The street art reflects the feelings and emotions of the socially and economically depressed young people who live in the community. They spray paint their associations with gang members, their frustrations, their hopes for a better world, and their personal statements in bold, daring, and colorful designs that force the observer to pay attention and try to interpret the meaning of the words or designs.

Picture Eminem Ghetto Tattoos

The most common ghetto tattoos are words that make bold statements, symbols that show gang allegiance, skull tattoos, partially naked ladies, self portraits, pitbulls, classic cars and memorials to friends who were killed.

Hip-hop music artists like to wear ghetto tattoos and can influence a lot of people to wear similar street, thug, prison, or gangsta tattoos.

Maybe you are wondering what the difference is between ghetto tattoos and gangsta tattoos? The answer is the ghetto tattoos are creative works of art and gangsta tattoos are symbols that portray violence, criminal behaviour and tough guy attitudes.

The are four types of gangsta style tattoos and each represents a different street culture.

Letter Tattoos: are tattoos that are comprised of words that have special meaning to the individual wearing the gangsta tattoos . Names, slogans, quotations, gang associations, and words of warning or doom can all be inked onto the skin using various combinations of fonts, colors, and background images or art.

Tribal Gangsta Tattoos: are tattoos that identify gang members and the gang they belong to. They are usually worn as arm bands or head bands. Thug Tattoos can be used to identify members with local or international gangs and to brag about the number of years a member has spent in prison.

Photo gangsta tattoos

Skull Gangsta Tattoos: are popular with motorcycle gangs and individuals or groups who want to strike fear into the hearts of ordinary folks or give the impression that death is not far away.

Prison Gangsta Tattoos: are tattoo designs that tell a story about the how much time the prisoner has spent in jail. Examples are a tear drop tattoo worn under the eye or a spider web tattoo. Gangsta style tattoos that originate in prisons are usually black and gray only because it is hard to get colored inks in prison. Some of these gansta style tattoos have very intricate designs woven into them and are very artistic and interested to look at.

One of the most common gangster tattoos is a basic crucifix known as the Pachuco cross. It has three small dots above the cross and is worn on the hand between the thumb and index finger. Hispanic gangs have adopted this thug tattoo design and call it “mi vida loco” which means “my crazy life”. Asian gangs that wear the Panchuco cross say it means “I care for nothing”.

Picture of Pachuco Cross

Tattoos in general have long been associated with bad guys such as pirates, gypsies, and rebellious young men looking for trouble. Gangsta tattoos are often worn by gang members who are involved in the drug trade and other illegal activities.  In spite of the negative associations gangsta tattoos continue to be popular and are considered to be very cool tats. Many of the young people wearing them are not bad the just want to fit into the crowd and look cool. They consider their gangsta tattoos to be works of art and are proud to show them in public.

The US Army recently revised its policy on tattoos so they could recruit individuals who had previously been excluded. The Army now permits tattoos on the hands and on the back part of the neck providing the the tattoos are not anti American, racist, or sexist. Head tattoos are still prohibited

Before you rush out and get yourself some gangsta tattoos you should seriously consider the social consequences and the trouble you could get into if they are gang related and you wander into the wrong neighborhood.