24:What was the first tattoo you got and how old were you at the time?


Tone Trump: The first tattoo I got was “No Fear” on my right arm and I got my mom’s initials on my left arm because I knew she was going to be upset about the “No Fear” tattoo. I got the “No Fear” and my mom’s initials on the same day when I was like 15.

24: After getting your first tat I know a lot of people say that’s where it starts but not where it ends so was it like that for you?

Tone Trump: For me when I first got tattoos, I was really into basketball. During that time I was a real big Allen Iverson fan, so I wanted to have my legs tatted up. Then I got into the whole culture and loving the art side of it.

24: How many tattoos do you have in total?

Tone Trump: Well, I like to say one because they all tell one story, “My Story”. But if you look at my pictures somebody would say I have a lot more than one. At this point I’m being tattooed once a week or at least once a week I’m getting something done. Whether it’s something new or something re-touched but I really don’t know how many I have I lost count a while back (lol).

24: I know people get tattoos to express themselves in different ways from pain to joy, explain the meaning behind a couple of your tats?

Tone Trump: My tats signify my life. I have people I love on me like my mom and my kids. I have people I lost like some of my best friends. I have my neighborhood on me because I love my neighborhood and some things I just have because they’re fly and I like fly stuff.

24: What’s the reaction you get from the average person that meets you for the first time about your tattoos?

Tone Trump: I get different reactions. The best thing is the girls love them, you know what I mean, so that’s always good. I get different reactions. I get people that stare but a lot of time when they look at the work, I’m proud to say that it’s so nice that even people who might not be into tattoos end up liking my work.

24: Who do you get your tats done by?

Tone Trump: I go to the best tattoo artist in the world, his name is Mat Scheid, he’s in North Jersey. Go to my myspace and he’s in my top friends.


24: If you wasn’t Tone Trump the Artist/Ceo and you were just an average Joe working a 9 to 5 would you still have made the same choices in getting all of your tats?

Tone Trump: I guess we’ll never know.


24: Is their any tattoo that you have that you regret getting done?

Tone Trump: I don’t every regret so I don’t regret none of my tattoos. It’s all an experience.

24: If you had to choose two or three tattoos that meant the most to you which would it be and why?

Tone Trump: My kids because that’s the most important things to me.  My mom cause that’s the second most important thing to me. My name because I’m the third most important thing to me.

24: How much money have you spent on tattoos so far?

Tone Trump: I have a great partnership with my tattoo artist. But in total I got about 10-15K worth of work on me and counting. I’m getting money.

24: What’s next for you in 2009?

Tone Trump: I got the mixtape “Miracle On Market Street” with Big Homie Corona. I got a new mixtape with Top Notch “We Get Busy” with DJ Crok. I got “Out with the Old and  In with the New” with DJ Drama and I got the documentary “Blood, Sweat, and Star” coming.

24: Anything you want to say to the readers or promote before we go?

Tone Trump: I just want to thank 24hourhiphop.com for having me again. To the readers, In 2009 have fun, get money, stop being haters and visit www.topnotchrap.com.