LIGHT DUTY PODCAST #12

Chris spent his entire twenties in prison, learned to tattoo behind bars, and came out with nothing. Three years later he owns Castle Keep Tattoo on the Wilmington Riverwalk with six artists and a waiting list. Evan sits in the chair and takes the needle while Chris tells the whole story — redemption, radical honesty, gun rights restored, and a Southern billboard devil tattooed on an ankle. One of the best ones yet.

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:00

What's up, everybody? I'm here with my friend Chris, and he owns Castle Keep Tattoo Studio here in Wilmington, North Carolina. And of course, I'm Evan Slaughter. We're missing Kevin for this episode. He's out of town on a vacation or something like that with his family. So lame. But we're going to knock this episode out. I'm getting tattooed for this episode. So hang around. Watch it. Give us a chance because it's going to be a good one. We're going to talk. Chris is going to share a story and we're going to do some tattoo work. So here we go.

SPEAKER_02 0:36

And for me, when I first came home, like I was I was just trying to fit into like society, you know, and I was very kind of quiet about my story.

SPEAKER_05 0:46

But this would tell people you'd been in prison and stuff.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

Yeah, it's like, hey, how's it going? I've been to prison for 10 years.

SPEAKER_05 0:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:54

You know, they're like, want to hire me? You want to hire me? You want to hang out? Um, but at this point, it's like, I feel like it's kind of my duty to tell people that, you know, you don't have to, it doesn't have to be addiction, but it has to do with people that are just struggling in life. Like, if I can do it, anybody can do it. I know that's said a lot, but like I said, four years ago, I came out of prison with nothing, and I spent my entire 20s in prison. And now I might sound biased by saying this, but I believe it. I have the best tattoo shop in town. Yeah. You know, and I've got good relationships and I've got good friends, and it's the life I have now is just something that I could never have imagined.

SPEAKER_05 1:43

So, what would you say makes you believe that your tattoo shop is the best? Because, you know, you can find good artists anywhere. So it's not like, all right, well, we have good tattoo artists that do good work. Well, yeah, so does every shop almost in America. But you were kind of talking about some things earlier, just the process of getting a tattoo and everything. Is it like, is it is it the experience people get when they come see you?

SPEAKER_02 2:10

Or so every my buddy John in Florida told me this, and I've kind of stuck by it. But he said, when you when you start hiring people at your shop, never hire anybody that you wouldn't get tattooed by yourself.

SPEAKER_06 2:27

And I've stuck with this.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

And even apprentice, even uh AJ the apprentice back there, I said, before you start tattooing anybody, you know, from off the street, you're gonna have to tattoo me first. Um that's cool. Every single one of the artists there's has a has at least 10 years of tattooing experience. Yeah. Um every style, it's not like we just you come in and want a traditional tattoo, like I've got a guy that does the best traditional tattoos. If you want realism, like we have that. It's it's really about experience and picking the artist for the job. Not just that, but now we have our location is just second to none. I mean, I've never been at a tattoo shop that's waterfront, you know. Our last my the first shop I opened was definitely not in a in a good area like that. And um I felt like getting a prime prime location would just suit the quality of work that was coming out of that shop.

SPEAKER_05 3:37

Yeah. I can understand that. And plus, like you have a passion for it just from the you know, learning in prison and having the job when you got out. Like, I think there's some people that do things for work and for pay, and then there's some people that do it because it's their purpose.

SPEAKER_02 3:53

Well, yeah, and I I tell people, especially in anything art-related or creative related, focus on the craft and get the c get get that 100% right. Make that your number one focus, and money, that that'll be a byproduct. It'll come. But focus on the craft first, focus on your tattoos first. If you're in comedy, like make do the best comedy that you can, and success and all that will come if you if you really put the work in on honing your craft.

SPEAKER_05 4:27

Yeah, yeah, totally. Um that was one of the things, like just thinking about purpose, like uh that that's what I feel like I'm doing now, is like living my purpose. And it's like, yeah, I get yeah, I make money, it's it's a career, but at the same time, it definitely doesn't feel like work, and it's something I'm passionate about that allows me to be helpful and you know give back to other people because I didn't realize how much comedy is like I never viewed it as like me making someone's day because I'm making a funny video, but I started getting messages all the time, like, man, I you know, I know you probably don't think about it, but your videos really helped me get through the day today. I was having a shitty day, I saw one of your videos, it made me laugh. I was thinking, oh, well, there's something to that. There's you know a purpose behind that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:20

So that was like a big talking about that it reminds me of like there was a big turning point while I was locked up. Um, like I said, I started drawing portraits from people. And I started doing it because I was trying to make money, like, and that was I enjoyed the process and whatever, but I didn't really see anything too special about what I was doing. Like, I know I was good at drawing portraits, but besides that, like, not much to it. But anyway, I tattooed, I uh excuse me, not tattooed, I drew a portrait for this guy. He'd been, I think he had a 30-year sentence or something, and he'd been locked up for 10, 15 years already. And he had a daughter right before he got locked up. Anyway, never talked to his daughter in his life, but he was I think he was kind of starting to get into church and trying to figure out you know, figure out life. Yeah. If you looked at the dude, you were like, this is this is the typical uh prison gangster kind of thing, yeah. Tattoos all over your face, like all that kind of stuff. So he came to me and asked me to do a portrait for him of his daughter. And I did. I spent a whole lot of time on it, and it looked great. I gave it to him, he said, Man, this is awesome. And I said, Okay, you know, paid me and thought that was about it. Then about a month later, he came and uh knocked on my door. I figured he wanted to get another portrait done, or God knows what. Um when he came in, he's like, Hey Chris, I gotta talk to you for a second. And I was like, Alright, well. He came in and closed the door and he was talking about he said his daughter got on his visitation list and she's gonna come see him with his ex-wife. Um dude, and this dude, he had teardrop statued on the side of his face and everything. And then he had real tears coming out of his face, coming out of his eyes. You know, he was crying, he was crying and like dude, it kind of I realized that art can really have a giant impact on people.

