Dexter Tiewon Gore Jr., known popularly by his stage name, Famous Dex is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter. He is best known for his songs, “Japan” and “Pick It Up” which both peaked at number 28 and 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100. He started his career in 2015 when he released two mixtapes titled, “Never Seen It Coming” and “Dexter’s Laboratory” which gained him success. Later, in 2018 Dexter released his first studio album, “Dex meets Dexter” that peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 200 albums chart.
Like most young rappers of his age, Dexter also has many tattoos on his body that tell his story. Many of the tattoos on his body are inspired by loved ones but most of all, his mother. Let us take a look at the tattoos that his body adorns and explore the meanings behind them.
Face Tattoos
1. Hands, Stars, and Ribbons Tattoos
Tattoo: Dex’s forehead contains many tattoos. The right side of his forehead contains two hands joined in prayer tattooed on it. There is a line of stars tattooed right next to it. The middle of his forehead contains a large pink ribbon tattooed on it. There are a few more ribbons tattooed on his forehead that keep on decreasing in size moving towards the right.
Meaning: The praying hands are a tattoo that represents his religious views as a Christian. The ribbons on his forehead support a cause as they are the symbol of spreading awareness about breast cancer. The ribbon tattoos on his face are the tattoos that hold the most meaning for him as his mom was diagnosed with the same and did not make it.
2. Hearts, Word, and Ribbon Tattoos
Tattoo: The right cheek of the rapper contains three little pink hearts tattooed on it. The words, “Baby Dex” are tattooed just below his right eye and another little pink ribbon is tattooed above the words.
Meaning: The words, “Baby Dex” represent his own name, Dexter. The ribbon is the symbol of the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign.
3. Kiss Marks Tattoo
Tattoo: The right side of his face contain tattoos of two lipstick kiss marks in pink ink on it.
4. Name, Ribbon, and Symbol Tattoos
Tattoo: The left side of his face contains the name, “Diana” tattooed on it near his jawline. It also contains a tattoo of a red ribbon on it. There are two Chinese symbols tattooed on the left side of the rapper’s face too.
Meaning: The name Diana is tattooed in honor of his mother whom he adores very much but lost in 2016. The red ribbon is for the awareness and prevention of drug abuse and drunk driving and also for AIDS awareness.
5. RIP Tattoo
Tattoo: The left side of his forehead contains another tattoo that reads, “RIP mom”. There are also two little pink hearts tattooed after the word, “mom”
Meaning: This is another tattoo that he got in honor of his mother.
6. Stick Figure Tattoos
Tattoo: The right side of his face contains five little stick figures tattooed on it. The word, “Freedom” is also tattooed on the right side of his face, above his jawline. The right side of his face contains the words, “Lover Boy” tattooed on it but the tattoo has faded over time.
Meaning: While talking about his face and neck tattoos, Dex revealed how many of these tattoos are vain now and he regrets getting them. This tattoo was gotten by Dex as a tribute to his mixtape, “OhhManGodDamn” whose album cover had little stick figures.
7. Stickman and Name Tattoo
Tattoo: The left cheek of the rapper contains another little stickman tattooed just below his eye along with the name, “Diana” on it.
Meaning: The name, “Diana” is another one of the tattoos that he got as a tribute to his mother. The stickman is another one that is in remembrance of his old mixtape.
Neck Tattoos
8. Floral Tattoo
Tattoo: The front part of his neck contains a large tattoo that resembles the top view of a flower with lines binding the tattoo, creating a design.
9. Design Tattoo
Tattoo: The same floral pattern of design that exists on the front of his neck is continued to the right and the left side of his neck and covers it in the same tattoo design.
Chest and Shoulder Tattoos
10. Bear and Clouds Tattoos
Tattoo: The left side of his chest contains a large tattoo of the face of a bear on it. His left shoulder is covered in tattoos of cloud formations on it that merge into his left arm which carries the same theme.
11. Skulls and Face Tattoos
Tattoo: The right side of his chest contains the face of a man, wearing a Wiking’s war helmet with wings on it. The background of the face contains clouds tattooed on it that also fills all the empty spaces of his chest to complete and bind together all the tattoos. The upper part of the right side of his chest and shoulder is covered in a tattoo of a series of skulls of different shapes and sizes.
