An ink jet ink composition comprising an aqueous media and a pigment dispersion comprising a specific carbon black pigment and a polymeric dispersant wherein said polymeric dispersant is a copolymer comprising at least a hydrophobic methacrylate or acrylate monomer containing an aliphatic chain having greater than or equal to 12 carbons; and a hydrophilic methacrylic or acrylic acid monomer; wherein said copolymer comprises at least 10% by weight of the methacrylate or acrylate monomer and at least 5% by weight of the methacrylic or acrylic acid monomer; and wherein the copolymer comprises, in total, 20 to 95 weight % of hydrophobic monomer.