SPEAKER_05 7:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:39

And at that point, I was like, dude, I'm gonna this this is actually I'm actually finding some kind of meaning in a meaningless place, you know? I'm finding hope in a place where it doesn't typically exist.

SPEAKER_05 7:52

Right. That's good. So that's awesome. And that also shows you like people don't realize, like, you're like describing this guy, you know, the teardrop tattoos, probably big dude, 30-year sentence, all this stuff. So the world sees him as like tough and you know, uh, you know, a man, right? Like a big, tough, scary dude, blah, blah, blah. But then just from a picture, bringing out these emotions in him and you know, his daughter, and just shows that we're all human beings, no matter what you look like, no matter what your situation is. We all have, you know, emotions and feelings, and you know, people cry, people get, you know, you might appear one way, you know, but until you really see and meet someone and hear their story and know what's going on, it's like you can never ever judge a book by its cover. That's so true.

SPEAKER_02 8:49

Yeah, I think nowadays, with every with everything being so divided, that's one of the best things about being a tattoo artist. You get to meet people from so many different walks of life. Um and you really go past all the superficial bullshit and get to talking, you're talking about their kids or their dreams or goals or stuff that they like, and all of a sudden you're just two people, like, regardless of your um your political affiliation or your religion or color or race or whatever, whatever it is. Like all that stuff kind of slips away once you peel back the layers and get down to the things that actually count.

SPEAKER_05 9:37

I love like especially being in a position now, you know, being able to help other people through sharing a story and and you know, sharing my story and you know, uh having a positive spin on it and having success from it and everything. Like, I love just working with and meeting and people who are going through it right now, you know, because it's like I know what you're you're going through, you know, I know how you feel, you know, I know I know what's what's going through your head right now in terms of like you feel like everything's over, you know, what are you gonna do? You don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and just being able to like encourage them and motivate them with you know just sharing your experience, um there's a lot of power in that.

SPEAKER_02 10:26

Yeah, and I think that's the big thing with places like AA and all that kind of stuff. Is you meet a sponsor and it's not a therapist and it's not some person that has no idea, they just learned all the shit in the book somewhere, and they're telling you how to change your life. You're talking to somebody that has been there, done that, and now they're on the other side of it, and showing you that, hey, listen, I used to be in the same situation as you. I felt like shit because I was withdrawing off heroin, and guess what? Now I'm married, got kids, got my career, got everything, and life is good now. Yeah. I think that's what that's what someone like you and me really have to offer the world.

SPEAKER_05 11:10

Yeah, it's almost like a responsibility, too.

SPEAKER_02 11:13

It is. And I dude, I sometimes I know, I don't know about you, but you start getting a little bit of success and like still are getting a little bit of money in your pocket and whatever. And then you look back and you're like, okay, so what now? Yeah. Like you, it's kind of an empty feeling. You're like, okay, now my bank account has X amount of dollars, and I got these material possessions and shit, but what the f what's next? And I don't think there'll there's ever an end to re to that to that rat race. You know, you're just gonna keep on, you're like it's it's like replacing heroin for money.

SPEAKER_01 11:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:48

And then you're on that hamster wheel, like just chasing that, and you're never gonna be satisfied until you get all that.

SPEAKER_00 11:54

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 11:55

But yeah, going back to purpose, man, you gotta figure out what that is. And sometimes purpose doesn't have to look like mine. Yeah, that's right. And you definitely don't have to go through all the shit that I went through. You definitely don't have to, your rock bottom doesn't have to be ten years in prison, you know.

SPEAKER_05 12:14

Right. Oh yeah, everybody's bottom is different. I've I've learned that. And it's also like um, I've heard people, I forgot how they worded it, but it's like I would hit a I would hit what I thought was a bottom, and then the floor would fall out, and I would hit another bottom, and then that floor would fall out, and I would just like kept raising the bar of what the bottom looked like every time. It literally, every time I had to go back to rehab or go back through, you know, whatever, it was always worse. It always got worse.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 12:48

So it's like, yeah, you can't, you're everybody's bottom is different, you know. For some people, a DUI is like the end of the world.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

So, how long have you been off uh like hard drugs?

SPEAKER_05 13:02

Uh, what's today? Wednesday? Uh two days, I think. Two days. Um, five years now, I think. Yeah, stretch out. Yeah, right at five years, my left ass cheek was starting to fall asleep.

SPEAKER_02 13:19

I got a couple more letters and we'll be done with the line work.

SPEAKER_03 13:22

We'll take a little we don't need the color.

SPEAKER_02 13:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 13:29

There we go. Um, let me do a little. What's up, guys? We are getting a tattoo here with my man Chris. We're recording the Light Duty podcast right now. And man, Chris has an awesome story of how he, you know, got locked up, had struggles with addiction, came out, you know, learned tattooing while he was in prison, came out and opened a tattoo shop and is now able to share his story through his love for art and tattooing. And that's what we're talking about today. Um, I have to check and make sure he's actually giving me the tattoo I I signed up for. You know, you never know. I had to do it in a spot where it's like I could see that I'm not getting, you know, a penis on me or something. You ever done that to anybody? Any friends? They're like, yeah, I want one right here on my back. And it's just like a little dick in there.

unknown 14:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 14:33

That'd be fun if you're like this, you know, you're you're known for just slipping in little fun little things. Fun little kind of like Disney did with all their movies.

SPEAKER_01 14:45

Yeah, they kind of did slip in some weird things there.

