Do you know Central Cee, Rick Owens, and David Beckham all get their tattoos off the identical man? Licensed Letter Boy in Soho, London. We linked up with Licensed Letter Boy, aka Pablo, the fine-line tattoo artist giving tatts to the most important names within the sport rn, to search out out what it takes to do his job.
What’s the which means behind the identify Licensed Letter Boy? We’re guessing it’s impressed by the Drake lyric?
So, once I first began working with Alex, my artistic director (who owns my tattoo studio), he and I sat down and he defined his facet of the imaginative and prescient to me. We each determined we would have liked a reputation or “nickname” to go by. [Drake’s] Licensed Lover Boy album had actually dropped that week and everybody was vibing with it. I like tattooing something with letters and am a eager graffiti artist so we have been bouncing round names and listening to that album and we each landed on “Licensed Letter Boy.” It’s truly purported to be a little bit of a bootleg and to not be taken significantly. It simply sounded enjoyable on the time and we by no means knew how massive it will get as an concept.
Licensed Letter Boy©
On that topic: Drake or Kendrick?
Kendrick, 100%. An enormous quantity of respect for what Drake and his workforce have achieved however Kendrick is unreal.
Are you able to share one thing about being a tattoo artist that folks may not know?
It’s hella lengthy hours and if folks don’t flip up you don’t receives a commission.
How did you get into tattooing celebrities and athletes?
As soon as I began placing my extra delicate work on the market my community grew organically and folks began reaching out.
Who’s probably the most GOATed particular person that you simply’ve tattooed in your profession?
Difficult one. Proper now it’s both David Beckham or Rick Owens I might say.
Licensed Letter Boy©
Who’s somebody you’ve tattooed that basically couldn’t deal with the ache?
High quality line tattoos are very mild these days so lots of people deal with it simply effective. What I’ll say is that shredded, jacked up fellas are at all times the most important moaners. Girls are made from metal, they’ll deal with something – actually it’s insane!
What was the inspiration behind the tattoo you gave Central Cee?
The can’t rush greatness script is the identify of his new album and the Toyota image is all about his line “from a Yaris to a Urus,” exhibiting how far he’s come.
How did Rick Owens’ “so cunt” tattoo come about? Was this an concept he dropped at you? What’s the story behind it?
Yeah, we’re shut with Rick and Tyrone – they’re such legends. We mentioned the concept first in Paris after which in Venice it was time! Rick designed the socks that went into his assortment and so he wished to immortalise that with a tattoo!
Licensed Letter Boy©
Do you suppose there’s a correlation between style and tattoos?
For certain. That’s been occurring for years in LA and New York and now the U.Okay. is beginning to catch up and realise there’s plenty of synergies between the 2 worlds. A variety of very well-known streetwear manufacturers, particularly, have taken from tattoo tradition for many years. Some deliberately and others with out realising. “Gangster lettering” and plenty of different graffiti types and graphic designs have been plastered throughout huge manufacturers attire for a very long time now.
Lastly, if you happen to might give a tattoo to anybody who wouldn’t it be, and what would you give them?
Mr Cartoon is among the OG’s of the tattoo world. So I believe him, Dr Woo or Mark Mahoney can be proper up there. They’re all artists that paved the best way for what the tattoo artists at this time profit from.
Featured picture through Licensed Letter Boy©
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