Face tattoos aren't exactly shocking anymore, but some just stick in the collective memory. If you’ve spent more than five minutes on the internet over the last decade, you’ve seen it: the cursive script arched over a young man’s right eyebrow. The crybaby tattoo lil peep sported wasn’t just a stylistic choice for a SoundCloud rapper on the rise. It became the visual shorthand for an entire subculture of "sad boy" music that merged the angst of mid-2000s emo with the heavy bass of modern trap.
Honestly, looking back from 2026, it’s wild to see how that one piece of ink basically launched a thousand copies. People still walk into shops today asking for that exact font, even if they aren't fully tuned into the lore of Gustav Elijah Åhr. But for Gus—the guy behind the Lil Peep moniker—the meaning was way more personal than just "looking cool" for the camera.
The Story Behind the Ink
Gus didn't just wake up one day and decide to put "Crybaby" on his forehead. Well, actually, in his world, maybe he did. But there was a logic to it. He got the tattoo back in June 2016, right around the time he was finishing up the Crybaby mixtape. In fact, his mother, Liza Womack, has shared that he got the tattoo on June 4, 2016, right after a graduation party for his brother, Oskar.
He didn't go to some high-end celebrity studio in Hollywood for this. He got it done while he was back home in Long Beach, New York. Just a few days later, he flew back to Los Angeles and dropped the mixtape that would change his life.
Why "Crybaby"?
In an interview with Montreality in 2017, Peep actually broke down why he chose those specific words. It sounds contradictory, but he got it to stop himself from being ungrateful. He basically said that he found himself complaining about small things, despite being in a position that millions of kids would kill for.
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"I got the crybaby tat on my face to remind me that I have been doing really good, and there's a lot of people on earth who would love to be in the position I'm in."
It was a mirror check. Every time he brushed his teeth or looked at his reflection, he had to face the word. It was a reminder to stay grateful and stop whining. Sorta ironic for a guy whose music was literally dubbed "music to cry to," right?
The Iconography of the Bird
You can’t talk about the tattoo without talking about the logo. The bird—specifically a stylized swallow—wrapped in a "Cry Baby" banner. This image became the face of the mixtape. It was designed by Nicholas Everitt, who drew it overnight while listening to Peep's earlier work.
The design pulled from "Old School" or Traditional American tattoo styles—think Sailor Jerry or Bert Grimm. It’s a classic look:
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- Bold black outlines.
- Minimalist color palette.
- The swallow symbol, which traditionally represents "coming home" or loyalty.
For Gus, the bird was dropping tears. It was a fusion of hard-edged tattoo culture and the raw, unapologetic vulnerability that defined his lyrics. It’s why you see so many fans getting the bird logo on their forearms or chests today; it's a way to carry that "loyalty to the struggle" without necessarily committing to a face tattoo.
Placement and the "Real Job" Vow
The location of the crybaby tattoo lil peep chose was strategic in its own punk-rock way. It wasn't his first face tattoo—that was the small broken heart under his left eye, which he got at 18. He once said that getting face tattoos was a way to ensure he could never have a "normal" job. It was a total commitment to his art.
By the time "Crybaby" was etched above his eyebrow, there was no going back. He was all in on being Lil Peep.
Culture of Imitation
Since his passing in 2017, the tattoo has become a bit of a lightning rod. You see it on influencers, e-boys, and even other rappers. Some people find the imitation a bit cringe. Others see it as a legitimate tribute.
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The reality is that Gus paved the way for face tattoos to go mainstream in the music industry. Before him, face ink was largely associated with gang culture or heavy metal. Peep made it look "pretty." He combined a soft, floral aesthetic (like the rose on his cheek) with aggressive placements, creating a look that felt both vulnerable and rebellious.
How to Approach a Tribute Tattoo
If you’re thinking about getting a crybaby tattoo lil peep style, there are a few things to consider. Most professional artists will tell you that copying a dead artist's exact face tattoo is a bit of a gray area. It’s often better to take the spirit of the design rather than the literal placement.
- Vary the Font: Peep's was a specific, ornate cursive. You could use a different script to make it your own.
- Change the Placement: Unless you are already heavily tattooed, the forehead is a massive commitment. The forearm or calf is a much safer bet for a tribute.
- Incorporate the Bird: Using the bird logo from the mixtape cover is usually seen as a more "tasteful" tribute among the fan base than getting the script on your face.
The Legacy in 2026
It's been years, and the music landscape has shifted, but the "Crybaby" era of SoundCloud rap still feels weirdly fresh. That tattoo is the logo of a movement that told kids it was okay to be sad, okay to be messy, and okay to wear your heart—or your tears—on your skin.
It wasn't about being a victim. It was about acknowledging the pain so you could move past it. As Gus himself put it, it was about staying grateful for the life he was living.
Next Steps for Fans and Collectors:
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of Gus's ink, the official Lil Peep estate website (run by his mother) has an incredible archive of his actual tattoo designs and the stories behind them. It’s the best place to find high-resolution images of the original sketches if you're planning a tribute piece. Also, check out the Everybody's Everything documentary; it gives a lot of context to the "bedroom producer" days when these tattoos first started appearing.