SPEAKER_05 14:48

Yeah, I watched, I went back and watched. We had at my parents' house, this was years ago, we had on VHS, the Little Mermaid, the original Little Mermaid on VHS, and I remember when that story came out about how the preacher, when they're marrying Little Mermaid and the whoever she marries, um, he gets like a boner during the wedding ceremony. There were a few things that happened, and so we popped that VHS in, and sure enough, bricked up during the wedding ceremony. Little Mermaid.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

I think it was like the editors or something getting back at employees, animators and yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:36

It's crazy looking back on our childhoods. We're around the same age. How old are you?

SPEAKER_05 15:41

Uh 40.

SPEAKER_02 15:43

Yes, we're close.

SPEAKER_05 15:44

Umce you're over 35, it's all over.

SPEAKER_02 15:47

Yeah, you it's pretty much like all that hopeful stuff we're talking about, that's only if you're like 30. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 15:55

After that, don't worry about even trying. Yeah, get over it. You're done. You're done. Alright, we got the lines done.

unknown 16:04

Woo!

SPEAKER_02 16:05

Oh, that'll take me a the uh ankle always gets super red because of uh all the blood flow.

SPEAKER_05 16:18

All the blood flowing. Mmm, that's my favorite part right there. Feels so good. Just clean it.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

Oh, that looks awesome.

SPEAKER_02 16:26

Clean up all them little lines at some point. Zam Zaddy. We're not gonna do a whole lot of color. We're just gonna put a little bit of a little bit of razzle dazzles here. Make sure that you know that devil needs to be red.

SPEAKER_05 16:41

A lot of people probably won't understand what this is, but if you live, if you're in the chat and you live in Alabama or somewhere in the southeast, and you go down 65 south. Actually, it's probably gonna be on the north side technically, but if you're coming from the beach on 65 north from Destin and headed back home, whatever, you'll pass a sign on the side of the interstate. It's been there longer than I've been alive. Uh very well-known sign, and it says it's a little billboard, and it says, go to church or the devil will get you. And it's got this devil coming after you. And the reason I wanted to get that tattooed on me is because I've always, you know, I've I've grown up um passing this sign, seeing it all the time. And it's just, it's just how the South portrays and views church and religion and God. It's like, like this church, I think that put the sign up was probably serious about it. Like, you know, this is how they view it, and this is how they're trying to get you to come to their church is by scaring you into, you know, religion. And I had such a just a crazy experience growing up and in my childhood with, you know, being raised in a in a church going home Christian environment, went to church three times a week, you know, twice on Sunday, Wednesday night. Um, and I went through the struggles I went through, you know, had a dad that was a drug addict, went through addiction issues myself. And church, you know, it's great, but it didn't uh, you know, keep me from using. It didn't keep so I just always found that funny. Whenever I started having a relationship with God and not making it about, you know, church and religion and this and that, and just really tried to experience God and have a real relationship with God. That's whenever I I you know started making positive changes and really started to understand it. So it's just kind of a funny, I always wanted to get that sign because it's like go to church or the devil will get you. Someone's saying, Show me the penis. That's on the Patreon.

SPEAKER_02 18:50

It's on the Patreon, guys.

SPEAKER_05 18:54

Bam. There's a lot of there's a lot of hog talk going around on social media. Have you seen that where like people will get on people's accounts and be like, can we get a hog reveal? This one this one guy's account has become straight. Yeah, you can get a piglet reveal. Do they that's hilarious? The the where I saw it really going off was this dude's uh page, Tony the Greaser, and he does like 50s greaser content, and he's like does the rolled up sleeves and the jeans and the you know, he even drives a car from the 50s, and everybody thinks he has a huge hog, so they've they've started asking for the hog reveal. And so it's like he's playing into it now, but at first I think he was like not liking it because all his comment section was just hog reveal requests. Yeah, that was the right spot.

SPEAKER_02 19:58

I tried to say, like we've done this before a few times. Ugh. I know that ankle's a little bit more spicy, isn't it?

SPEAKER_05 20:07

It's just from when you're not in shape, sitting is awesome. I'm worried. Not in the best shape. Sitting becomes a task. Um you wanna wrap it?

SPEAKER_01 20:22

You wanna you wanna finish this tattoo up, big dog?

SPEAKER_02 20:24

Yeah. You just want to throw a little red in the devil and uh a little green, a little couple browns and whatnot, but we we we're let's do it. We're close. We're approaching the we're approaching the climax.

SPEAKER_05 20:38

We're peeking. We're tattoo peeking. Yeah, I was talking about how what made me want to get this particular tattoo. I'm gonna be curious to s to know who's who recognizes this sign whenever I post about it, because I'm telling you, if you from that area in the south, you're gonna know. You are gonna know. I mean, I think it's iconic.

SPEAKER_03 21:24

Oh yeah, pumping that color in there.

SPEAKER_05 21:33

The color. The thick. Down with the thickness.

SPEAKER_02 21:45

So when's the last time you got tattooed?

SPEAKER_05 21:48

Has it been a while or um I'm gonna set this in the tree thing real quick. Um It's been probably a year, I guess. Now, which I went through a little phase. I could I kind of go through these tattoo phases. You've actually probably just kicked one off now. Let's do it. Let's tattoo your face. Oh, dude, I'd do it. Actually, if you want to finish my leg sleeve up, I'll let you come up with what you think would look good as filler around all this shit because that's what I've been trying to figure out. But yeah, that was probably a year ago. I would go through this phase where like once a month I would go and get one.

SPEAKER_02 22:28

I think I went through the same uh type. What do you think? Like, why do you think it's so popular? Because being where we're at in Wilmington, I guess being right in between Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune, like let's say 60% of the people that I tattoo were in the military. Yeah. Why do you think that it's so popular with military?

SPEAKER_05 22:55

That's a good question because you know, it was even popular amongst military guys back in the day when tattoos weren't popular. Like older guys, you would see would have their tattoo from their unit. I think that's probably what a lot of it had to do with was just guys getting their unit stuffed, feeling like a brotherhood, and yeah. What better way? And soldiers are gonna a lot of soldiers have that uh mindset, you know, anyways, they're tough, badass dudes, blah, blah, blah.

