. Some next level shit..
Actually, it really ruins it for me, cuz you don’t want to go any other way after that.. I mean, you can’t take points off the scoreboard..
So it started with the BA lounge in the airport.. Literally order anything off the menu, make an espresso, read the NY Times, go online, borrow a Macbook Pro for the flight to London, whatever you need..
So I’m enjoying my full lay down seat status, and here comes some warm… no no.. HOT, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.. not some Pillsbury shit… like that was made in the back in some oven, and brought out to me.. with a nice mug of hot cocoa.. then here comes the stewardess with a block of chocolate and shaved it up on top of the whipped cream. Damn. I literally laughed out loud.. a few people were just looking at me with the “amateur” look on their face. whatever. just had to enjoy it.
Next year is gonna be big from Crooked Tongues.. 10th anniversary.. so you know it’s gonna be an amazing year. I’ll keep that quiet for now, but just keep an eye out.
I’ve got a grip of stuff in the mail lately.. I’ll post some pics..
Hope everybody is good.
Got a new DJ Big Ant mix coming in the next few days..
Peace
B

few weeks ago….

few days ago…

� 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags:

‘R Kelly’ Fiesta, Fiesta! ‘R Kelly’

bjbetts — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:38:36 +0000

What’s good everybody..
I know I’ve been paper planes for a few weeks, but been mad busy at the tattoo shop.
Gearing up for our one year anniversary, and it’s been a great year so far.

So, I know it’s like maaaad last minute and all, but here’s the flyer for my release party on Friday night..
If anybody is in the Philly area, come on out and show your boy some love!
My man DJ Big Ant, who I always post his mixes, will be on the wheels.
Drinks and good times, for sure.

Peace
B

� 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags:

No Mr. Bond, I EXPECT YOU TO DIE!

bjbetts — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:20:44 +0000

No, not you James (UNDFTD)…
I’ll get to that in a few minutes.
Right, so I’m not a very religious person, really… but I FIRMLY believe in karma.
I’ve had some deep discussions about karma with some of my good friends, some of which are really intelligent. Some said “Bee, you’re nuttier than squirell shit” and some said “absolutely, karma is a muthafucka!”
I’m not talking about somebody very close to me dying in a horrible cheese grating accident, but more along the lines of shit coming back to you threefold for doing some foul shit when you were younger, type steez.
I really try and be a good person, especially dealing with people day in, day out. Unfortunately, sometimes ‘they’ win, and I loose my mind after explaining to somebody 19 different ways, that I can’t do a portrait of The Last Supper on your thumb because “some chick said she saw it on some tattoo show”.
I mean, is senor karma gonna pay me a visit just as I’m getting my prostate exam? when does it come back at ya? I dunno. Hell, who does know? I guess that’s the whole point of me trying to be a ‘good’ person (good being the relative term).
Do you reap all that you’ve sown in proportion? how does it work? Is a lot of it a mental state?

Flip the script for a second - how do you really determine ‘good’?

Is it helping the old lady across the street?
-what if she’s hit by a car as you’re helping her, then what?
Is it calling your mother everyday to see how she’s doing?
-what if you just can’t do it, do to work constraints?
I’m sure the list is indefinite on the ‘what if’s’.
I think that at some point, as you get up there in age, you make your own destiny. When you’re younger, it seems like you feel like you can get away with a lot more (at least I did), and now you’ve gotta pick and choose your actions, especially when you’ve got family/bills/mortgage/responsibilities.

It’s easy to blame karma, since it’s thrown around so much these days.

“damn, homeboy is really doing bad… must be his karma.”
Seems like a short step away from saying they deserve to suffer.

I dunno. I think that the past effects the present, and the present effects the future.
End of. Full stop.

So, how bout them Steelers, eh???

