The 10 Worst Songs About Tattoos

These 10 songs have 1 thing in common—they combine as a definite selection of the worst songs about tattoos ever recorded.

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Image via Complex Original
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The funny thing about songs about tattoos is that a tattoo is also an evening drum signaling soldiers to return to their quarters. Yeah, a tattoo is also musical. There is a particular, inherent rhythm. 
Tattoos are also indelible marks on skin, that have never been more popular and continue to find a place in best-selling book titles and chart-topping rap songs.
Tattoos in popular music are nothing new. Groucho Mark sang "Lydia The Tattooed Lady" back in 1939. In 1981 the Rolling Stones released "Tattoo You." And, recently, Seattle rapper Nacho Picasso recorded the superb "Sweaters" which follows Atmosphere's "Woman With the Tattoo Hands" as one of the rare positive examples of tattoo reference in rap.
The songs listed here are often cringe-worthy. Some were unfortunately very popular, while others you'll probably be hearing for the first time. All 10 songs have 1 thing in common—they combine as a definite selection of the worst songs about tattoos ever recorded. 

The 10 Worst Songs About Tattoos

RELATED: The 25 Best Songs About Death

Tats On My Arm

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"Tats On My Arm"

Artist: Wale featuring Rick Ross

Shout out to Tuki Carter, who makes an appearence in the video. Shouts to Southside on the beat. Questions raised to both Wale and Rick about what tattoos mean to their ambition? It is very hard to divorce this song from a rash of tunes which equate tattoos with fast fashion

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Ink My Whole Body

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"Ink My Whole Body"

Artist: Wiz Khalifa

Wiz has a number of tremendous tattoo related lines, most recently a powerful statement on "No Squares" where he says "tatted on my face, because that's what I believe in." We all know he believes in being a fully inked up pop star. You'll get no complaints from us there (and he gets extra props for hanging with Tuki Carter). However, his Ink My Whole Body has a slightly unnerving, frivolous tone that undercuts his clear appreciation for the art.

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Tattoo

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"Tattoo"

Artist: Jordin Sparks

Yes, not all songs with tattoo content are rap songs. Some of the worst offenders come from other genres. We see you, Jordin Sparks. Always having you and having a tattoo are, at this stage in the world of laser removal, not analogous.

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Tattooed Queen

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"Tattooed Queen"

Artist: Big B

Las Vegas' Big B knows a few things about tattoos. He was a regular on A&E's short lived reality show Inked and boasts a solid collection himself. Tattooed Queen sadly suffers from cliched description of a tattooed beauty, never matching the knowledge we know B has, and certainly not topping Atmosphere's nuanced ode to "The Woman With The Tattooed Hands."

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Tattoos On This Town

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"Tattoos On This Town"

Artist: Jason Aldean

In this Country tune, Jason Aldean compares memories of youth to indelible ink markings. Skid marks from drag races are the best of his ideas, but still fail in being anything like tattoos at all. The whole thing reeks of desperate attempts at song writing.

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Tattoo (Tatted Up)

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"Tattoo (Tatted Up)"

Artist: The Alliance Featuring Fabo

One one hand, The Alliance was very early to the party with tattoo themed songs. On the other, this strip club anthem does tattooing no favors and essentially extends centuries old associations with ink and promiscuity.

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Tattoo

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"Tattoo"

Artist: Van Halen

Why, David Lee Roth? This is what happens when old timers make an unnessessary comeback and try to speak on contemporary popular culture. Hats off for the worst chorus written in the last 5 years.

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Snap Backs and Tattoos

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"Snap Backs And Tattoos"

Artist: Driicky Graham

It's very difficult to ascribe any merit to Driicky Graham's hackneyed style. Style here is key, for Graham seems to believe tattoos are nothing more than a simple accessory. This is a problem. Sure, Graham's song should never be confused as having any message beyond conspicuous consumption of gauche goods. But hell, wouldn't we rather just here it from Kanye?

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Tattoo Girl (Foreva)

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"Tattoo Girl (Foreva)"

Artist: Detail featuring T-Pain, Lil Wayne, and Travis Porter

This ill-conceived celebration of tattoos spawned one of the worst music videos of all time. In it, people get tattooed outside. Odd color sweeps cover the screen with vague graffiti/tattoo references and models sport ink that is clearly fake. The T-Wayne connection is almost irrelevant to how badly this tune fails.

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She Likes My Tattoos

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"She Likes My Tattoos"

 Artist: Kyote

Is this a parody? We kind of hope so. Is Kyote also a practicing tattooer? We sincerely hope not. Listen, and be amazed, but some of the most brazen tattoo related lyrics ever penned. Watch, and be equally amazed, by one of the most vile videos committed to film.

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