SPEAKER_02 23:29

Tattoo's perfect for 'em. I'm originally from Newport News, Virginia, and uh obviously it's like it's a huge military area. Where is it? Newport News, Virginia.

SPEAKER_06 23:40

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02 23:41

Right across from Norfolk. Norfolk over there. Norfolk is right across the bridge. Norfolk Naval Base, Langley, um, Lisco's on. I think it's like the most densely populated uh military area in the country. But my Uncle Bubby had a tattoo of Popeye right on his on his uh forearm. I thought he was the baddest, he was the baddest dude in town. And uh ever since then, I just something about tattooing appealed to me.

SPEAKER_05 24:18

Ever since Uncle Bubba.

SPEAKER_02 24:20

Like it's cool having you know the stories and the meaningful stuff and everything, but at the end of the day, you get tattoos to to look fucking badass. To look cool. Look cool and get more close to God.

SPEAKER_05 24:33

Be tough. See how tough I am? You are pretty tough.

SPEAKER_03 24:37

I'm a t I'm a big boy.

SPEAKER_02 24:39

I see those toes clenching up.

SPEAKER_03 24:42

I want to be a big boy. I'm a tough man. Get my big boy pants on.

SPEAKER_02 24:49

You're so tough right now. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_05 24:57

God, that's the part that hurts.

SPEAKER_02 25:29

So if you had a what do you what would you consider your like like I'm a tat tattoo artist, you know? Everybody's got their little hats and they like would you consider yourself an influencer?

SPEAKER_05 25:41

I don't like considering myself an influencer because it sounds lame, but Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:47

You're pretty much an influencer.

SPEAKER_05 25:49

That's what I do. Content creator is another way good way to say it.

SPEAKER_02 25:54

Um But how do you like what do you do? Like now that you've got like a big following, how do you turn that into into money?

SPEAKER_01 26:02

Do you get paid from Instagram or not much.

SPEAKER_05 26:06

It's all marketing. Yeah. Really? It's all working with brands, doing brand deals.

SPEAKER_02 26:12

Like other people kind of pay you to represent their brand. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_05 26:19

Like content for them that slams and markets a product that sells and it's modern day commercials, is all it is.

SPEAKER_02 26:29

Yeah. I feel like somebody, some people have it and some people don't, you know. Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_05 26:45

Spicy right there, guys. Trying to be tough, but uh that's stung. That's a stinger. That's a stinger. That's a stinger. See if we can show it, some yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:03

That's a stingy.

SPEAKER_02 27:28

Can you feel it? I'll tell you, Evan has many people ask me to do color for them, and I do not hardly ever do color anymore.

SPEAKER_06 27:48

Really?

SPEAKER_02 27:49

I feel huh. I think this is a lot of fun for me just to do a fun tattoo. Most of the stuff I do is just like highly detailed realism stuff. Just to do some fun freaking tattoos sometimes.

SPEAKER_01 28:05

That's good. I'm glad I could provide that. It looks like you're having a lot of fun too.

SPEAKER_04 28:10

Are you having a great time?

SPEAKER_01 28:12

You having as much fun as you thought you were gonna have? Yeah. Or more.

SPEAKER_05 28:18

I'm having more fun for sure. I just didn't think we'll fucking right there.

SPEAKER_03 28:25

It would hurt so bad, but it does.

SPEAKER_05 28:30

I mean, do the posts really need to be brown? I don't even think.

SPEAKER_02 28:33

Well, uh two of them can't be brown.

SPEAKER_05 29:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:21

Imagine what it feels like to be in to be in God. Imagine what it feels like if you don't go to church. If yeah, you don't go to church. Gonna be getting tattooed on feel like the face.

SPEAKER_03 29:34

Yeah, that's what hell feels like. That's what hell feels like.

SPEAKER_05 29:40

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 29:43

Are we coloring that bad boy?

SPEAKER_05 29:44

Let's do the red devil and we'll be.

SPEAKER_02 29:57

Castle keep Castle K-E-E-P tattoo.

SPEAKER_05 30:12

You don't have my Instagram.

SPEAKER_01 30:19

Do you want my personal Instagram there?

SPEAKER_05 30:39

This will be some good time to get some actual footage. Ah I'm gonna do some stuff for this video. One more time.

SPEAKER_06 31:21

Perfect.

SPEAKER_04 31:28

Are we are we done yet? That looks like enough. That looks good, right? We can stop there, probably.

SPEAKER_01 32:41

Is this sign still up?

SPEAKER_05 32:43

Oh yeah, I think so.

SPEAKER_01 32:45

It better be.

SPEAKER_02 32:47

It's like a national national treasure.

SPEAKER_01 32:50

I'm telling you.

SPEAKER_03 33:01

Uh huh.

SPEAKER_01 33:03

I mean it looks really, really good. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_05 33:26

Wow. My man, get you a shot of that, and I don't. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:38

How much fun was that?

SPEAKER_05 33:42

Woo! It didn't start stinging until the color, dude. Like, I mean, you know, you can feel it on the outlines, but for some reason, pumping that color in there. It's a whole different animal. It's a different base.

SPEAKER_02 33:57

Isn't it like multiple little needles in the color one and like one for the edging or the one like the the liner needle has just like are grouped in like a tight circle? For the drawing? Yeah, for the lines. The color is what? Colors, well, the there's the mags are kind of like a like a rig, it's almost like a paintbrush. They're stacked like this instead of like a tight circle.

SPEAKER_05 34:20

Right. And you like literally paint with it. Yeah. Have you ever tattooed yourself?

SPEAKER_02 34:28

Yeah. Like in prison or it's been a long time, but yeah.

SPEAKER_05 34:33

Dude, that looks so good, man. Thank you. There we go. Did I tell the I uh yeah, you captured me talking about why we chose this, right?

