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27 Ideas For Your Permanent Ink
If you are a true Eminem fanatic, you must have thought ( more than once) of getting a tattoo of your favorite artist.
Picking a permanent tattoo is hard because you have to be so in love with it that you would carry it with you for years and years (okay, there is a laser treatment).
Still, when I am on the lookout for a tattoo of my favorite artist, I always try to incorporate my own ideas with something I find online. It is easier to visualize something on yourself when you see it on someone else.
There are many options for an Eminem tattoo, like portraits, lyrics lettering, album names, symbols, or music video characters.
Quite a lot of options for you to consider. Therefore, as a hardcore Eminem fan, I have found the most interesting ones, hoping to help you make a decision easier.
I tried to include everything mentioned above, so there is something for everyone.
Selection Criteria
Selecting the most interesting, relatable, and inspirational Eminem tattoos is difficult, especially when most Em fans I know have the words “Slim Shady” on their bodies.
Yet, I have dug deep to find the best Eminem tattoos that showcase fans’ respect and love for the GOAT.
The picks:
- They are all inspired by Eminem’s art, either his songs, tattoos, or his movie. Some tattoos are colorful; some are in black and white. Some have one reference some have multiple images.
- All are original, no duplicates.
- They express the same passion and love for the rap God, and I know the hardcore fans will appreciate that. I tried to include the moments of his career most people remember and love.
- All of the tattoos are high-quality, with no blurry images or letters.
Remember that all these designs need to be done professionally to look good. I hope these suggestions will inspire you to get an Em tattoo.
Before You Get a Tattoo
Before jumping into the coolest ideas, please read this. If this is your first time getting a tattoo, you should inform yourself about the process and what you should do before sitting in the chair. First, you should know that it hurts. Does it hurt a lot? It depends on the size of your tattoo and the level of pain you can handle.
Big or Small?
The size of the tattoo will define the number of hours and money you have to spend. The bigger the tattoo, the more work it will require. Plus, not all tattoos will look good small/big. In my experience, portraits and colorful tattoos are better big because of all the details.
A problem you may come across with smaller tattoos is that the lines can fade away over time. I have one on my ribs, and after 5 years, the lines do not look as defined as before. The fading is still there, and you can see the letters clearly, but the lines look a bit messy.
I wanted to do an even smaller tattoo, but the tattoo artist advised me against it. If I had a smaller one, after a couple of years, it would look messy as f.
Find The Right Spot
The right spot for your tattoo may not necessarily be the one you want initially. Sometimes the location will define the size of the tattoo and vice versa. I always choose the location where the design will look best.
More sensitive areas such as collarbone or ribs will hurt much more than arms/legs. If you know what tattoo design you want, talk to a professional to see which is the best area for it. That is why I appreciate artists who offer a free consultation before you get inked.
If you want your tattoo to last longer, you should avoid places like fingers or near your armpits because they will fade more quickly due to contact with sweat and water. If you decide to get a tattoo in those sensitive spots, prepare yourself to redo them every once in a while.
Color & Style
Color or blackwork is a matter of preference; you just need to know before you start. However, not every artist works with both. My advice is to know beforehand and find the artist that does the color and style you want. The best way to find out if your artist does that kind of style and color is to ask them and look at their portfolio.
The most popular tattoo styles are:
- Traditional: This style is characterized by bold lines and an old-school color palette ( red, yellow). Therefore, if you want other colors, the artist may not have them.
- Realism: For this style, artists try to make vivid 3D images without harsh lines and unnatural colors. This style is most often used for portraits.
- Japanese: This style incorporates vivid colors and symbolic imagery. The tattoos usually have a black background and bright, vivid colors.
- Lettering: Lettering is one of the most diverse styles because of the unlimited number of fonts. If you want to tattoo letters, you can check out the most common fonts, such as “Gothic” or “Grafitti.” Don’t forget that spelling and spacing between letters are crucial for a good tattoo.
- Dotwork: One of the recent styles that have taken over the world is dotwork. The artist uses numerous dots to create an image. It is very popular for portraits, so if you don’t want a basic portrait, this style may please you.
Artist
Choosing the tattoo studio and artist is one of the most important steps. Ink is permanent, and you can end up having something that looks bad for the rest of your life. What can you do? Talk to people who have done their tattoos in your city, and see which tattoo studio is the best.
