Smile Now, Cry Later: Guns, Gangs, and Tattoos-My Life in Black and Gray

by Freddy Negrete, Steve Jones, Luis Rodríguez (Foreword)

Pioneering black-and-gray tattoo artist Freddy Negrete was twelve years old and confined in the holding cell of a Los Angeles juvenile facility when an older teenager entered—covered in tattoos. Freddy was in awe, not just of the art, but of what it symbolized, and he wanted what this kid the potent sense of empowerment and belonging that came from joining a gang. The encounter drove Freddy to join the notorious gang La Sangra, and it didn't take long before he was a regular guest at LA County's juvenile detention facilities. By the age of twenty-one, Freddy had spent almost his whole life as a ward of the state in one form or the other.Enthralled by the black-and-gray tattoo style that in the 1970s was confined to the rebel culture of Chicano gangsters and criminals, Freddy started inking himself with hand-poked tattoos. Everyone wanted a piece of Freddy's black-and-gray style--gangbangers but also Hollywood starlets and film producers.In a riveting narrative that takes the reader from Freddy's days as a cholo gang member to evangelical preacher to Hollywood body art guru to addiction counselor, Smile Now, Cry Later is, ultimately, a testament to that spark within us all, that catalyst which gives us the strength to survive, transform, and transcend all that can destroy us.

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2017

Reviews

[Patrick O'Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freddy Negrete’s former life is as dark and forbidding as a thick lined skull tattoo on the face of a menacing gangbanger. Vivid and to the point, Smile Now, Cry Later takes you from Negrete as a “cholo gang member to evangelical preacher to Hollywood body art guru to addiction counselor”—which is one hell of a journey. This memoir by Negrete and Steve Jones is riveting and intense and I couldn’t put it down.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freddy Negrete lived one hell of a life. This book details all the ups and downs he went through being a foster kid, a gang member, an inmate, a drug addict, and an influential tattoo artist. Pretty interesting book.

[Vaishakh Ravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there's ever a life of full circles, endlessly starting over at the square one of addiction and incarceration, Freddy's life has to be it. Freddy grew up in an abusive foster home, running away in his teenage to become a gangster, incarcerated several times prior to adulthood. If it was hard enough to make a life out of this situation, imagine having to repeat it three, four times over, losing two marriages, two successful business ventures due to repeated addiction, and having suffered through the loss of a child to gang related violence.

It's also a tale of creativity and invention in a life filled with turbulence. He was one of the pioneers of developing the black and gray style of tattooing, playing a pivotal role in making tattoos the custom, fine pieces of art it has come to represent today. To give some perspective on the scale of accomplishment, imagine working solo in a prison art shop with almost no reference to go with, creating Chicano art on stationary sheets that were mailed out by other inmates. Sheets that would eventually become works of art that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, wear on their bodies today.

An incredible read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty decent. Very casually written and not much real introspection until the end, and even then I’m not sure how much will stick with poor Freddy. . Buddy just keeps getting chances for everything. Second, third, fourth chances on everything and anything. Obviously the jail/freedom stuff but with the tattoo scene, his jobs, his wife(s) his kids. Horseshoe uo his ass for sure. Especially considering how many people he knows he die around him.

The style of the book makes it super easy to follow and he presents as likeable but guy is an addict and it’s pretty much a miracle he wasn’t in jail for life. Or just straight up murdered. It did a great job kind of detailing the beginnings of cholo life style and the tattoo culture. What ultimately happens to his kid is tragic but all the backsliding with drugs, and like crazy drugs, makes it hard to sympathize .

Guy is just on pcp and heroin for the duration it seems. I thought that funny, there are times when he’s like “people see tattoos and they think criminals and we’re all bad people, but we’re not! Give us a chance!” Except you’re a goddamn criminal and all your pals are criminals too. And you’re an addict hooked on the worst kind of drugs! Like I’m down for some weed here and again but not laced with angel dust and heroin pal.
Fun quick read though. And I wonder how Fred’s doing now. Really hope guy isn’t doing speed again.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very realistic book, one of the most realistic that I have ever read before. It gave accounts of hard subjects without a filter which I really appreciated- even the language and terms used in the storytelling felt like I was being talked to rather than reading the story, which I liked. However, a downside of the stories being told like that was that sometimes the language seemed too informal, not professional enough with certain topics being discussed. I think had the book had better use of its informal language, I would have given it four stars.
Lastly, some of the storytelling was all over the place. The author jumped from one time period to the next and that made the flow of the timeline confusing where you would have to go back and reread what the author wrote to fully follow where they were going.

[B.B. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!! I have always respected Freddy for his role in bringing Black and Gray to the mainstream tattoo world. But after reading this book, the respect has went to a whole new level. His story will have you taking in every detail, all the way back to his parents life before his time. He's got one hell of a story and has made the best out of every crazy situation. True Legend! Love you Freddy!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about the life of Freddy Negrete and how he grew up to be this amazing tattoo artist. he had not the best life but, he did what he can and practiced for months and months until he became a professional tattoo artist.

[Max Hanawalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This never stops! Great book