A Complex History of Game's Facial Tattoos

Image via Complex Original

Game drops his R.E.D. Album today, and while Charles Louboutin breaks down his 25 Favorite Albums, we got to analyzing the history of his iconic face tattoo. While Game has mad ink all over his body, including homages to rap icons like 2Pac, Eazy-E, and Jam Master Jay, it's the spot under his right eye that's garnered plenty of attention — likely due to the changes it's experienced over the years.

Most of his ink is taken care of by his personal artist, KG at 264 Customs, and Game has done a bunch of interviews and videos regarding the meaning behind his facial tattoos. He's often expressed indifference at adding ink to his body: "I forget where these things are man. I'm just writin' on myself. It's my life, I'm gonna do as I feel," he said in a 2007 interview.

We take a look at when each tattoo was spotted, the meaning behind it, what Game's thoughts on it are, and a couple of hits released in the time before he got more work done to it. Check out A Complex History of Game's Facial Tattoos.

Butterfly

First Spotted: May 2005

Meaning: Meant to signify rebirth after his split with G-Unit.

Game Says: "Man, it just represents new life. I got the teardrop on some bad shit, stupid shit don’t even gotta go there but — it’s new life, man. After the shooting and shit, and Hot 97, and all that, donatin’ money to the kids, [and] my son's birthday. And then I felt like, if in 2001 after I woke up out the coma and shit; if a nigga wouldn’t a made it, if I [would’ve] died, I wouldn’t have — you know what I’m saying? Like, the Hip-Hop world, wouldn’t know Game, man. [There] wouldn’t be my son, he wouldn’t be alive, it wouldn’t be nothin’, man. So, it’s all about new life. I know mothafuckers is questionin’ my ethics on the tattoo, ‘cause, y’know, the shit is a butterfly on my cheek, but, y’know, you gotta know what it mean." - AllHipHop.com

Singles Released: Dreams, Put You on the Game

L.A. Dodgers Logo

First Spotted: March 2006

Meaning: Logo of MLB team Los Angeles Dodgers. It was also apparently an impulse tattoo that Game woke up and decided to get.

Game Says: "I woke up one morning and I was on my shit like I usually be, and I felt like I was the face of L.A. So I went to the tattoo shop and put L.A. on my face." - TheGame360.com

Singles Released: It's Okay (One Blood), Let's Ride, Wouldn't Get Far

Red Star

First Spotted: Jan 2008

Meaning: Some say it's an association with the Cedar Block Pirus, as Game has a C.B.P. tattoo underneath a Chuck Taylor logo already. Perhaps it was just to cover up the former butterfly tattoo even more.

Game Says: "Man, I wish people would stop trying to figure me out. Ain’t no meaning, man. I might wake up one day and put a cloud on the other side tomorrow man I don’t give a fuck man… I grew up in Cedar Block, a Blood hood. That’s where I’m from. It’s my heritage so that’s why it’s red. It’s just a red star, and L.A that’s what I hold down. I mean it’s a little meaning, but it’s really a 'I don’t give a fuck' tattoo. I just woke up like I don’t give a shit, got it on my face shit. It hurt like a motherfucker, you write on your face you should try it, man. Just cry — fuck, that shit hurt man." - Allhiphop.com

Singles Released: Game's Pain, Dope Boys, My Life, Camera Phone, Krazy, Big Money, It Must Be Me, Shake, Ain't No Doubt About It, Bottles & Rockin' Js, Red Nation, Pot of Gold