Before getting inked, it is important to know if the artist does the style you want. If you want a classic portrait, then you shouldn’t go to a dotwork artist. Dive deep into the artist’s portfolio on their website/Instagram or directly in their shop. You will see which kind of work they do best and previous customers’ ideas and realizations. When I am still not sure, I DM the customers directly and ask them how their experience was. They often send me a photo of their tattoo in the present moment, so you can also try that.
It is essential to choose a tattoo studio that is:
- Professional: Artists have portfolios, and you must book a session in advance. I don’t trust professionals that are down to doing your tattoo when you enter the studio.
- Clean: The artist uses single-use needles and disinfects everything you and them touch. Take this seriously because you can get out with an infection or dissatisfied with the work. It is always good to invest a couple of bucks into quality.
Best Eminem Tattoo Ideas
Eminem Portraits
1. Em’s Sci-fi Portrait Tattoo
An apocalyptic representation of the rapper’s face in the movie “8 mile.” The “Shady” and “08” logo on the beanie combines the rapper’s movie and his most famous track. Spooky season is just around the corner, so this tattoo can help you complete your look
2. Slim Shady
One of the most common Eminem-inspired tattoos is the “Slim Shady” one. If you think you have seen them all, check out this colorful Eminem portrait that is anything but basic.
3. Em’s Portrait
A more traditional blackwork Eminem sleeve portrait. It represents his iconic looks and the ’90s hip-hop stage, so it is perfect for hardcore fans who love blackwork and shading.
4. Killer Eminem
The “killer” Eminem tattoo is one of the darkest ones because it symbolizes Em’s dark side, and many of his lyrics include the “saw” symbolism.
5. Black Portrait
An artist who knows how to play with lines created this portrait. I appreciate the famous “Don’t lose yourself” beanie because it adds a personal touch to the tattoo. A medium-size portrait perfect for standing alone or mixing with other tattoos.
6. Sleeve Tattoo
An impressive Eminem full sleeve tattoo with a lot of shading and details. You even have Eminem’s tribal tattoo as part of the tattoo, which is a big plus for those who want to incorporate Em’s real-life tattoos into their own.
7. Little Portraits
I always thought portraits should be bigger, but these fringe tattoos made me think twice. They are so cool and precise as f but remember that finger tattoos fade quicker and must be redone. Both the left and the right ones honor the best moments of the rapper’s career.
8. Eminem’s Portrait + Him Performing
Most people love Em because of his music, so I needed to include one shot of him performing. I like this one because of the blue dotted background and the beautiful portrait.
9. Dots and Lines
We can catch a glimpse of dotwork in this tattoo, so for all dotwork lovers, this tattoo can be a good starting point. A unique Eminem portrait that can fit perfectly well wherever you want. Remember that the artist must know a thing or two about dotwork to achieve this.
Colorful Tattoos
1. Mom’s Spaghetti Tatto
There are dozens of “mom’s spaghetti” related tattoos, but this is the most original one I have seen. It is a fun representation of Em’s character and the reference to the spaghetti. The words “mom’s spaghetti” instantly remind everyone of the rapper’s hit song. If you are a fan of “Lose yourself,” this is an innovative way to honor the song without lettering.
2. Mom’s Spaghetti 2
Another good tattoo idea regarding “Mom’s spaghetti” is this one. I love the bowl and “Mom’s” writing on it. Not everyone will instantly know the reference to the hit song or Eminem, but for some people, that is the whole point.
3. Colorful Em Tattoo
Moving forward to the perfect tattoo if you are looking for something that will subtly cover all of the crucial aspects of Em’s career. Instead of Em’s face, all the important moments in his career are put into that place. This colorful Em tattoo is something I saw a long time ago, and I am still not over it. It has multiple Em references, so it is a “full package.”
4. The Most Colorful Em Tattoo
If your body is your canvas and Eminem is the painting, this tattoo is a perfect choice. I don’t like back tattoos, but I know some Eminem fans want to go all in.
5. Sparkly Slim Shady
Next, we have the Sparkly Slim Shady, a modern twist on the “old-school” Slim Shady tattoo. This tattoo style doesn’t resemble Eminem’s style at all, but it is aesthetically pleasing and colorful, so why not?
Eminem’s Tattoos
1. D 12
The “D 12” is probably the most basic tattoo on the list, but I needed to include it because of two things:
- Eminem has this tattoo, so many of his followers want to have the same.
- Some fans have been following the “D 12” group, so they want to honor that.
The font of “D 12” really got me interested because It looks really cool &edgy, and I think it is a perfect size. I wouldn’t do a smaller “D 12” tattoo because it can easily get blurry over time. A wrist “D 12” tattoo is perfect for all lovers of the band or people who want the same tattoo as their favorite artist.
