Tattoo Talk: Jack Bruno Describes His Ever-Growing Body of Art

You know a musician is rad when he’s got a detailed tattoo of Austin Power’s head, right? Well, it’s just one of the many that cover the body of rising musician Jack Bruno. Bruno is quite a resourceful (musical) artist who developed his own punky, gothy style of hip-hop which you likely couldn’t liken to any other musician, today, yesterday, and maybe even tomorrow. Having just wrapped up a U.S. tour with Trippie Redd, Bruno is now set to release a new three-track EP titled 4u this Friday, March 27th, including the new single “Someday (Before U Get Bored),” a song inspired by The Strokes’ biggest radio hit, “Someday.”

Bruno has been a part of the music industry for many years now, ever since he toured in bands as a teenager in and around his home of Los Angeles. Over the last few years, he has pinned down his alt-rap style while opening for the likes of Wiz Khalifa, Juice WRLD, Lil Pump, Lil Skies, Tekaski 6ix9ine and Rae Sremmurd. In that time, Bruno has also teamed up for some very awesome collaborations with Famous Dex on the 2017 song “2 Goth Kids” and the 2018 single “Ciggy Said Light” featuring Playboy Carti, which he released under the moniker of 92Jack.

With the hype continuing to build for Bruno, and because he just happens to be an aficionado of fine tattoos, he made for the perfect artist to speak with for our latest edition of Tattoo Talk. Read on as Bruno describes his favourite tattoos, his go-to artist, his most painful ink, and his vast repertoire of joke tattoos.

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When, where and what was your first tattoo?

Jack Bruno: “When I turned 17, I went downtown and bought a fake ID that said I was 18 so I could get a tattoo. My first was a ‘two’ Roman numeral, ‘cause I’m the second in my family, Jr. It also looks like an equal sign which I’m all for equality. I got that on the inside of my arm.”

Do any of your tattoos have a particularly special meaning behind them? If so, do share, man!

“I have a lot that have meaning. One is a pic of praying hands, gratitude, that points to a smiley face. It’s a reminder that gratitude is the key to happiness. I also have an Austin Powers tattoo ‘cause I fucking love that movie. I also have a tattoo that’s, ‘Hi I’m Johnny Knoxville Welcome to Jackass,’ that’s obviously very special to me.”

Do you have a specific shop or artist that you frequent (insert shameless plug time!)?

“Yes, I go to an artist in LA named Brian Sweetpea. His Instagram is Sweetpea. He’s great with small stuff. I have a lot from him. When I’m in Houston, I hit up my boy G6tattoos. He’s great with everything especially portraits. I got my self-portrait and Austin Powers one from him.”

Do you have any new tattoos planned or underway? Give us the dirt, dude!

“I don’t have anything planned, but I’m pretty last minute. I was thinking about getting a Batman one on my hand.”

Have you seen any fans with your name as a tattoo, anything crazy memorable?

“I’ve had fans get lyrics tattooed and that’s always a humbling experience.”

We know you have one… tell us about that stoned/drunken joke-tattoo you once got….

“I have like 20 joke tattoos. Some highlights are ‘I still love my ex’ which is just hilarious to me and I have Keanu Reeves’ name tattooed on my knuckles, (laughs). I have a self-portrait on my back. That usually gets a laugh.”

Do you have any tattoos that you now hate, want to replace, or have covered up, and why?

“My least favorite is this old school one that has skulls, roses, and guns in it. I don’t know, I was 17 and thought I was hard. It looks good though, I just like funny ones now.”

Artwork for ‘4U’ by Jack Bruno

Have you had anything covered up? If yes, what was it and why… we need details!

“I have a girl’s name tattooed on me. One time, this girl and I on our first date thought it’d be funny to get our names tatted on each other but I still wouldn’t ever cover it up cause it was a fun time.”

Have any tattoos that were painful? Like made you cry, see white light, and regret being born?

“Yeah, I have ‘touch me’ on my right palm and ‘feel me’ on my left palm, those hurt so bad, felt like a knife going into my hand. The chest one I just got hurt the worst though. Wow! It’s all red. Says ‘Sex,’ it’s huge, and then in small above it in the middle of my chest it says ‘please be gentle.’ That was so painful, ironically, I was yelling in between the needle touching my skin.”

If you HAD to get someone’s face tattooed on you, whose would it be and why?

“Well, I’ve beat you to this one. I have Austin Powers’ portrait cause he’s a god to me. I have a picture of myself tattooed on my back and that was just hilarious to me. I look better in the portrait than I do in real life.”

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When do you get work done? Is it something planned and more regimented, or whenever the mood strikes?

“I’m 100 percent sporadic with my tattoos. That’s when I feel most creative and they’re more naturally me.”

Do you have a crazy, weird or super-memorable tattoo experience you’d care to share?

“When I got the tattoo of myself on my back, we filmed it for a music video, and it was really painful too so I remember trying to not act like a baby and be cool ‘cause I was rapping still and it was just hilarious to begin with. Shout out G6 in Houston for that one.”

Tattoo artists are similar to bartenders in the sense that people confide in them. What’s the most personal story you’ve shared (or been told) while getting work done?

“I just complain about my ex to my tattoo artist most of the time, but we really just have a good time mainly when I get tattooed. When I’m actually getting the work done, I don’t ever really talk. It hurts too much.”