Teardrop tattoos, often referred to simply as 'tear tattoos,' have long been associated with criminal activity, symbolizing various aspects of an individual's criminal history. Originally, these tattoos were believed to have emerged from prison culture, where they were used to mark individuals who had been victimized or had committed serious crimes. Over time, the teardrop tattoo's meaning has evolved, becoming less stigmatized and more complex. Today, it can represent the number of people an individual claims to have killed, the loss of close friends, or other personal experiences. Similar to the trend of sagging pants, which also originated in prison settings, teardrop tattoos have undergone a significant transformation in meaning as they gained popularity outside of prison walls.
Teardrop Tattoo History
In prisons, individuals who were sexually assaulted were sometimes forcibly marked with teardrop tattoos, indicating their subjugation to others. Upon release, these individuals often fabricated stories about the tattoos, claiming they represented the number of people they had killed, to avoid the stigma associated with their true origins. This narrative, while a lie, resonated with the brutal reality of prison life, where assaults were a means of asserting dominance. As this false narrative proliferated, the teardrop tattoo became a symbol of murder among criminals outside of prison. Over the years, the tattoo's meaning diversified, with some using it to memorialize deceased friends or other personal experiences.
There are several variations of the teardrop tattoo, including solid, half-filled, and empty designs. Each variation holds a different significance, depending on what the wearer intends to convey.
Teardrop Tattoos Trend
Initially, teardrop tattoos were predominantly associated with criminals, particularly gang members. However, in the early 2000s, the trend gained mainstream attention as prominent hip-hop artists like Game, Lil Wayne, and Birdman adopted the tattoo, imbuing it with a sense of edgy coolness. The trend was further popularized in 2014 by Jeremy Meeks, a criminal whose mugshot, featuring a teardrop tattoo, went viral, captivating audiences and sparking renewed interest in the tattoo. Today, teardrop tattoos continue to be a symbol of complex personal narratives, transcending their original criminal connotations.