SPEAKER_06 34:43

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_05 34:44

Okay. Dude. It looks fantastic, my man. So you guys, all right, so tell us about the shops. Um, where's it? You're located here in Wilmington? Are you guys downtown?

SPEAKER_02 34:58

Yeah, so the shop is called Castle Keep Tattoo. Okay. Uh K-E-E-P.

SPEAKER_05 35:04

Uh what's the significance with the name?

SPEAKER_02 35:06

So the keep of the castle is like the most fortified part, and that's like the it's like a the castle, the fortress within the castle. Okay. You know what did they keep there? The king. The king and all the treasures. Yeah, exactly. A lot of jewelry. You know. Um the sex workers. Yeah, all the important stuff. But yeah, we wanted to. I had a thousand different names. I wanted to be castle because the it we originally opened on Castle Street.

SPEAKER_05 35:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 35:34

Um, and uh I had 20 different names, and my wife was doing the paperwork, and she's like, Alright, listen, you gotta decide on something right now. So that's that's what it became. And we had so much success down there on Castle Street when we moved to Water Street, because right now we're on the corner of uh Dock and Water Street, like right on the Wilmington River walk. It's super nice. Like all the windows look right out to the Cape Turn. Dude, come by anytime. It's right at the corner of the uh JW Brooks building right next to An Bonnie's. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 36:11

I'm on Front Street. I'm on North Front Street.

SPEAKER_02 36:14

Oh, yeah, you're right there. Come down and see it sometime. But yeah, like the first shop I opened, I you know, I worked at a bunch of different shops and you know, I had had some good times, had some bad times, but I always not sound arrogant, but I always felt like I could do a better job than the owners of the other shop. Um, there's times where me being one of the newer tattoos, everybody in the shop was staying busy on my name and off my recommendations for people to get tattooed. I kind of felt like that was a little bit backwards. So, really what I wanted to do is I wanted to have a shop where it was fun to work. Yeah. And we didn't have any drama and just provide a good place for me to work. Right. So the first shop I opened was really small. We only had three people. Um, now we've got six, but it's just become a place where we can focus on doing the best tattoos we can and have a good time, and we really have that kind of community feel where everybody in the shop's got each other's backs. Um got we got six altogether. Six artists, yeah. So it's a good uh shop. Yeah, I think it's not huge, and the best part about it is everybody's grown up, you know, everybody's kind of out the uh party stage, you know, everybody's married with kids, and we come to work, do the best tattoos we can, and you know, go about our business. So yeah, I mean it's been beyond it's worked out better than I could have ever imagined. And um, I never really saw myself as being or wanted to be a shop owner, but after going to a few shops and guest spotting at other shops, I felt like I could open a place and and have a have it be successful and stay busy.

SPEAKER_05 38:09

And there's there's how long y'all been open now?

SPEAKER_02 38:12

Right? So I've had my own shop for two years now.

SPEAKER_05 38:16

Nice.

SPEAKER_02 38:17

Um the new place we just moved in there like three months ago. Okay. But yeah, it's it's it's extremely nice. Man, that's awesome. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 38:27

Um, when did you get out of prison?

SPEAKER_02 38:30

So I got out uh February 2nd, 2022. Nice. 2222.

SPEAKER_05 38:37

That was honestly clear I mean, I I went to rehab October 2021. So we were both cleaning it up around the same time. I didn't get out until December 2021. So like 2022 was like the first year of actually getting my shit together.

SPEAKER_02 38:57

Yeah, I think yeah, for me, like after the second, third year of being locked up, like Yeah, you forget though, you did eight and a half years.

SPEAKER_05 39:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 39:06

The incident happened exactly a long time ago. Like I had like five years left, and I'm like, okay, I've changed my life. Yeah. And then I still have like I'm rehabilitated. You're kind of beating a dead horse right now. Like I've got it kind of figured out.

SPEAKER_05 39:21

But now here's a question. Have you been able to, or have you thought about reaching out to the victim of the armed robbery and making amends to them?

SPEAKER_02 39:32

So there I I wrote letters while I was locked up because I was I was working the program while I was in there. Um I never got any response back or anything like that.

SPEAKER_05 39:45

But are you even sure that it was going to the right place?

SPEAKER_02 39:49

Yeah, I kind of feel like the best, and of course, like I would love to make amends and all that kind of stuff. But I think the best thing that I can do right now is to share the story that I got and then help other people from not getting into that situation. Or showing them that there's a there's a way out. Like that's that's kind of my redemption for myself.

SPEAKER_05 40:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:13

And at this point, like I have a family now, I got a son. Right. And now my duty is to make sure that he grows up with somebody that has been there, done that. Like my wife did all the right things. She can tell him what to do. I did all the wrong things, so I can steer what not to do. Um, so yeah, I think the way that I can make amends is is really just living practicing what I'm preaching.

SPEAKER_05 40:38

Yeah, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_02 40:40

That's the biggest thing. Like, there's always gonna be times you've done things in your life and you wish you could go back and change them and make everything right, but good thing I never really physically hurt anybody or uh I'm sure I scared the shit out of some people. Was it a girl or a guy? It was really just people on the street. Oh, okay. I was blackout.

SPEAKER_05 41:02

Yeah, random folks up.

SPEAKER_02 41:04

Yeah, I was like, yeah. It wasn't glamorous like a movie, like I wasn't robbing banks or anything. I was just having the people on the street taking their wallets and shit.

