Rapper Lil Wayne has been a presence in the hip-hop community since he was just nine years old.  The New Orleans, LA native signed to Cash Money Records in 1991 and released his first solo album, The Block is Hot, in 1999.  Since the inception of Wayne’s career, his flow, lyrical content, and physical appearance have all experienced drastic changes.  On his first album cover, Wayne, who at the time only had a few tattoos, appeared wearing a blue bandana on top of his corn row braids.  However, on his more recent albums, Wayne appears with long dreadlocks and a face and body covered in ink.  The now 32 year old rap star, who has earned 4 Grammy Awards to date, has turned his body into a living canvas.  Currently, Wayne has over 100 tattoos and he seems to be running out of space.  The 5′ 6″ giant, who literally holds “the world” in the palm of his hand, is decorated with everything including crosses, tear drops, and tribal symbols.  Lil Wayne’s choice to cover his body with tattoos has brought scrutiny from the public, including some of his fans who have referred to a number of his tattoos as “ridiculous.”  While some of Wayne’s tattoos do appear to have significant meaning, others leave themselves a little more open to interpretation.  Here is a list of the meaning behind some of Lil Wayne’s tattoos.

5. Cash Money

The “Cash Money” tattoo across Wayne’s stomach was his second tattoo, and is now almost impossible to see amidst the sea of ink.  This tattoo pays homage to the record label that gave Wayne his start, a label he is still very much affiliated with today.

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4. Belfast

Lil Wayne who is a proud New Orleans native has the word “Belfast” tattooed on his left shin.  The tattoo represents Belfast street which is located in the Hollygrove section of New Orleans.

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3. Tribal Symbol

While it is unclear which tribe this symbol is meant to represent, Wayne says he put the tattoo under his left eye to cover the tattoo tear drops that were there previously.  He did so at the request of his mother who did not like the fact that he had so many tear drops tattoos because of the various things they can represent.

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2. Baby

Lil Wayne has the word “BABY” tattoos on his right shoulder to represent his love and respect for his “father,” mentor, and Cash Money Records founder, Brian ‘Baby’ Williams.

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1. Young Money

Lil Wayne’s “Young Money” tattoo represents the label he founded, Young Money Entertainment.  This label is home to some of hip-hop’s biggest names including Tyga, Nicki Minaj, and Drake.

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Lead Photo by Roger Kisby/Getty Images