12. Words, Beasts, and Ribbons Tattoos
Tattoo: The middle of his chest contains the words, “MAMA’s BOY” tattooed across it. Above the tattoo are two small tattoos of four-legged beasts. There are three more ribbons tattooed on his left pec.
Meaning: The words, “MAMA’s BOY” are tattooed for himself and in honor of his late mother whom he lost to breast cancer. That is also the reason behind him getting the ribbons tattooed on his pec and also similar ones on his face, to create awareness about Breast Cancer.
Stomach Tattoos
13. Star and Birds Tattoos
Tattoo: The middle of his stomach, just below his chest contains a tattoo of a star on it. Below the star is a flock of a silhouette of birds tattooed that covers most of the middle of his stomach.
14. Dagger and Heart Tattoos
Tattoo: The right side of his stomach contains a tattoo of a dagger piercing a heart along with the word, “LOVE” tattooed inside the heart. The words, “Kills All” are also tattooed on his stomach, originating inside the heart but moving on towards the middle of his stomach. Together, they form the sentence, “LOVE Kills All”. The background of the tattoo is of more clouds that cover his stomach as well as his ribcage.
15. Birds Tattoo
Tattoo: The left side of his stomach does not yet contain any major tattoo but is covered in the same tattoos of birds and clouds that cover the rest of his chest and body.
Right Arm and Hand Tattoos
16. Design Tattoo
Tattoo: Dexter’s right shoulder and upper arm are covered in a large special tattoo of a design.
17. Name and Star Tattoos
Tattoo: The upper side of his left forearm contains the name, “Jessica” tattooed on it along with a swirly line underlining the name. There is also a tattoo of a star on the side of his right forearm.
Meaning: Dex got this tattoo to show his love for his daughter, Jessica. The rapper is father to three kids, two girls, and a boy.
18. Name Tattoo
Tattoo: The inner side of Dex’s right forearm contains a name tattooed on it vertically surrounded by a pattern of flames. The tattoo has never been fully revealed s0 the name remains a mystery but judging from his other tattoos, it might be the name of one of his kids. The rest of his arm is covered in the same words and stars that fill out the background of the rest of his sleeve.
19. Stars and Words Tattoos
Tattoo: The upper side of his right forearm contains many small tattoos of stars and his arm is entirely covered in words that have faded a bit. Dex regrets getting some of his earlier tattoos and instead of having them removed, he keeps getting new ones over them which have filled out both of his forearms.
20. Smiley and Shark Tattoos
Tattoo: The right hand of the rapper is covered in a tattoo of a shark. There are also different smiley’s tattooed near his knuckles.
Left Arm Tattoos
21. Clouds and Name Tattoo
Tattoo: Dex’s left shoulder along with his entire upper arm is covered in tattoo designs of clouds that reach up to his neck and chest. His upper arm, just above his elbow also contains the name, “Betty” tattooed on it.
Meaning: The clouds merge with the ones on the chest and neck and complete the whole theme of the sky and birds in flight. The name “Betty” is tattooed as “Brtty” and is in honor of his other daughter, named Betty.
22. Cross and Flames Tattoo
Tattoo: The inner side of the rapper’s left forearm contains a large tattoo of a cross on it. Just like his right one, the cross is surrounded by flames that cover most of his forearm.
Meaning: The cross represents the religious views of the singer. Flames are a symbol of cleansing and purification and were done with the cross here as a symbol of a guardian angel that steers you away from temptations.
23. Sword and Words Tattoos
Tattoo: The upper side of his left wrist contains a little sword tattooed on it. The rest of his forearm is covered in tattoos of words just like the right one that completes his sleeve.
24. Shark and Letters Tattoos
Tattoo: Just like his right one, Dex’s left hand also contains the same design tattooed on it. It contains a shark along with smileys tattooed near the knuckles. Both of his hand’s fingers contain letters tattooed on them. The ones on his left hand contain the letters that form the word, “LIVE” and the fingers of his right hand contains letters that form the word, “LIFE”
Meaning: Although it seems like a simple tattoo, the words on both of his fingers put together, make the sentence, “LIVE LIFE” which he got from what his mother used to tell him which is why he got this tattoo on his body.