SPEAKER_05 41:12

Yeah, I was just I was like thinking about the amends thing because I know that's what I would want to do. Yeah. But also, like I had people, I had some people, you know, obviously I've made a lot of amends in my life too, but there was one in particular, like an ex of mine who is actually the only time I've been married, it was very brief. It shouldn't happen in the first place, kind of thing. She had a son way out of my league kind of system. I was now I was out working a job, managing apartments in Birmingham, and you know, had had been sober and clean, been going to church, doing all this stuff, you know, getting my shit together, and then it was like when I met her, I had just started slipping up again. I was still like in that phase where it's like I can appear, I got my shit together, but I'm also using on the side in it a little bit. And it just obviously went further downhill and downhill, and uh so like I felt really, really bad about that. Like when I lost her and then I lose the job, and then I go back to rehab for the last time. One of the things that was like that was motivating me was like the thought of well, maybe I'll have another chance with her and I can show her that you know who I really am and make it right, and we, you know, ride off into the sunset. And when I realized that wasn't gonna happen, you know, it wasn't easy. You know, it wasn't an easy pill to swallow. And I'd kind of made one attempt to make amends when I got out, and it was, you know, r responded to with like, do not contact me again, you know, kind of kind of energy. And so I had told the guy I was working with, you know, as like a sponsor, but more like a spiritual advisor, kind of about that and just how it was making me feel. And he was like, you know, first of all, you know, you got your answer. That's her decision. She, you know, there's nothing you can do or say about that. Um, all you can do is kind of like you were saying, is like, yeah, you know, live the amends. And he's he's he said, but if God wants you to make that amends, he will make that situation happen. He will provide that opportunity. Right. So don't force it. It'll happen. You'll get that, you know. So is that something to keep in mind for you?

SPEAKER_02 43:20

Where where I'm at, it's like, is it worth um bringing up old memories? And I'm sure I don't think, you know, of course it was a severe crime like robbing people with a gun. But I've I don't know if I I certainly hope it didn't cause any lifelong trauma or anything like that, you know. Um but yeah, if there was any way that I could, I mean I would love I'd love to do that if like if like you said, if God put that into my life, I would love to do that.

SPEAKER_05 43:56

Um someone told me you got your gun rights back.

SPEAKER_02 43:59

Yes. Still able to do that? Anyway, it's it's a very hard process to go through. Especially with a charge like that. Exactly. And they're very not, they don't give, they don't just give it to anybody. But you know, I've had news stories about um, you know, getting out, doing the right thing, opening my own business. You know, I've got you got receipts. I've got receipts. I'm not just talking shit. Yeah, I think that's the biggest thing with a lot of people. And I'm sure you went through the same thing like we talked about earlier. Um you can talk a big game, and we all do when we're first coming out and you're cleaning up and your mind's getting, oh yeah, I'm gonna do these things. Yeah, and you're telling your family make all these apologies, and then you know, then you disappoint your family, yeah, and then you're right back to it. So I waited a couple years and then I put in and I got denied. Um this time, so it's been what three months ago, I went to the hearing in South Carolina, and I'm telling you, I showed up to the it was a board and I sat in a chair, and there was about 12 people around me. Um, and they were so supportive and they were so positive because they've seen my story and they saw all the changes I've made. And I feel like now I'm actually a contrib, not just taking from society, but I'm you know, I'm giving people jobs. Yeah, a good husband, a good father. I'm like becoming a good member of society. We have an art show that's that's uh giving all our donations to uh uh to victims of domestic violence next month. You know, we're doing things, yeah. And I think uh having all those that's the proof. Uh uh that's the proof that they needed to see. And the same people that I went in front, you know, they weren't the exact same people, but the same kinds of uh people. Uh I went in front of them and they were nothing but supportive, and they wished me good luck, and um they told me how proud they were of me. And not that I needed that validation, but it felt very good to have the people that were on the other side that were doling out, you know, doling out punishments and everything, like, okay, listen, uh this doesn't happen very often. Yeah, like 99% of the time people get locked up and they go back and they continue on with the bullshit, but every once in a while someone turns their life around and makes something out of it.

SPEAKER_05 46:32

Yeah. And and that's something to, you know, celebrate, and that's something that's like good on them for you know allowing you that opportunity.

SPEAKER_02 46:40

That was what that's that shows that they're supporting, you know, just thinking about that series as something to ask you while I was here, like um I know y'all are big gun rights advocates and love guns and shooting guns and all that kind of stuff. I too agree that I I definitely think it's part of our right as an American to own a gun, but I do believe that if you screw that up, like listen, you've been in trouble for doing something you're not supposed to do with a gun. Like at what point at what point do you get your rights back? Or at what point do you take the rights away? Is that like how does that yeah?

SPEAKER_05 47:29

I mean, I think um, you know, obviously they handled it the right way with you taking it away, denying it when you first tried, you know, you really had to show them that you were making some changes. Um, because you know, technically, if I hadn't gotten that felony dropped, I would have not been able to carry one too, because it's any felony that's you know, right? So I uh but the thing about it is it's like, dude, if if you're someone who's like attempting to try and do it the right way, that says enough right there that like this person wants to abide by the law because just because they took it away doesn't mean you still can't carry a gun. Yeah, there's peep plenty of people carrying guns.

SPEAKER_02 48:13

When they gave me the sentence, it was here's 10 years, not a lifetime, you know. And I think to give that glimmer of hope, like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, and if you do X, Y, and Z, it motivates people to do the right thing. Because if you say, Okay, you fucked up, now the rest of your life you're you're screwed. Yeah, what's the motivating force to change your life? Because it's like I've already screwed up.

SPEAKER_05 48:36

Yeah, there's no now. I'm gonna just illegally carry a gun. Yeah, exactly. I tried. Sorry, now I'm gonna do it illegally.

SPEAKER_02 48:42

So I think I think that's a big part of um the criminal justice. Like I could go, we could do a whole other thing on just that, and my opinions with that. But I think instead of it being like right now, it's called the Department of Corrections, and I think it's more of the department of punishment, you know? And of course, there needs to be you need to be held accountable for your actions, but there also needs to be a path to redemption. Yeah. And not everybody's gonna choose that path. Yeah, and but the ones that do, there needs to be a way out, man. Because we all screw up in life, man.