2. Bonnie & Clyde
Eminem honored his hit song from the Slim Shady LP with a tattoo on his arm. If this is one of your favorite songs, you can copy the tattoo and have a matching one with your favorite artist.
3. Tribal Bracelet
The tribal bracelet represents artwork from the Marshall Mathers LP album, and it is a cute wrist tattoo. I love how it is bolded, so it appears very impressive, and you won’t get unnoticed. If you want to match with Em, or you just want an edgy wrist tattoo, this is one of my favorites.
Music & Movie Related
1. Eminem Performing
We all love the real Slim Shady because of his music, so I thought many of you wanted to capture the rapper at his peak. The way he grabs the mic and moves his other hand reminds me of numerous iconic performances. Even though we don’t see his face, we know immediately that it is him because of his posture and style. Oh, okay, there is the “Eminem” sign at the bottom as well, if it wasn’t clear.
2. B- Rabbit
Next is the “8 mile” reference tattoo because many fans love this movie and consider it a piece of art and history. B- rabbit is Eminem’s nick in the movie “8 mile”, which was Em’s film debut. This tattoo includes multiple styles, so make sure your artist has done all of them before starting.
3. 8 Mile
Another “more serious” 8-mile-inspired tattoo that I like incorporates two pictures and two signs. I like how the “8 mile” sign and the “Slim Shady” sign go together; it feels like they are meant to be there. I usually don’t like when a lot is going on in one tattoo, but this one feels very “complete.” You are honoring both the movie and the song in one tattoo, so it is perfect if you are indecisive.
4. Eminem Lyrics and Portrait
Of course, there are dozens of tattoos inspired by Eminem’s lyrics that people do almost every day. But, I wanted to find something different that still has lyrics as part of it but is not too basic. I love the font of the letters, one of the more interesting ones I have seen so far. “Lose yourself” is a legendary song, so that is why most Eminem tattoos have it in some way.
5. Polaroid Eminem
One of the most original “8 mile” tattoos is this one – Eminem in a photograph. It looks very cool, and I love the “8 mile rd” underneath it. The shading is the essential part of this tattoo, so make sure your artist does that well.
6. Kamikaze
The Kamikaze tattoo honors Em’s 10th studio album’s artwork. This collarbone tattoo is really cool because of all the colors and fonts that symbolize the vision behind this album.
Cartoonish Tattoos
1. Blue Eminem
Even though a lot of people take tattoos seriously, some don’t. That is why the “Blue Eminem” tattoo, with this face in the form of the m&m’s chocolates, is priceless. The connection between the name of the chocolates and the rapper is obvious.
2. Red Eminem
The “Red Eminem” has a half m&m chocolate character on his face. The half-portrait, half cartoon character makes the tattoo less serious and more entertaining. Eminem himself loves to be goofy in his music videos, so I think he would approve of this tattoo.
3. Cartoon Eminem
Another great choice for a cartoon representation of Eminem is this little one. I appreciate the small “E” symbol that only hardcore fans who remember his superhero videos will understand. In his older videos, the rapper used the symbol “E” instead of the basic “H.”
4. Little Eminem
The little cartoonish Eminem is perfect to fit anywhere on your body. The yellow hair honors the Slim Shady era. Plus, the angry little Eminem reminds me of every time he goes to accept an award.
FAQs
Answer: Eminem has nine visible tattoos on his body. Some represent personal, and some represent professional moments of his career.
Answer: As far as the public knows, Eminem doesn’t have a tattoo on his back.
Answer: The Dirty Dozen was the name of the hip-hop group Em was a part of before he started his international solo career.
Conclusion
Tattooing your favorite artist on your body is a big deal, in my opinion. You have to love him so much that even when you are 80 years old, you won’t regret it, and you will tell your grandparents all about the artist ( if you remember them).
Usually, people tattoo the name of their favorite song, the lyrics, or the face of the artist. Still, many people find this a bit boring because all tattoos look the same. They try to find a way to personalize and create a unique tattoo that will be the special bond between them and their artist.
That is why I tried so hard to show the best Eminem tattoos that will give you original ideas and how you can incorporate multiple Eminem references in a fun way.
My favorite is the “Mom’s spaghetti” tattoo because it is an innovative way to use a famous line as part of your tattoo. The tattoo artist is a pure genius if you ask me.
Hope these ideas will help you show your love for your favorite artist!
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