This generation’s pop-rap icon, Lil Nas X, finally bit the bullet and got his first tattoo — an Aries sign on his right wrist, inspired by his debut album Montero.
The post is captioned “juh got my first tattoo,” with the location set to Barcelona, Spain, one of Lil Na’s stops on his current path Long live the Montero Tour. In the first slide, the rapper gets the tattoo done while wearing a vibrant green puffer jacket, looking like he’s either belting out the chorus to “Industry Baby,” letting out a huge yawn, or peeing his pants in pain want. Although executed in black ink, the icon is shaded in an iridescent style to reflect the album’s chrome aesthetic.
The 23-year-old singer and rapper has blazed a unique path to fame that is not only justifiably deserved, but an essential product of our times. Anyone who’s dipped a finger in pop culture in the last three years will know the song “Old Town Road,” which exploded as a popular sound on TikTok long before it hit the charts.
Many people quickly wrote off Lil Nas X as a one-hit wonder after the success of “Old Town Road.” What is certain, however, is that the rapper has disproved the skeptics for miles. His debut album spawned several US Billboard Hot 100 hits, including “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” and “Thats What I Want,” as well as “Industry Baby,” which peaked at #1 in October 2021.
Since our wrists are full of nerves and have thinner skin, getting a tattoo on this spot is a bold choice. The more painful process, however, is a deeper sign of strength, and its prominent placement ensures that you will see it multiple times a day and that others can easily capture it with each encounter.
Aside from being a massive commercial success, the record delved deep into the depths of the artist’s failed relationships, the insecurities and trauma surrounding his sexuality, and the fame of overcoming whatever obstacles he faces was to get to the point where he is now. It’s understandable that he would want to wear a piece of it on his skin for the rest of his life. Who knows, maybe this is the starting point for a beautiful case. With all the potential the artist has for the rest of his career, we can’t wait to see his achievements next manifest in ink.