SPEAKER_05 49:14

And and some and we definitely all screw up. Others get caught, others don't, you know, and then like the system will fail us big time because I've been watching a lot of first 48 lately. I'm on this first 48 kick, you know, this about the murder investigations. And so many scenarios where like, you know, the the guy that the suspect that ends up doing it, uh repeat offender, you know, they look his record up. He's been in prison three times for this violent thing and this, and it's like, what are you doing out, dude?

SPEAKER_02 49:48

Like, how do you even have the ability to commit this?

SPEAKER_05 49:51

And then they got Joe Schmoe locked up for life with no chances of you know doing over one thing, and it's like it's just so screwed up. So much of it's you know, financially motivated and all that.

SPEAKER_02 50:03

I think the motives are are in the wrong place instead of like let's figure out a solution to the problem. It's like my side versus your side, and we're playing a sporting match, and whoever wins gets the trophy. We're not looking at what's right, what's wrong. And I think it's the same thing with like politics and all that stuff going on right now. No one's really looking for out for what's the best for the people.

SPEAKER_06 50:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 50:27

It's more like, oh, your side said this, I have to prove that your side's wrong and my side's right. Well, it shouldn't even be about that. Like it should be we need to fight for what makes the average American's life uh better. Yeah. You know, and I think we've fallen so far from that where it's become this tribal thing where nothing I say, if I'm on one side, nothing I say is right, and everything I say is wrong. Which when you really dig into it and start talking to people, you realize that, hey, I might not agree with everything you say, but now I can actually hear where you're coming from, and then maybe we can you can hear where I'm coming from and we can come up with a resolution to this thing instead of it just being me versus you.

SPEAKER_05 51:12

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 51:12

You're never who like we're all there's no end to that shit.

SPEAKER_05 51:16

Yeah, that's what's crazy. Like when it comes to politics, I've always been someone who I've never voted for one. And a lot of people hear that and they're like, What? It's your right as an American to vote. It's like, yeah, but it's also my right as an American to not vote. I don't have to vote. I remember they they were doing the democracy democracy thing in Iraq and making this big spectacle of it, and they got all these, they're hoarding out all these citizens of Iraq to go vote and trying to act like it's this big, and it's like, you guys are forcing them to the polls to go vote for you. That's no different than you know, you know, than what was happening before. It's like I'm exercising my right to not vote because I don't think it makes a difference, honestly.

SPEAKER_02 51:56

The thing I read They're all corrupt. Like George Carlin said back in the day, because he was way ahead of his time, he was like, one thing y'all need to realize is there's a big club going on out there, and everybody, all of them are part of it. You know what, buddy? You are not part of that club, right? You know, I think for one second, whether it's Democrat, Republican, what other side, that you are part of that team.

SPEAKER_06 52:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 52:21

And I think when people identify themselves 100% with the person that they voted for, that's their whole identity.

SPEAKER_05 52:27

Yeah. It's kind of they truly believe that so and so is gonna change the world with their presidency time.

SPEAKER_02 52:34

Yeah, it's just not gonna happen.

SPEAKER_05 52:37

I think I think your life ain't gonna change at all, my man.

SPEAKER_02 52:40

The way that we can change, that we can make change in this world is the people around you and the community that you are in right now, you can make change from within that on a smaller scale and change the immediate immediate surroundings, you know. But if you and then if you have like a bigger platform and a lot of people talk, you can try to make changes there. But thinking that you're gonna change the minds of a system that's been put into place for the elites by the elites, and then expect for the elites to hold other elites accountable, forget about it.

SPEAKER_05 53:13

Forget about it. Anything about it, forget about it. Good example of that. We don't have to go down the rabbit hole, but yeah, the whole Charlie Kirk thing, you know, you look into all that. There's definitely something shady happening there. And it's because why? He was getting a voice and affecting millions of voters, you know, you like young voters too, which affects the future, which is even bigger. So he's affecting all these college students for this, you know, whatever the thing is. And look what happened. You know, it's like someone was rising to power that was bucking the system in a way, went against, you know, the thing.

SPEAKER_02 53:50

And you see, you look at way back even in the day. We're gonna handle it. Look at JFK, he was the one who's the one that didn't do that one thing that they all do, you know, and it's gone, and no one can do shit about it. Yeah, you know, and the thing is, like we said before, you expect for the people that are making the laws and the people that are transgressing against our society to hold themselves accountable. Right. It ain't gonna happen, buddy. Ain't gonna happen. So we can get mad about it, we can say anything, but the only way that the real power that focus on the things that you have power to control in your own life. Like right now, I have power to control like the people that listen to me. I have power to help out my family, my friends. Yeah, make sure we're all taken care of. And you know what?

SPEAKER_05 54:40

That's about as that's about as much as I can as about as as far as I can I like a good example of that is is because you know, when you do start growing an audience and a following, it's like, all right, well, now what are you gonna do with it? You know, how are you gonna use that for good? And I remember when I was in in rehab this last time, um, I was, you know, starting to work the program feeling good, you know, my mind's working right now, I'm feeling motivated. And I was someone had had been telling like I was struggling with um what, you know, not believing that I was gonna be given any kind of chance again to do something. Like I had blown it with the opportunities I had. You know, I had bought a house, I blew that. I had this good job, I blew that, I had this good woman, I blew that. And I just felt like nothing like that was gonna happen anymore. And I was talking to a guy about it, and he was like, look, all you can do, he's like, just be responsible. Just prove you're responsible with whatever task you're given now. And so I remember I'd been assigned a little job in the rehab, and it was something medial. It was like my job was to get to the class early and set the TV thing up for the class for them to use in the class. That was it. Come in, basically turn the TV on, straighten the chairs up. That was my that was my job. That was my task. And I was like, all right, don't worry about anything else. Prove to yourself and to God and whoever that you can handle this this task given to you. Sure. Right. Do that job well, do it right, show, you know, be you know, accountable and and get that done. And then if something else comes, do that, handle that. So I just kept handling things responsibly as they would come, and it's it's continuously growing. So it's like, okay, now I'm making more money now. Great. What am I gonna do with that? Well, a big thing that I do with that is I use 10% and I donate it back to the rehab that I get. So every month that I've made money, no matter how much money it was, 10% was going back to that rehab, and I've stuck to that. And there's been, you know, as I've made more money and found success in this, there's been some checks, you know, sent that you're like, ooh, yeah, I could buy a motorcycle with this, or I could buy a new car with this, or I could, but no, that wasn't the deal. I'm giving this 10% back. And as long as I've done that, guess what? It's continued to grow. It's the same thing with you know, your community and a fit, like just do what you're assigned and given and done right and well and be of service. And then if it grows, you know, it expands.

