The world of hip-hop brings the power of body art to life. Iconic tattoos such as Tupac’s “Thug Life” alongside 21 Savage’s knife and Gucci Mane’s ice cream cone all pique interest in the genre’s sheer love of ink. Some tattoo choices may go down in history as breathtaking pieces. Other selections have been far less celebrated, leaving some musicians with regrets. From Iggy Azalea to Tyga memorializing old flames, Drake shouting out Billboard accomplishments, and even Chris Brown getting his favorite sneaker tatted on his face. Every individual piece has its unique backstory. Diving into these stories reveals a variety of poor decisions alongside tasteful artistry. Here are the best and worst face tattoos on rappers.
10. Chris Brown’s “Air Jordan 3” Face Tattoo
Chris Brown is so fond of Nike’s Air Jordan 3 that he had it tattooed on his face. Ganga, the artist, revealed a photo of the finished project on Instagram, showcasing the creation. According to Complex, their inspiration for the one-of-a-kind piece came from observing Ganga’s other shoe designs. When asked what influenced him, he replied: “He [Brown] loved it and showed me the Jordan shoe he wanted—the Air Jordan 3, which is his favorite!”
9. The Game’s “Star” Tattoo
The Game’s experience with his facial tattoo should serve as a warning to everyone considering getting inked. Having initially gotten a butterfly tattoo from an artist in New York that “didn’t do it right,” the piece had to be transformed. It became a cover-up for the L.A. Dodgers. Heeding his advice: “Know what you’re gonna get and know what it’s gonna do for you,” would have saved him from what he described to VladTV as “a moth” on his face.
8. Gucci Mane’s “Ice Cream Cone” Tattoo
Gucci Mane stunned the world with a massive tattoo on his face in 2011. It was an ice cream cone with the letters ‘Brrr’ with lightning strikes. His bold decision took the public back, prompting them to ask what could have caused it. Despite the criticism he received for it, Gucci Mane also created a new benchmark. It shifted how audacious a rapper’s tattoo can be while maintaining mass appeal.
7. Lil Wayne’s “Baked” Tattoo
Lil Wayne has been covering himself in tattoos for years. To honor skateboard company Baker, the rapper-turned-skateboarder adorned his forehead with the word “baked.” The stars, lightning bolt, and teardrops that already decorated this area of his noggin left only one vacant spot. It was above his right eye for the new ink. In an interview with Hot 107.9, Wayne also mentioned hip hop taking the backseat to skating as he became uninterested in rapping. Perhaps the tattoo is another way of demonstrating how serious he is about being a skateboarder.
6. Rick Ross’ “Rich Forever” Tattoo
Rick Ross knows how to make an impression. He enhanced his already impressive array of facial tattoos with the “Rich Forever” tat. Cunningly placed beneath his lips, nestled amongst his meticulously groomed beard, the tattoo’s placement offers him the choice to either show off the ink or let nature take its course–letting the hair grow over it. Seeing those words etched on his face is a permanent reminder of his steely determination.
5. Tekashi69 “69” Tattoos
Thanks to Showtime’s documentary, Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine, fans better understood why the young rapper chose “69” for his tattoos. As GQ explains, the six in Daniel and nine in Hernandez symbolize his soft-spoken side and street cred-boosting activities. With these dual personas, Danny Hernandez and 6ix9ine meld together. While the story might be an interpretation of the ink, it’s hard to talk about face tattoos on rappers without mentioning him—a reality he crafted himself.
4. Trippie Redd’s Number “14” Tattoo
Trippie got his first tattoo at sixteen: a “14” between his eyebrows. Growing up on 14th Street and having formed the group “1400,” this number was significant to him – there was more than just coincidence in its being bestowed to him. His grandmother even told stories of angels guiding humanity’s path, which she called the “14.” To Trippie, this signified spiritual protection.
3. Soulja Boy’s “Gucci Logo ” Tattoo
At sixteen, Soulja was captivated by the art of tattooing and immediately became hooked. Consequently, His first piece was for his record label, SOD Money Gang Emblem. Renowned American tattooist Mr. Cartoon artfully inked Gucci’s logo on his forehead, making it the most prominent of his distinctive tattoos. Some of Cartoon’s prolific clientele include 50 Cent, Dr Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg. Following suit, Soulja Boy sported a plethora of facial tattoos- becoming a trademark symbol for him. Nevertheless, he has recently elected to remove all his tattoos through laser treatment to boost the possibility of landing television and movie roles.
2. 21 Savage “Dagger ” Tattoo
21 Savage has a dagger tattoo as an homage to his late brother, Tay Man. Before he died, Tay Man had the same body art to represent the crew he had grown up with. To honor him further, 21 Savage chose this ink. Additionally, a few small symbols are located on 21 Savage’s forehead. If face tattoos on rappers would become a trend, 21 Savage would still prefer to keep these facial tattoos minimal.
1. Post Malone’s Face Tattoos
Post Malone’s tattoos carry a sadder connotation. In an interview with GQ in March 2020, he revealed that they are partly a defense mechanism, saying, “It comes from insecurity; I don’t like how I look, so I add something cool to make myself feel better.” To honor his daughter, his forehead bears the large cursive initials of her name–DDP–reminding him of her while he is away.
Malone allowed his devotees an intimate look at the tattooing process when he had a buzzing saw added to his face in 2020. He posted a video on Instagram Stories, and photographer Adam DeGross also documented the session on his own Instagram. The singer acquired the body art while touring Kansas City.
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