Lil Baby, the Atlanta trap superstar long known for his ink-free image, has surprised fans by appearing with what seem to be several new tattoos. For years, the rapper was vocal about his decision to avoid permanent body art, citing concerns about how he might be perceived in business settings. In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, Lil Baby explained, “That’s why I ain’t got no tattoos, because I always knew I was going to run my money up, and I was going to have to go sit in front of some people to do something with my money. And I didn’t want them to look at me like a dope boy. I had to keep my appearance straight.”
However, that stance appears to have changed. On Monday (July 14), Lil Baby posted photos to Instagram with the caption “Back in that mode,” showcasing his legs and revealing the words “’90s” and “Baby” tattooed on his right and left thighs, respectively. He also displayed a large “CBFW” tattoo running down the side of his lower left leg, which first appeared in a July 4 post.
While rumors of Lil Baby getting inked have circulated before—most notably in 2023, when he appeared in a video with tattoos on his arms that were later revealed to be temporary—these new thigh tattoos appear permanent, and the rapper has not issued any public denial. Fans previously speculated about a small tattoo behind his right ear spotted this past May, but the new leg tattoos are far more visible.
With Lil Baby now prepping for the international leg of his WHAM tour in September and four solo albums to his name, it seems he’s unconcerned about how his new body art might affect public or industry perceptions.
Chad is a professional journalist specializing in Hip-Hop culture and writing music reviews.