SPEAKER_02 57:18

You get more responsibility. You find like the little things, and I think a lot of times you find, at least for me, because you know, they say a uh smart man learns from other mistakes, a wise man learns from his own mistakes or whatever. Unfortunately, I don't know if I'm that smart, so I've had to learn from my own mistakes, but luckily I've made a lot of mistakes, I've learned a lot. Um but little things like just just little to correct your character a little bit, you know. I remember I used to be a liar, you know, like I just lie about shit, you know. Um not even when I'd have to. You know, and not even just doing it. So at one point, at one point I I I told myself I'm not I'm not fucking lying anymore. It doesn't matter what it's about, like I'm not doing it anymore. Then then call it universe, God, or whatever. They'll put things in your life. So, you know, when I first met my wife, um our first date, I sat down and we were at dinner. I was like, I have to tell you something. And I'm like, she's gonna run like hell. I was like, I served almost 10 years in prison. So she didn't know at this time? No, like, but this was this was like our first date.

SPEAKER_05 58:28

We'd you know, we'd put it Well, we didn't meet you at a tattoo shop.

SPEAKER_02 58:31

Yeah, yeah. What do you expect? Yeah, yeah. Um, I think she was seeking out the bad boys, you know?

SPEAKER_05 58:37

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 58:38

Trying to get a little wild. Yeah. But um, anyway, like that's self, dude. When I went out with her, I was like, I'm not gonna lie to this guy. Yeah. And if she doesn't take me for what I am, like that's yeah, you don't need her. Obviously, like it's not meant to be. And I told her, and she said, Well, you don't seem like a bad guy.

SPEAKER_05 58:57

Like, we I've been like, Oh yeah, give me a fucking money, you're paying for this meal.

SPEAKER_02 59:04

Yeah, but it worked out, and to my surprise, like I was she, I think she saw that and was like, damn, this is like as honest as anybody's ever been. She told me that you got it's time to meet meet the parents, you know? And I said, You know what? I'm gonna tell your dad everything about me. Sorry. Because if we go to dinner and your dad's like, oh, well, where were you at before Wilmington? What are we gonna do in the last time? I'm just gonna make up some stuff. Oh, I was in college, so I went to Harvard. I had this job, uh stamping the place that's gonna be a good thing. So she was like, she was like, do not do that, he's not gonna like that. And I said, fuck it. And we we uh had some small talk and some dinner, and I took him outside and I said, Listen, man, I just want to let you know like a little bit about me, and this is my backstory. And I was I'm literally trembling right now, thinking about how much anxiety that gave me. But when I told him, he was like, you know what, thanks for thanks for telling me that. And there was not a big conversation after that, that was it. But I think it left a lasting impression on him.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:07

He was like, it's a man of integrity, yeah. It's a man of set up high and just mistakes.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:13

And if he if he said, you know what, screw this, like you're not good enough for my daughter, whatever it is, at least my side of the street is clean, and I didn't know.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:20

Yeah, he's the one looking like a jackass. Yeah, so you came and you, you know, told the truth.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:26

I think holding up those kinds of values and stuff, you start you start attracting people of a similar character into your life. And um, yeah, right now I I've just got I couldn't imagine having a better, better wife and support system and you know best friends with my in-laws. Like it's yeah, it's great. And it I don't think it would have happened if I didn't have that realization that, hey, listen, I'm not gonna, I'm never gonna lie again. I'm never gonna, I'm not gonna be dishonest, I'm not gonna deceive. Yeah. And um, I think that's that's awesome.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:01

Yeah, you have such a such an awesome story, man. I just appreciate you coming on and doing this, man. You're welcome. And uh say the name of your tattoo shop one more time, Castle Keep.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:12

So yeah, my shop is my shop is Castle Keep Tattoo in Wilmington. Um right there on the Wilmington River Walk. Come by and check us out or check us out on Instagram. We'd we'd love to tattoo you.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:25

Yes, I can attest to their work. Um, yeah, that was great, man. So um what you got coming up next? Let's see. Uh, what's your Instagram? Do you have you have Castle Keep and then your personal?

SPEAKER_02 1:01:37

My the cat the Instagram for the shop is Castle Keep Tattoo. Okay. Um my Instagram is Slick Phillips underscore art. And I made that name while I was in, everybody always asked, like, where the hell did that name come from? So my dog's name was Slick. Slick Phillips. And my middle name is Phillips, and I made it while I was in prison, and it blew up, so I couldn't change it when I got out. So that's just what it is, and that's how everybody knows it. There it is. Hell yeah. That's how everybody kind of knows me, and that's the work that I do.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:11

Well, check out Slick Phillips, check out Castle Keep, and check us out on the Light Duty Podcast next time. We gotta give our bulkhead energy shout out real quick. Because this is what keeps us fueled here, keeps us juiced.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:27

I mean, this is legit, though. It's good, right? I told you it is, and I'm a man of integrity, so I can never lie.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:33

It's that's right. So you know he's telling the truth. 300 milligrams of caffeine, no sugar, lots of new tropics. Um, in terms of energy, you cannot beat it. So check out bulkhead, check out SnapTac, check out Castle Keep. Join us next time.