In GQ Japan’s tattoo tour, Japanese rapper LEX talks through pieces tied to Star Wars, films, music and family. Some have a clear story; others are simply tattoos he likes.
Anakin and Gandhi across the forearms
LEX calls his Anakin Skywalker tattoo one of his favorites. It joins two moments from the character’s story: Anakin as a child in Episode I and Anakin in Episode III. On the opposite forearm is a portrait of Gandhi. LEX says Star Wars has mattered to him since childhood. When he feels frustrated or needs to get moving, he imagines himself as the story’s protagonist and uses that shift to take action. He doesn’t give a separate meaning for the Gandhi portrait.
A second portrait shows how the forearm pieces sit among a broader mix of images and lettering.
Film tattoos: Memento and The Butterfly Effect
LEX says Memento inspired one tattoo, including the way the film’s character uses tattoos. He hopes his own piece will eventually look like a mural. His tattoo inspired by The Butterfly Effect carries a message about choices shaping what comes next. LEX says it reminds him to choose his future, stay genuine and trust that genuine people attract genuine people.
This close view shows LEX’s neck and upper-body tattoos. The photograph doesn’t establish that every mark belongs to one of the film references.
Words LEX uses to hold himself accountable
LEX has “genius” and “mission” tattooed as a way of setting expectations for himself. He says words matter and that he prefers saying his dreams out loud to keeping them vague. He treats the lettering as a reminder to work toward those goals, not a promise that success is guaranteed.
“Ryoma Sakamoto 2002”: a name and year in ink
Another tattoo reads “Ryoma Sakamoto 2002.” LEX says his mother named him Ryoma after the historical Japanese figure Sakamoto Ryoma, and 2002 is his birth year. He describes the phrase as a new Ryoma Sakamoto being born in 2002; friends sometimes tease him about the line. He isn’t claiming to be the historical figure reborn.
Music-title tattoos and “0 + 0 = 1”
“King of Everything” is an album title LEX says he intends to get tattooed for each album. He also mentions “SPEED STAR,” an earlier song, while talking about music connected to his tattoos.
One of the clearest stories is behind “0 + 0 = 1.” LEX links it to someone in the music business who doubted he could create something. He says his answer was that he could start at zero and make one; he couldn’t turn one into two in the way the skeptic imagined. The tattoo holds both his resolve to work hard and the anger he felt when people questioned whether he’d succeed.
Color changes in the waveform, ghost and diamond tattoos
LEX says he first asked for red and blue waveform tattoos, then added color later. The ghost wasn’t originally green, and the diamond wasn’t red. Friends told him those colors suited him, and he liked how the pieces turned out. He doesn’t assign the colors a hidden meaning.
He also says he doesn’t have one regular tattoo artist and has made spontaneous choices, including getting tattooed at a free event.
Family tattoos and the memory of his father
LEX ties one tattoo to the last hug he shared with his father. Before the embrace, his father asked, “Do you still love me?” LEX says he did, but things at home were complicated and he answered no. His father hugged him while crying. LEX remembers the moment vividly and wanted to keep it with him.
The interview doesn’t identify the tattoo’s exact design or placement, so it can’t be matched to a particular mark in the photographs.
LEX also talks about his sister LANA’s flower tattoo. She chose one in nearly the same position after thinking about it for a while; LEX says she hadn’t copied him. He liked her choice and recalls talking her out of getting a face tattoo.
Neck and chest tattoos in public
LEX recalls meeting Willow Smith and introducing himself as a Japanese music artist. She complimented his neck tattoo, and he says he was delighted. The tattoo gave them an opening for conversation.
He also acknowledges that tattoos can affect what’s easy to do in Japan and advises people to think about their plans before getting a face tattoo.
Watch LEX explain his tattoos
In GQ Japan’s tattoo tour, LEX walks through the pieces and explains their stories in his own words.