Raymond King II

Ray’s interest in tattoos and piercings began at a young age, inspired by his dad’s and uncle’s tattoos. His dad took him to Claire’s for his first ear piercing at age 13, and a lifelong passion was born. By his late teens, he was a regular at local tattoo and piercing shops in Greenville, NC — sometimes getting pierced more than once a week — eventually leading to a branding and scarification project and, ultimately, his first tattoo.

In 2011, Ray was presented with the opportunity to begin a piercing apprenticeship, and the craft has been his full‑time focus ever since. He prides himself on honesty, integrity, and precision in his work. Staying current with industry advancements in safety, procedure, and technique is central to his approach, as he believes doing things safely and correctly is just as important as understanding anatomy and aesthetics.

Ray has been sailing under the Black Pearl banner since 2016 and has been its rock‑solid first mate since opening day. Outside of the shop, he enjoys spending time with his cat Nacho, hiking and enjoying nature, and playing guitar in a metal band.