Image via Complex Original
In the current 24/7 media cycle, anything a mega celebrity like Justin Bieber does makes headlines immediately. While he’s had countless controversial moments in the past, Bieber’s brand new face tattoo this weekend still came as something of a surprise to his fans, as the reaction on Twitter can attest. Personal feels about face ink aside, this new move does represent the ending of one chapter in his career and the beginning of another: Bieber is definitely not a child star anymore.
The new ink, a small cross next to Bieber’s eye meant to symbolize “faith and purpose in God,” puts the singer in the company of some other bold celebrities and regular people—remember “Mugshot Model” Jeremy Meeks or that girl who got DRAKE tattooed on her forehead?—who’ve thrown caution to the mind and marked up their mugs. Here are some of most notable face tattoos to date.
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson is recognized as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time. Despite his success in the ring, controversy and tragedy have followed Iron Mike for most of his life. In the aftermath of the infamous ear-biting incident with Evander Holyfield, Tyson found himself banned from boxing and a worldwide media pariah. In 2003, he re-emerged into public life with a huge tribal face tattoo which was the subject of much ridicule. Since then, Mike Tyson has rebuilt his public image through an autobiographical book, Undisputed Truth, and a hit Broadway show. For the streetwear heads out there, who can forget the classic Supreme Tyson box logo tee, which captures the iconic figure with this face tat front and center. Considering the fact that Mike’s original idea for face tattoos was to plaster his face with hearts, he came out fine in the deal.
Soulja Boy
Soulja Boy (goverment name DeAndre Cortez Way) is one of the first to really use MySpace and social media to propel himself to international fame. He was also an early adopter in terms of the face tat trend, getting numerous face tattoos (SODMG, a star, Lisa, and, most infamously, the Gucci logo tattooed right between his eyebrows). Not one to rest on his laurels, he did an about face (ha ha) and decided to get his face tattoos removed, noting,“I made some mistakes when I was younger.” His motivation was documented in a Vine he posted of the removal procedure. He remains one of the foremost proponents of both getting and removing face tats on this list.
Wiz Khalifa
Wiz wears cool pants. Wiz gets cool tats. Just like his bars, Wiz’ face tattoos are also certified trash. Among them are a weed leaf (because he smokes), a peace sign (because he’s a hippie), and the word “Bash,” which is what I’m doing right now.
The Game
The Game came on the rap scene with his debut album The Documentary, and immediately made a name for himself. His public image was punctuated by a teardrop face tattoo and a butterfly tat on the other side of his face. Like his rap career, his tattoo history has been an iterative process. He got the butterfly tat redone because he felt that it looked “more like a moth,” turning it into a LA Dodgers logo. Since then he’s had that LA Dodgers logo flipped into a more elaborate LA Dodgers logo with a star design. His advice on face tattoos: “Know what you’re gonna get, and know what it’s gonna do for you.”
YG
YG (born Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson) released a fire debut album, My Krazy Life, in 2014, thus tattooing three dots next to his eye meaning, "my crazy life." While the streets are waiting up for the follow up record Still Krazy, YG went ahead and got an insane head tattoo of the Virgin Mary in the meantime. The huge piece is accompanied by ink reading, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” The quote has direct personal significance to the rapper, as it follows him being shot last summer in an L.A. recording studio.
Kevin Gates
Kevin Gates got 2 phones (one for the plug and one for the load), but he got several face tats. In a VladTV interview Gates revealed that the tattoos have personal meaning and come from pain. Kevin Gates is one of the most promising rappers coming out of New Orleans; look for this year to be another big one for him. Maybe a new face tat will follow.
Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane is a living legend for his contributions to Atlanta’s rap scene. The self-proclaimed Trap God has been at the center of the rap scene in the city for nearly a decade now, with a prolific discography that spans countless mixtapes, nine studio albums, and plenty of notable features. While Gucci has struggled publicly with legal troubles and went through a very public social media meltdown in 2013, he has somehow maintained his breakneck pace of releasing music through the controversy.
Gucci’s public persona was forever changed in 2011, when he appeared in photos with a brand new Ice Cream tattoo on the side of his face. The tattoo was based off his Ice Cream chain and has “Brrr” written on the cone itself. While the rapper was known more in underground rap circles at the time, the controversial tattoo landed him in endless tabloids. Since then Gucci has tested out his acting chops, playing a key role in Harmony Korine’s 2012 film Spring Breakers. The tat also inspired Young Thug to get a similar ice cream face tat in homage to big Gucci. Free Guwop.
Birdman
Birdman is getting a ton of media coverage for his infamous “Put Some Respek on my Name” moment on The Breakfast Club radio show. He is also getting the notorious honor of having the most face tattoos of anyone on this list. The Cash Money CEO covered his head and face in tattoos everything from stars, to Rich Gang, a cross, teardrops, BMG, among plenty others. Birdman does most things in excess, and tattoos are no exception.
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne has been in the game since he was a teenager. He’s cemented a place for himself as one of the most popular and successful rappers ever. His Carter III and Carter IV albums both prominently feature a photoshopped version of himself as a child bearing his trademark face tats. Weezy has not been shy about getting more tattoos done on his face.
Among them are:
Perhaps what best sums up his affinity for face tats is what he told Katie Couric in a 2009 60 Minutes interview: “I’m a rapper, that’s who I am Miss Katie, and I am a gangsta, and I do what I want.” Bieber’s got a long way to go until he can say the same.