There seems to be a new trend in the rap world revolving around facial tattoos.  These days it seems like anyone who is in the mix needs some fresh facial ink.  The list of currently facially tattooed rap stars includes Gucci Mane, The Game, Lil Wayne, Birdman, Soulja Boy, Yung L.A., Nipsey Hussle, Diamond, Tyga and Wiz Khalifa.  As you are reading this article there might very well be another rapper getting the newest in tattoo trends.

The face tattoo trend seems quite new and is growing like wildfire.  Years ago, the only person crazy enough to tattoo their face was Mike Tyson.  These days, hardly a week goes by before I read another news story about a prominent or underground rapper getting free publicity for inking their face.  Some rapper like The Game and Yung L.A. even go as far as to cover up existing facial tattoos with even more prominent designs.

Established rapper 50 Cent weighed in on facial tattoos in a recent issue of VIBE International by saying, “That’s the craziest thing. Not necessarily Gucci, but to tattoo your face says that there’s not a possibility that you can actually walk into a legitimate establishment without makeup covering your face every day. That does not work. It creates a separation. It says, “I’m an artist.” That’s it. That’s the statement you make when you go and tattoo your face…But know that the public will not have interest in you as an artist for life. You have to be phenomenal. Talk to the best that do it and they will tell you that it will take more than you being an artist. It takes marketing, maneuvering to generate for that long. When you got 40-year-old rappers in the game, those guys have maneuvered and survived.”

Do You Want A Facial Tattoo?

Although this is an increasing trend, it is still difficult to find a tattoo artist that will agree to tattoo your face.  Many professionals have a strict policy of not working on faces.

Think before you ink!  Facial tattoos are forever.  They are also prone to fading and stretching just like any other tattoos.  Take a picture of yourself from 10 years ago and compare it to today.  You can visualize how much a tattoo could change in just a few years time.

You might think that discrimination laws will protect your future job prospects, you should think again.  Unless you plan on working at the carnival the rest of your life, facial tattoos will not help you climb the corporate ladder.

If you think you can just get tattooed and remove it later when it starts to fade or you tire of it, wrong again.  Due to the texture of the skin on your face, it is more susceptible to scarring from the initial tattoo.  This means, once you laser off the tattoo there will still be a faint outline of the tattoo in the form of a scar that will never go away.

A tattoo isn’t going to make you a better rapper.  Don’t trade 15 minutes of publicity for a lifetime of regret.