Mister Cartoon: Skin Deep

When one thinks of art in the world of rap/hip-hop, they often immediately think of graffiti. Though graffiti is known as a crucial element in the hip-hop culture, art in the genre has now branched out into other realms of mediums and is visible in everything from fashion, photography and even in the field of tattoos. Atop of the list of the latter is none other than Mister Cartoon, who is known and sought after among high profile rap artists and celebrities. His clients include everyone from Eminem, Cypress Hill, Pharrell Williams, Nas and back down to his UPS delivery guy.

Aside from his famous ink plots and big name affiliations, Mister Cartoon is also co-owner of the very successful street garment known as Joker Brand. BallerStatus had the privellage to catch up with Toon at his locale, now see what the brainchild of your favorite artists' body art had to offer us in this exclusive interview.

BallerStatus.com: How long have you been doing tattoo work?

Mister Cartoon: Tattooing? Approximately eight years.

BallerStatus.com: How'd you first get into tattooing?

Mister Cartoon: From art, I used to always get paid to do art as a kid and tattooing is now the tailspin of my success and what I'm known for, but I've done work for Hustler [magazine]; I've done lowrider cars; designed clothes; painted wall murals; etc.

BallerStatus.com: Who's the first person [you tatted up] that kind of catapaulted your career?

Mister Cartoon: Probably Eminem, he was probably the one... actually I'll have to say it was Cypress Hill because they would go on tour and do shows across the world with my tattoos on. And you know it's funny that after all this time of me making mistakes, practicing, hard work and triumphs to get noticed... I mean, my whole life, I've been doing this sh--.

BallerStatus.com: Who have you done the most work for?

Mister Cartoon: Travis from Blink [182] has the most.

BallerStatus.com: Where'd you get your name from?

Mister Cartoon: From my neighborhood, you know everyone has a nickname over there, so I was known as Cartoon. It matched my personality and I'm an artist so it matched both.

BallerStatus.com: When someone comes to you to get work done, do they already know what they want? Or will they have an idea, give it to you and then let you run with it?

Mister Cartoon: It's about 50/50. Some people know what they want and some people just know they want a tattoo... they don't know what they want, they just know they want a tattoo. And some people come in knowing exactly what they want. Or some'll come in and say they want a "girl" and they leave the rest up to me. But, I usually need to know what you're into and what reflects your life, so you gotta at least know what you want and I'll help pick out that image.

BallerStatus.com: Who would you say is the most interesting person you've gotten the chance to work with?

Mister Cartoon: Um, probably David Banner. He prayed before and after the tattoo. And that dude's crazy man... He called me up during the week and asking me how I'm doing today, I'm like, "Man, he's making records and has got to be the coolest motherf---er in the world to go and take that time (and call)..." and it ain't just me, there's other people I've talked to that he'll just call them up like that.

BallerStatus.com: Can you tell us who you have worked into your schedule to do work for? Or do you have to keep it low-key?

Mister Cartoon: You know, that's kind of tough man. 'Cause some of these people... if they make it in, it's a miracle, 'cause I get calls from all kinds of people, but you just never know [who will actually show up]. Who I had in here recently though was Nas, Kanye West and a lot of local artists, some lowrider cats and just some street homies, you know?

BallerStatus.com: So you will work with anybody?

Mister Cartoon: Oh yeah, anybody. I tatted the guy (that delivers stuff to him) from UPS to you know, the security guard, gangsters, etc. I mean, work with peoples' budgets, but I do put a minnimum on there. I mean, what I do is quality, but I know what it's like. I mean I been poor most of my life, so I know what it's like. But, I also knew what I could and couldn't afford. So usually the smaller, cheaper prices are tattoos girls put on.

BallerStatus.com: Have you seen other artists try to mimmick your style and try to do what you do?

Mister Cartoon: Not so much as far as trying to tattoo entertainers, but there's a lot of cats that bite my style, or take my letters, but sh-- like that. People will take a tattoo they saw in a magazine and tell the tattoo artist, "I want this kind" and the tattoo artist'll do it, so that's out my hands. But then, there's dudes that'll take your pattern and try to accept the applause for it like it's theirs. You gotta let that sh-- go, you just gotta accept it. There'll always be leaders and followers -- and it'll piss you off, but you gotta let sh-- like that go.

