Jelly Roll Face Tattoos Explained (2024)

Rappers and tattoos- name a more iconic duo. You can’t. Often, these tattoos represent the journey of these musicians. However, not every rapper discloses what they mean, but some do, like Jelly Roll.

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, is recognizable due to his bevy of face tattoos and because he took home the award for Top New Artist at the 2023 CMAs.

But what do these tattoos signify? And will he ever get rid of them?

Jelly Roll’s three teardrops and cross tattoo signify his repentance for his past sins. He has also inked the name of his son, Noah, and the signature of his dead brother. There’s a tattoo of an apple core on his left cheek, signifying his fans who call themselves bad apples. He has said he regrets 96% of the tattoos but hasn’t removed any.

Why Did Jelly Roll Get His Face Tattoos?

Jelly Roll, or Jason DeFord, is a rising country musician and rapper. He described himself as “A regular fat piece of white trash with some real people that relate” in an interview with The Boot.

He was born in Antioch, Tennessee, on December 4, 1984, and was raised in Nashville with his four siblings. Jelly or Jason’s childhood wasn’t easy.

He had a great relationship with his father, who he describes as the most incredible man. DeFord’s dad worked hard as a butcher and meat salesman to provide for his family. But his mother wasn’t quite so dedicated.

She struggled with lifelong addiction and mental health issues. However, she loved listening to country music, and it was this love that transferred to Jason. But his transition to being a musician wasn’t smooth.

He grew up surrounded by drugs and became involved in selling as well as consuming them. At the age of 14, he went to juvenile detention and then, for 12 years, found himself in and out of prison.

What made him turn his life around was the birth of his daughter on May 22, 2008. He wanted to be a great father to her, just as his father was to him. This journey and more are reflected in his tattoos. But he said that the tattoos don’t describe him.

He instead said:

“But they’re a very good description of who I was. I never thought I’d be what I am now.”

What Do The Face Tattoos Of Jelly Roll Mean?

One of Jelly Roll’s most prominent facial tattoos is of John 5:13, with three teardrops beneath his eyes and a cross on his cheekbone. These are symbols of him repenting and asking the Lord to forgive his sins.

Another tattoo is a scribbled signature of his brother on his forehead. He decided to get that when his little brother passed away, and his sister held on to the social security card, which had the same signature.

After his brother passed away, he added even more tattoos. Above his eyebrow is the ink of the name- Noah. It’s the name of his son.

Also, on his left cheek is a tattoo of an apple core. It symbolizes his fans since some call themselves ‘bad apples’ after his 2014 song of the same name. Here’s some of the lyrics from that track:

“Some people call me a bad apple. Yeah, I may be bruised, but I still taste sweet/ Some people call me a bad apple, but I may be the sweetest apple on the tree.”

Jelly Roll has always maintained that he wants his music to be salvation and hope for other people, and the lyrics of Bad Apple portray that perfectly.

When Did Jelly Roll Get His Face Tattoos?

It’s unknown when Jelly Roll got most of his face tattoos, but he revealed that his first ink was the three teardrops and cross. He said that he got it right after getting released from prison.

Will Jelly Roll Ever Remove His Tattoos?

In an interview on Audacy Check In, host Jason Bailey asked Jelly Roll if he regretted getting any of the tattoos. The rapper replied that he regretted getting 96% of them. He said:

“Oh, 96% of them. I have more tattoo regrets than I do, ‘Man, I’m glad I got this. How you think at 16 years old and how you think at 36 years old are so dramatically far apart from each other. It’s embarrassing… I can’t believe I thought like that.”

However, he hasn’t removed any of them till now. That’s maybe because he maintains that each of them tells a story, even though he does regret getting a lot of them.

What do you think of Jelly Roll’s tattoos? Do you believe that they are excessive? Or do they portray the personality of the rapper perfectly?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.