This year hip-hop celebrates 50 years since DJ Kool Herc threw the 1973 party that birthed the genre, and in an interview with Billboard about his career and impact on the genre’s culture, Louisiana rapper Lil Wayne revealed that it “feels amazing” to know he has inspired so many MCs to get face tattoos.
Yong Money founder Lil Wayne (real name Dwayne Carter) has set many trends in his time, and many have identified him as the godfather of mumble rap. However, aside from his music, the artist has also inspired rappers concerning style, and face tattoos are one of many things he popularised during the early-2000s.
Speaking to Billboard about how it feels knowing so many figures have mimicked his aesthetic, Carter unveiled, “Sometimes people ask me how I feel about everybody looking like me, everybody getting tattoos, etc. That’s like seeing your kid come out of the room and looking just like you; it feels amazing.”
The New Orleans native declared that he is highly aware that he popularised it as no one before him had his look, expounding, “The visible influence is kind of obvious because I know for a fact I didn’t get this look from anyone. There was no one that inspired this look. I just ran into looking like this.”
Unsurprisingly, the trend of face tattoos polarises hip-hop. Many see it as another way that artists put aesthetics before music. However, others consider it a fantastic form of self-expression and rebellion.
As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, Billboard compiled a list of who they believe to be the best rap artists of all time. Lil Wayne appeared at number seven. However, during his in-depth conversation with the publication, Carter shared his own top five list, which features Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, UGK, Goodie Mob and Biggie in no particular order.
Earlier this year, Wayne released a greatest-hits album entitled I Am Music, which saw legendary songs such as ‘A Milli’, ‘How To Love’, ‘Mr Carter’ featuring Jay-Z, and ‘Mrs Officer’ remastered and revived ahead of this year’s celebrations.
