Image via Complex Original
Hip-hop and tattoos have a somewhat dodgy history. We've laughed at mistakes and occasionally danced to ink themed tunes (or cried listening to Atmosphere's "Girl With the Tattooed Hands"). We remember LL talking about his microphone and Gucci Mane filling the pages of gossip rags with his curious ice cream cone. And, we've seen members of the community memorialized through body art.
Tattoos, in the last two decades, have simply become part of the hip-hop aesthetic.
When good, hip-hop tattoos are explicit signifiers of identity. They match the style of the wearer and speak to personal values. Other times, common designs become linked to specific stars, giving those tattoos new power and incorporating them into hip-hop culture.
There are a few memorable tattoos that don't crack the top 10. Eminem's tribute to fallen homie Proof and Aesop Rock's "…MUST WARN OTHERS …MUST NOT SLEEP" are cool. So are some of the pieces on Jim Jones and Cory Gunz. Wayne and Wiz, we know, are well covered. Dame Dash has some nice ink. And, DJ Paul's barbed wire neck is brilliant in its brutality.
Keep all that in mind while moving through our list. Here are the 10 best tattoos in hip-hop history.
10. Project Pat
"Tennessy"
"Tatted on my left arm, spelled like Hennessey." Everything about this tattoo is fantastic. Lettering to match the spelling, this is the only tattoo you will ever see where a #FAIL is, in fact, a victory. Note: that this is Gary Warnett's favorite hip-hop tattoo of all-time.
9. Prodigy
"MOBB DEEP" Knuckle Dusters
Possibly the first knuckle tattoos in rap and undoubtedly the most iconic. Almost makes you believe that the extra "B" was included in the Queensbridge group's spelling for express purpose of hand tattoos. The only other hand tattoos in hip-hop with equal force are Peedi's North Philly jawns.
8. Yelawolf
"RED" Neck
A good tattoo should be legible. No arguing against legibility here. The tattoo is a touch tongue-in-cheek, and also explicitly about Catfish Billy's identity.
7. Eve
Paws
Eve wouldn't be eve without these. Her little paws are the most iconic tattoos on any female MC.
6. Paul Wall
Sleeves
Mr. Cartoon is the king of rapper tattoos. His client list includes 50, Eminem, etc., etc. Paul's sleeves are indicative of Toon's style and also nicely mix home state allegiance with some fun personal notes. Paul as a clown with diamond teeth, what's not to love?
5. Method Man
"LIFE/DEATH"
Let's face it, this is not a spectacular tattoo. However, it is an important tattoo in hip-hop culture. Meth is the most famous wearer of a rather ubiquitous design and is responsible for inspiring a slew of backpackers to follow in his footsteps.
Method Man made this a hip-hop tattoo. There's only one tattoo that more influential in the history of hip-hop ink… you'll have to read on to find out what that is though.
4. Lloyd Banks
"Rotten Apple" Back Piece
Viewers of Miami Ink will know this tattoo well. Chris Garver (whose work is absolutely fantastic) is responsible for it. Few tattoos are as blatantly related to album marketing, but that is also part of the charm. 50 has his "Southside" back piece, Banks followed suit with something that has a little more narrative quality, and in so doing trumped the G-Unit general.
3. Stalley
"USA"
Stalley has solid work from Jimmy Hayden of Focus Tattoo in Cleveland and young Brooklyn-based up-and-comer Anderson Luna. His best piece is undoubtedly this classic "USA" stamp. It is direct from a Sailor Jerry flash book and nicely ink by the talented Oliver Peck. While most of hip-hop thinks locally, this Midwestern lad shares some national pride with his tattoos.
2. David Banner
"Mississippi" Back Piece
Banner's famous for the "Mississippi" text across his shoulders. Some of the best lettering in hip-hop (Done by Cartoon). Again, legibility wins out. The clarity of the tattoo provides the punch.
Xzibit has a solid back text as well (reading "Lost Angel"... also by Cartoon), but Banner's tattoo figures so centrally in his career that it deserves high level recognition.
1. Tupac
"Thug Life" Stomach Rocker
The most important tattoo in hip-hop. Probably the most famous stomach rocker in history. Tupac got this tattoo back in 1992 from Dago at Dago's Tattoo in Houston, TX. Pac was allegedly tattooed 8 times in that shop. It's such a brazen tattoo, with a bullet replacing the "I" in life.
Arguably the most famous tattoo in music.
