Tattoo Stories with Tory Lanez

Over the course of his career so far, Tory Lanez has released 15 mixtapes, one EP, and several singles. But now, the 24-year-old rapper/singer from Toronto, Canada has released his debut studio album I Told You via Mad Love/Interscope Records. I Told You features 14 new songs, including previously released singles like his top 10 US R&B Billboard songs "Say It," and his latest hit "Luv." I Told You also includes some prime production work from star producers including Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat, and more.

Tory recently stopped by iHeartRadio HQ, where he opened up to us about the stories behind his many tattoos during an exclusive interview. Check it out below!

Tory got his first tattoo when he was pretty young -- he was only 16 years old -- and he had music notes tattooed on the inside of his right wrist. The tattoo is significant to him, not only because it's hist first tattoo, but also because the day he got it was one of his first times hearing one of his songs on the radio.

On His First Tattoo: Music Notes on his Right Wrist

"The music notes, and it's a significant tattoo because randomly, I was running around Toronto trying to get my record on the radio and randomly, I went to get this tattoo one day. On the way back from getting the tattoo, I remember I was listening to a song on the radio and ... no, not even on the radio, it was a CD I was listening to. I was tired of listening to the CD. I'm like, 'No, I gotta stop listening to this.' Took it out and on the radio was my song just playing. I'm like, 'I know this song,' and then I was like, 'Oh, this is me.' And that's why I'll never ever forget this first tattoo because the first time I ever got this tattoo, my song was on the radio. [The song was] called 'Internet Girl.'"

At 16 years old, you can imagine your first tattoo hurting pretty badly, and as confirmed by Tory, it did. He tells us, "This was painful. Oh my gosh - like, why did they make such pain. You go in there, you're like 'I'm just going to do my wrist. I'm going to be fine - a tiny little wrist joint.' You go put your wrist in there, and it's a hot knife on you. It was crazy, like, 'Please get this off of me.' It was pretty bad. I think this is one of my worst tattoos because, I think this is where all the nerve endings and things are. I'm probably wrong, but this is where things are that hurt."

On Why He Has the Year 1992 Across his Stomach

One of Tory's most prominent tattoos is located across his stomach, and is a big "1992" -- the year he was born. The tattoo is incredibly detailed, and has angels within the numbers who are playing music.

If you take a close look at each one of Tory's tattoos, the common theme is that they all incorporate angels and music. He explains to us how important God is in his life, and that following his mother Luella's death (whose name is also tattooed on his right wrist above of a pair of angel wings) at a young age, he used music as an outlet of expression -- hence all of the angels and music artwork in his ink.

On the Rays of Light and Dove on the Left Side of his Neck

Tory's neck is heavily tattooed, and one of his tattoos -- located on the right side of his neck -- is inspired by his name (his real name). On the side of his neck are clouds with rays of light and a bird coming out of them. Tory explains that his real name, Daystar, means revolutionary light of progression to his generation.

On the front of his throat, Tory has another bird with spread wings, clutching an umbrella with its feet. Also, below the bird on this collar bone are the words "Live Life Love God."

On the Bird Holding an Umbrella on his Neck

On the "Live Life Love God" on his Collar Bone

On his "The One" on the Side of his Right Hand

On the Woman Creating the Rings of Saturn with Music Notes on his Right Bicep/Shoulder

Tory has very intricate tattoos on his right arm, including his bicep and shoulder. He actually has one of his most important tattoos located there, of a woman who is creating the rings of Saturn with the words "Music is what you make it" surrounding them. And below all of that is a guitar.

"I think out of all my tats, the one that's very important to me, at least, was this one, you can't really see this one, but it's a girl, and her head is actually open. Like, her head is kind of split off and out of her head creates these music notes, like this little line kind of music note thing, which creates the rings of Saturn that she's sitting on. And it says, 'Music is what you make it.' And, with the guitar and the plug and all that. Imperial Inks did all my tattoos. Shout out to Imperial Inks. He's the only person I let, like, do my tattoos."

On the "GABOS" tattoo on the left side of his face

Another important tattoo to Tory is an acronym that runs down the side of his face, right next to his sideburn. The acronym "GABOS" serves as a reminder to the singer, and stands for "Gaming Based On Sympathy."

"This is probably the most important tattoo. Not the most important, but one of the most important. It's an acronym called 'GABOS,' and it just means 'Gaming Based On Sympathy.' Sometimes I need that because I have a big heart. Sometimes, I do things that I'm not really supposed to do or I'll give somebody the benefit of the doubt when I should have just cut ties. And this is just a reminder - 'Gaming Based On Sympathy.'"

On the "Blessed" on his Right Forearm

On his Toronto 416 Area Code on the Right Side of his Face

Being from Toronto, Canada, Tory had to pay homage to where he came from. So on the right side of his face, he has Toronto's area code -- 416. He tells us, "I got this one for416, of course, because you know I'm from Toronto. I rep my city, so I tatted it on my face."

On the Angel with Harp Wings on his Right Forearm

Photos: Rachel Kaplan for iHeartRadio