BallerStatus.com: You obviously have tattoos on lock, is there anything else you do or want to do?

Mister Cartoon: We got a company called Joker Brand, which is a clothing company that's international -- and it's just a brand that reflects our lifestyle. I also got a partner named Estevan and he's a photographer, he's directed videos, done documentaries, etc. So between me and him, we have a formula and feed off each others' artistic energy and business ideas. It's like an circle of artists here 'cause that's the only way I can grow. We tell each other here what we think is dope and what we think is wack. 'Cause if I have people here that just massage my ego, then I'm not gonna grow. So you gotta be around people who's opinions you respect. I can't take credit for all of this. So between us, it's all about focusing on the trends and right now we're going more towards working on movies, documentaries and animation. You know, the world is yours, man. There's people that see me and they're like, "If he can do it, I can do it", and that's what I said to myself (before I got here). You gotta have focus and action behind your word.

BallerStatus.com: You mentioned documentaries... are you working on a documentary for the tattoo work? 'Cause that'd be pretty interesting to see.

Mister Cartoon: Well, we've been filming this sh-- the whole time. And it's one thing for me to sit here and tell you stories, but to tell the story and have a picture to match it would be crazy! I mean, it's about me, but it's about the lifestyle and the artists. We shot a movie and took it to some film festivals and got a sh-- load of offers, but we just haven't had the right offer yet. But this whole business is a waiting game and you have to be patient. People tell me, "Wow, look at you, you tattoo all of these big name rappers," but they don't realize I've been doing this all my life and it didn't just happen out of the blue. I'm glad man, that you guys take notice. But you know, a lot of artists don't make it because a lot of them get caught up. If you got the talent, you gotta make it happen, you just gotta live life -- take that security blanket off and just live.

BallerStatus.com: Are you pretty much a fan of the artists you've worked with?

Mister Cartoon: Yeah, that's the crazy part, man. I look at it as an honor that people want to wear my sh-- for the rest of their lives, that they want black and white tattoos instead of color ones. So some of [the artists] call me and I will have already been bumpin' their album in my car for like a month and then they call me telling me they want a tatt. That shit's a twilight zone episode right there. I can't explain the feeling from that. I think that's what it is, being a fan instead of being a critic, but it's a lifetime of work.

BallerStatus.com: Do you think that helps (that you already know their music) as far as the chemistry when you're doing the work on them?

Mister Cartoon: For sure, man! I'm just a fan of music. I listen to everything, but I try to pay attention to what's up. I mean, I met Pharrell when he wasn't all over the place, he was just breaking out and no one really knew who he was. I mean I had to tattoo the captain of the fire department yesterday, that motherf---er is the biggest star out there to me, that man has to run through burning buildings for his job, you know? So I also get people like that, everyday is a brand new adventure of work. But you know, anybody that's gonna read your story (this one) should know they gotta take out any action and they can make any dream come true. You know, as corny as that sh-- sounds, man, it is possible.

BallerStatus.com: Is there any girl out there or anybody, that you're like, "Yeah, I wouldn't mind doing some work on her!"?

Mister Cartoon: Alicia Keys is ready for a tattoo, definitely ready for a tattoo! Her personality, her creativity... so her and Jessica Alba [laughs].

BallerStatus.com: Do you have any kids?

Mister Cartoon: I got one in the oven.

BallerStatus.com: How long before you let them get a tatt?

Mister Cartoon: Legal age is 18. Knowing my kid, it'll probably want one at 13 [laughs].

BallerStatus.com: Ok, you've got tattooing and Joker Brand poppin'. What else do you have planned for 2004?

Mister Cartoon: I want to blow up our studio, which is a company that's kind of a collaboration of different artists, as far as a more commercial product and style. I want to be the number one employer of street artists in the world, that's my goal. I want to be a full-time media company, so that artists can come here and get work, but your art's gotta be hot. I'm not a selfish person, I want everyone to get in on the action.

BallerStatus.com: Is there anything you want to tell the readers out there?

Mister Cartoon: I just want to thank you for the support and people can check out JokerBrand.com.

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