TL;DR
- Post Malone has over 70 tattoos, including facial ink, honoring inspirations like Kurt Cobain and Lil Peep.
- Facial tattoos, like "Always Tired" and Medusa, stem from a place of insecurity and a desire for self-confidence.
- Notable tattoos include John F. Kennedy on his hand and Patrick Mahomes/Travis Kelce signatures from a beer pong bet.
- His first tattoo was a Playboy bunny, inked in 2016 to mark the launch of his debut album, "Stoney."
Post Malone has one of the most distinctive looks in the music industry.
The "rapper"-turned-country artist is one of many musicians to cloak his arms and legs in tattoos. Yet it’s his facial artwork that truly sets him apart. Much like Mike Tyson and Lil Wayne before him, Malone is a face tattoo connoisseur, having had more than a dozen pieces inked across his countenance.
On Thanksgiving Day, Malone will headline the halftime show during the Dallas Cowboys’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The mosaic on Malone's face is comprised of what images? And what narratives lie behind these images? Here's the essential information.
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Post Malone's tattoo count is unknown.
It's not precisely known how many tattoos cover Malone's body. He's recognized for having over 70 unique ink designs spread throughout his physique.
Several of these tattoos honor his musical inspirations, featuring likenesses of the late musicians Kurt Cobain and Lil Peep. Additional tattoos represent the artist's passions beyond music, such as his fondness for swords and the card game Blackjack, which he had etched onto his body.
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Malone's musical talent has captivated numerous fans. However, one could contend that his tattoos are the most distinctive aspect of his public image. This piece explores how his appearance has evolved through the years.
Post Malone's appearance: tattoos then and now
Malone's initial tattoo wasn't inked until 2016. Prior to his face, arms, and legs becoming canvases for extensive artwork, he was a youthful, albeit somewhat shy, individual in his twenties whose released mixtapes garnered both commendation and criticism.
He received his initial tattoo to mark the 2016 launch of his first album, "Stoney.". The Playboy bunny design did not fully recover. While playing basketball, Justin Bieber bumped into Malone's arm.
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Visible cracks remain on the tattoo due to Bieber's involvement. Despite this, it prompted the Syracuse-based artist to pursue further ink work. He's been on that quest ever since.
(Brett Carlsen/Getty)
Post Malone tattoos meanings
Malone's body bears over 70 tattoos, making it unsurprising that some lack personal meaning. However, a rationale exists behind certain ink choices. He shared his motivation for getting facial tattoos in a GQ interview from 2020, attributing it to a lack of self-assurance.
"I'm a ugly-ass m—. It does maybe come from a place of insecurity, to where I don't like how I look, so I'm going to put something cool on there so I can look at myself and say, 'You look cool, kid,' and have a modicum of self-confidence, when it comes to my appearance," Malone said.
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Here's a rundown of some of the more significant tattoos Malone has acquired throughout the years, categorized by their location on his body.
Post Malone face tattoos
Malone sports over a dozen facial tattoos. Several are script, including "Stay Away" and "Always Tired", the latter of which was influenced by Lil Peep's "Cry Baby" ink and signifies Malone's preferred Nirvana track.
Besides images, he sports a skull with horns inked on the lower left of his face, situated below a Medusa depiction that extends across his temple.
The right side of his face is similarly caked in color, with the "Sunflower" singer getting a hammer, heart, Playboy bunny, smiley faee as well as the aforementioned sword. He also has a small No. 7 tattooed on the top of his nose as well as outlines of the states of Texas and New York behind his left and right ears, respectively.
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A defining characteristic of Malone is the barbed wire encircling his forehead, situated just beneath his hairline. He's uncertain if this specific visual will age well, however.
"I just think barbed wire is cool. I'm going to regret it when I start balding," Malone told GQ.
Post Malone hand tattoos
Malone's hands are adorned with various patterns and designs. He sports an additional barbed wire tattoo, this one encircling his knuckles. His left hand displays a depiction of Saint Jude, one of Jesus' twelve apostles.
"I just thought it looked b—'," Malone said.
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Malone also honored the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy with a tattoo on his left hand. He displayed this artwork during a 2016 appearance on "The Breakfast Club", referring to Kennedy as a "real one."
Kennedy was "the only President to speak out against the crazy corruption stuff that's going on in our government nowadays," Malone said.
Post Malone arm tattoos
As expected, the majority of Malone's body art adorns his arms. Here's a brief overview of some of his most recognizable designs:
- Motorhead logo
- Samurai skull
- Faceless man
- Johnny Cash portrait
- Posty Co. (Malone's brand)
- Texas skull flag
- Sauron from Lord of the Rings
- Minuteman
- Man on a horse
- Post Malone riding a horse
- Praying hands with gun
- Patient (name of single on debut album, "Stoney")
- "Don't Tread on Me" snake
- Snake wrapped around gun
- Kurt Cobain portrait
- Lil Peep portrait
- Jordan logo
Post Malone temporary tattoos
Malone's distinctive facial tattoos have achieved legendary status on social media, prompting many to seek inspiration from the 30-year-old artist for Their Halloween costumes. The most effective method for achieving this look appears to be by wearing his signature facial tattoos, which can be bought as temporary applications online.
Individuals wishing to imitate the Grammy-winning musician can obtain temporary replicas of his facial tattoos from Etsy or EastTatt Ink.
Post Malone's tattoos of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, explained
Despite his strong allegiance to the Cowboys, Malone honored two Chiefs players by getting tattoos. He had the signatures of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce permanently marked on him after they defeated him in a beer pong match.
The narrative unfolds as follows: Mahomes and Kelce were defeating Malone in beer pong not long after their triumph over the 49ers in Super Bowl 54 back in 2020. Their superior play inspired Malone to increase the stakes.
Mahomes and Kelce continued their winning momentum, much to Malone's disappointment. In the end, Malone lost a valuable spot on his body to the bet, though the pair reassured him he wasn't obligated to honor the wager if he preferred not to.
"Man of his word, which I f— respect," Kelce said during a 2024 episode of his "New Heights" podcast.