A few new things for the week -
In honor of the release of Notorious, I gotta a Biggie mix jumpoff for you… compliments of my man, fiddy grand, DJ Big Ant…
Got some new pics of some upcoming joints, and a few things I got this week..
Keep it real.
Peace
B

DJ Big Ant Notorious mix

UNDFTD

some Nike samples…

� 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags:

I’m your pusha…

bjbetts — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:22:05 +0000

It’s been brought to my attention, that I’m a food pusher. I’ve been called worse. I’m cool with that, as I figure that I would never steer any of my good friends in the wrong direction.. at least in the food department. I mean, damn.. what do you mean you don’t want to try some Rice to Riches? you GOTTA try that right now.
Man, I’ve been to a grip of countries.. a world traveler, if you will, and I always make sure I try the local cuisine. I never knew I would enjoy breast of hyena, but damn….I’ll take you on a journey into the culinary world of Bj Betts….If you go to New York you GOTTA try Rice to Riches Stubborn Banana Flavor. If you go to London you GOTTA try a Halal Kabob and Chips (french fries), If you go to Japan you GOTTA try Kobe Beef and lf you ever come to my neck of the woods you GOTTA try Fogo De Chao. All of this is on some next level other shit! Im your pusha!

The past month has been pretty busy. I’ve been tattooing my ass off. I’ve been drawing and painting my ass off. I’ve been getting ready for release parties for my new kicks. Trying to work out all this shit in my head on how to follow through with this years New Year’s resolutions.
- Be a better person. (if that’s even possible, I’m the man)
- Spend more time with friends…
Actually, before I even go any farther, I’m sure my resolutions are pretty close to everybody else’s that you’ve talked to in the last 17 days.. you know, the friends that drunk dialed you and told you how much they love you and that they don’t deserve a friend like you and how their stupid ass girlfriend is a pain in their ass and that ’she’s outta here tomorrow, I’m tired of her shit!’…
I have some big plans for this year. There’s alot of people I’d love to work with.

Christmas was real dope for me and my family, thanks for asking.
My wife bought me a dope ass Nikon D60, and I’ve been getting my photo on. I went to a vo-tech high school and had some serious photo skills.. I’m talking dark room development, vixer, stop bath, all that. BUT, that was a while ago, so I’m learning that shit all over again. It’s cool, though.. almost like I’m discovering that shit all over again. I’m more than just a blogger….see the evidence…
Also, here’s a new pic of some huarache current jumpoffs coming in fall/autumn ‘09… you seen it here first.

Peace y’all.

� 2009 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags:

Happy Thanksgiving

bjbetts — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:19:55 +0000

Man, I LOVE Thanksgiving. Almost too much. Almost like in a abnormal way.
Since I can remember, I can’t recall EVER having a truly moist turkey. Not that the overall dinner was ever wack, just that we needed some Vaseline Intensive Care gravy up on that piece. Things done changed. I know the secret.
Boom. Here’s how you freak it. Cook that joint upside down for the first half of the cook time, then flip him over and finish him off. Juicy isn’t the word.
I know, it’s probably no big secret, but it’s new to me, and I hooked it up yesterday.

Also, here’s the second installment of the DJ Big Ant weekly mixtape drop.. I hope everybody enjoyed the first one. Check him out at www.myspace.com/djbigant05

http://www.zshare.net/audio/51989123df641f59/

I was in Richmond, VA last weekend for a tattoo convention. It’s one of the last good ones that’s left, in the U.S. , that is. I don’t do as many conventions as I used to do, and usually after I hit up a convention, and work all weekend, I remember why. It’s not even about doing a nice tattoo anymore, it’s all about who has the best Affliction tee, the nicest hair and bear.
It’s crazy the first time I went down to Richmond, I think in ‘97 or ‘98, it was like going to a movie premier. EVERYBODY that was anybody was there. Last weekend, i was looking around with a “who the hell are these guys?” look on my face… Years ago, every big name tattooer was there and the constant buzz all day long was music to my ears. Of course this was long before the tattoo shows on television and how everybody and their brother thinks that they want to start tattooing now. Just because you did a really cool Snoopy drawing for your stupid girlfriend in ninth grade, doesn’t mean you should be tattooing.

So here’s one of the fun tattoos I did last weekend. Not really my normal style, but it was really fun to do, and the girl didn’t budge the entire time.

