Watch Burna Boy break down the meanings of his tattoos to GQ

Comic superheroes, the Bible, family and late Fela Anikulapo Kuti are some of the sources of inspiration for Burna Boy’s tattoos.

The Anybody singer made the revelation during a video shoot with GQ as he continues to promote his 4th studio album, African Giant.

“The first one was a song from the Bible,” says Burna Boy as he traces the tattoo on his left hand. “I was just in a dark place and this was a song that kind of felt like I wrote it at the time.”

Burna boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu also explains that the tattoos on the back of his hands are symbolic of a rock star tattoos, which he got after his third American tour. “So this is basically after my third American (tour)… like a rock star,” he shares. Who could begrudge that?

The wall-like tattoos on his arms have the names of his family members “scattered” around it.

And not surprising, some of the tattoos have deeper meanings that are not immediately obvious. “This is like a bleeding heart that still shines,” says he pointing at a tattoo with a reddish tint on his wrist. “This kind of shows that even when we thought something might be shining but it still needs (inaudible).” Perhaps the artist is ruminating on reportedly loneliness many celebrities feel amidst their popularity.

The Burna also explains he has a tattoo for his first album. He also reveals a tattoo of the Nigerian National Coat of Arm on his upper right arm. He also got his best friend’s name, Gambo, inked on his abdomen, and many more.

At the end of the video, Burna Boy tells people to only get tattoos that matter to them, as they’re stuck with them for life.

His words: “Don’t just jump into it (getting a tattoo). Just make sure you’ll never regret. Make sure it’s something that you want to stay with you.”

You can catch up on Burna Boy GQ’s video here: