The
teardrop tattoo or
tear tattoo is a symbolic
tattooA tattoo is a marking made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.Tattooing has been practiced...
that is placed underneath the
eyeEyes are organs that detect light, and send electrical impulses along the optic nerve to the visual and other areas of the brain. Complex optical systems with resolving power have come in ten fundamentally different forms, and 96% of animal species possess a complex optical system...
. The tattoo has several connotations. Teardrop tattoos usually signify the loss of a friend or loved one. An empty tear signifies that the loved one has been killed or that the bearer has unsuccessfully attempted
murderMurder, as defined in common law countries, is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent , and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
. A filled tattoo signifies that a loved one has taken his or her own life, or was killed by a cause other than murder (car crash, death penalty, etc.) A tear with an empty top and a full bottom means that the wearer has avenged the murder of a loved one.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Tear tattoo' Start a new discussion about 'Tear tattoo' Answer questions from other users |
The
teardrop tattoo or
tear tattoo is a symbolic
tattooA tattoo is a marking made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.Tattooing has been practiced...
that is placed underneath the
eyeEyes are organs that detect light, and send electrical impulses along the optic nerve to the visual and other areas of the brain. Complex optical systems with resolving power have come in ten fundamentally different forms, and 96% of animal species possess a complex optical system...
. The tattoo has several connotations. Teardrop tattoos usually signify the loss of a friend or loved one. An empty tear signifies that the loved one has been killed or that the bearer has unsuccessfully attempted
murderMurder, as defined in common law countries, is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent , and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
. A filled tattoo signifies that a loved one has taken his or her own life, or was killed by a cause other than murder (car crash, death penalty, etc.) A tear with an empty top and a full bottom means that the wearer has avenged the murder of a loved one. The majority of the 'tear tattoos' seen in popular culture today, however, signifies that the wearer has killed, with the number of tears representing the number of kills.
It is a tattoo that is almost always associated with prison tattoos and membership in a gang. Tear tattoos, when given in
prisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Other terms are penitentiary, correctional facility, and jail , although in the United States "jail" and "prison" refer to different subtypes of correctional facility...
, primarily to indicate that the bearer has murdered someone, either in or out of jail. The tattoo can also be given to commemorate a loved one who died while the wearer was incarcerated.
In
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n prisons, teardrop tattoos are often forcibly given to convicted child molesters by other inmates.
Rappers
- Birdman
- Chink Santana
Originally out of a go-go band from Washington, D.C., Andre Parker, better known as Chink Santana, was an original member of the rap group, CCOC . When Irv Gotti, CEO of Murder Inc. Records, ran across their independent release, he was very impressed with the production skills of Santana. He was...
- Dolla
Roderick Anthony Burton II better known by his stage name Dolla, was an American model and rapper. Burton began his music career in 2000 with rap group Da Razkalz Cru under the stage name Bucklyte. The group quickly disbanded, so Burton worked as a model for the Sean John clothing line...
- The Game
Jayceon Terrell Taylor , better known by his stage name The Game, is an American rapper. He rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, and his two Grammy nominations...
- Gucci Mane
Radric Davis better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and CEO of So Icey Entertainment.-Music career:...
- Lil' Wayne
- Yung Berg
Christian Ward , better known by his stage name Yung Berg, is an American rapper from Chicago. His first single was "Sexy Lady" which features R&B singer Junior. Yung Berg had been previously signed to DMX's Bloodline Records as Ice Berg. He is featured on the Exit Wounds soundtrack...
- Yung LA
Other
- Song writer/producer/singer Linda Perry
Linda Perry, born April 15, 1965, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to parents of Portuguese and Brazilian descent, is an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer...
(empty teardrop)
- NBA player Larry Hughes
Larry Hughes is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the National Basketball Association's New York Knicks. He is a , shooting guard.-Early years:...
has a tear tattoo in memory of his younger brother, who died.
- Punk musician Lars Frederiksen
Lars Erik Frederiksen is a guitarist and vocalist for the punk rock band Rancid, and the frontman of Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards. He is also notable as a producer, having worked with the Dropkick Murphys, Agnostic Front, Union 13, The Gadjits, Pressure Point, and The Business...
has the tattoo in memory of his brother Robert who died of an aneurysmAn aneurysm or aneurism , is a localized, blood-filled dilation of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall....
.
- Brian "Head" Welch
- Mark "The Undertaker" Calloway
- Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse is an English singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including R&B, soul, jazz, rock & roll, and ska. Winehouse is best known for her soulful, powerful contralto vocals....