Word up.. So yeah, I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving.
All the best.
Peace
B

� 2008 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags:

in the mix.

bjbetts — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:31:04 +0000

Whaddup everybody.
Don’t wanna jinx it just yet, and I know it’s still early, but for once in A LONG time, I’m having a pretty damn good week. Was in Brooklyn all day yesterday tattooing at my boy’s new studio.. Smith St. Tattoo( it’s on, you guessed it, Smith St… 411 is the address). Check it out if you get a chance, and tell ‘em I sent ya. But yeah, a friend of mine flew in from Australia to get tattooed, and I really had a great time, and he got an awesome tattoo, to boot. Got to hang out with one of my boys from Nike, heading to Richmond, VA tomorrow for the weekend for a tattoo convention, my daughter is on the honor roll in school.. shits going great for the kid right now. It’s still early, so there’s plenty of time for it to go right in the shitter.

Not sure what it is exactly about this time of the year, but it brings out the best, or worst, of people. Throw in the daily humor of owning a tattoo studio, and it makes for endless hours of amusement.
We’ve got a few regulars. Every neighborhood has ‘em..you know the ones. They wear a helmet, but don’t really play any sports or ride a motorcycle. Come on in, Dave.
I love Dave.
Dave is probably 50, and always sweeps the front stoop and takes care of all the cigarette butts from the assholes that can’t walk 5 feet and put ‘em in the bucket. That is, if there’s any left, after the rocket scientists from the methadone clinic try and make a full cigarette from, say, 13-14 of ‘em.
Right, so he always takes care of the outside of the shop, and for a few bucks a week, it’s worth it. So what if he tries to get the oil changed on his model cars.. doesn’t even matter, really.
We put a church pew outside the shop, and polyurethaned a bunch of fake money to the seat. Now THAT is funny. Not sure why people don’t believe anything that anybody says, but there’s even a sign, regarding the authenticity of said currency, but it’s great watching people read the sign, then sit down, and peel off one of the bills, and then get mad at us for putting that out there and “playing with their emotions”.
We also don’t allow kids in the shop, and of course it’s very well displayed, but again, for whatever reason, people don’t give a shit. There could be a 9 ft. tall neon sign on the front door and people would complain that they can’t get their stroller through the door because the sign is so bright.
But, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

So, the plan is, I wanna drop a new mixtape every week.
My godson, DJ Big Ant, is gonna hit me off with new shit, like he does pretty much every other day.
There’s a few new joints on this one. New Alchemist joint w/ Snoop & Jada… new Em.. new Kanye.. But Ant’s shit is butters.
Download it. Enjoy it. Bump it on the weekend.
Check him out www.myspace.com/djbigant05
peep the mix…

DJ Big Ant mix.

Be cool everybody.
B

� 2008 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags:

In the house

bjbetts — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:47:10 +0000

What’s good everybody. First post on HighSnob, and really looking forward to dropping all types of stuff on everybody, from the next level DJ’s, a look into my daily tattoo shenanigans, lots of exclusive kicks, celeb photos, whatever you need.
I’ve been really, REALLY fortunate over the years, working with some of the best in the footwear and streetwear industry, meeting a grip of celeb’s , tattooing ‘em, and making some lifelong friends along the way.
I did a blog a few years ago on another site, and was real hesitant about doing it, and I thought “why in thee hell would somebody read this crap? Do people really care what goes on in MY life everyday?” fast forward a few months later, I’m tattooing at Sneaker Pimps NYC and alot of people hit me off with “yo, you need to get on the blog, son!”, so I guess there’s my answer.
I hope everybody enjoys my contributions to the site…
I’ll kick it off with some DQM friends and family joints. Dave is a good dude, nuttier than squirell shit, but that’s what makes Dave, “Crazy” Dave.

what else.. what else.. right, my man Nick(of High Snobiety fame) stopped through the shop last week. I love choppin’ it up with Nick, because he can hold a conversation that doesn’t always start with “yo son, did you peep the new_____”. I’ve tattooed Nick before, and he sits like a champ, which makes my life tremendously easier.. big arse galleon on his ribs, and it’s definitely one of my favorite joints that I’ve done in a while.
Here’s Nick’s latest -

So yeah, that’s that. It’s up and running.
Everybody be easy.
Peace
B

� 2008 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags:

Hello world!

bjbetts — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:48:35 +0000

Welcome to highsnobiety.com: columns. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

� 2008 Highsnobiety for Titel Media. Author: bjbetts | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us | ShareThis
Post tags: