The Rapper Who Got A $20 Anne Frank Face Tattoo

The rapper Arnold is Dead shares the story behind his $20 Anne Frank face tattoo and its impact on his life and career.

Key Takeaways

The Anne Frank face tattoo was a deeply personal symbol for Arnold, representing resilience and perspective.
Face tattoos are a significant cultural marker in the SoundCloud rap community.
Viral fame can come unexpectedly from unconventional and controversial choices.
Arnold's tattoo helped him build connections with prominent artists in the rap scene.
Public reactions to provocative tattoos can be highly polarized, reflecting broader social sensitivities.

What the video covers

Arnold is Dead, a rapper and college dropout, got a large Anne Frank tattoo on his face in 2017 for $20 as a personal reminder.
He was inspired by the rise of SoundCloud rap and the trend of face tattoos among artists like Blueface and others.
Arnold chose Anne Frank to symbolize someone who had it worse than him, reflecting his struggles with family and depression.
The tattoo was done as a risky home job at a friend's brother's house in Pomona, not a professional studio.
The tattoo quickly went viral, sparking mixed reactions including criticism for being irresponsible and ignorant.
Arnold insisted the tattoo was a heartfelt decision, not a stunt for viral fame.
The tattoo helped expand Arnold's network, leading to collaborations with artists like XXXTentacion, Ski Mask, Trippie Redd, and Lil Xan.
Lil Xan gave Arnold the nickname 'Xan Frank' after seeing the tattoo, which became part of Arnold's identity.
Despite the notoriety, many people did not recognize the tattoo as Anne Frank, showing a lack of awareness.
The tattoo received attention on social media and was featured on the ATBGE subreddit for its unusual but well-executed design.

Chapters

Why did Arnold is Dead choose Anne Frank for his face tattoo?

Arnold chose Anne Frank as a permanent reminder that others have had it worse than him, reflecting his struggles with family issues and depression.

How much did the Anne Frank face tattoo cost and where was it done?

The tattoo cost $20 and was done as a home job at the house of a friend's brother in Pomona, not at a professional tattoo studio.

Did Arnold is Dead intend for the tattoo to go viral?

No, Arnold stated that he did not plan for the tattoo to go viral; it was a heartfelt decision driven by personal reasons rather than a publicity stunt.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

When the Anne Frank face tattoo first went viral back in 2017, articles provided only a brief description of the person wild enough to do it. So, we lined up a full interview with the rapper to get the full story of the Anne Frank face tattoo.

Speaker A

the Anne Frank face tattoo when the idea first came about Arnold is dead had recently dropped out of college so then I tried the college thing I tried I I didn't I didn't make it past the first semester and was couch surfing around

Speaker A

When the idea first came about, Arnold is Dead had recently dropped out of college. So, then I tried the college thing. I tried. I didn't make it past the first semester and was couch surfing around Los Angeles by creating free music for any artist who'd let him stay over.

Speaker A

he began to emulate that kind of Lifestyle however there was one thing he was missing which characterized almost every artist from that era face tattoos Co had gotten the Mona Lisa on his neck blueface had gotten Benjamin Franklin on

Speaker A

Around the same time, Arnold began to notice the rise of the SoundCloud rap genre. He had the Smoke Purps, the Lil Pumps, the Ski Masks, the XXX after which he began to emulate that kind of lifestyle. However, there was one thing he was missing which characterized almost every artist from that era: face tattoos. Co had gotten the Mona Lisa on his neck, Blueface had gotten Benjamin Franklin on his cheek, yet Arnold is Dead was looking to make an even bigger statement.

Speaker A

you're a piece of your dad doesn't he thinks you're a piece of none of your siblings talk to you which not only led to a problem with substances but also a bout of deep depression got to the point when when you're young and

Speaker A

As a college dropout with no permanent residence, Arnold didn't have the best relationship with his family. Your mom kicks you out of the house, she thinks you're a piece of... your dad doesn't, he thinks you're a piece of... none of your siblings talk to you, which not only led to a problem with substances but also a bout of deep depression.

Speaker A

someone else always had it worse than him and as a result he chose a portrait of someone who'd had it worse than everybody else later stating getting in an interview with the son there are people in history that didn't have the

Speaker A

Got to the point when, when you're young and you're under, you know what I'm saying, the influence, you're not making the clearest of decisions. You're not, you know, it's a really dark place. It was at this point that Arnold realized he wanted a permanent reminder that someone else always had it worse than him. And as a result, he chose a portrait of someone who'd had it worse than everybody else.

Speaker A

recognized as one of the world's most famous tragedies Arnold became certain that he wanted Anne Frank on his face so then the Eureka light bulb moment where I thought I was going to blast it on my face so it could be like a reminder

Speaker A

Later stating in an interview with The Sun, "There are people in history that didn't have the power to control, to actually do things they wanted to do with their lives, to be stuck in a house and end up dying. Dude, I'm dying to make music. That's the way I look at it. It's very black and white."

Speaker A

location I go to my friend that was living in Pomona his name is Ryan I love this kid cuz his brother does tattoos out the house and yeah I run to Brian's brother's house and I tell him about my

Speaker A

Recognized as one of the world's most famous tragedies, Arnold became certain that he wanted Anne Frank on his face. So then the Eureka light bulb moment where I thought I was going to blast it on my face so it could be like a reminder where I was like, whenever you feel down and bad, bro, like Anne Frank, bro. Like it was like a, like a, like a thing for me.

Speaker A

response from those who knew him can someone tell me why Teddy got a tat of an Frank big as on his face why with many others echoing a similar sentiment this is so irresponsible and frankly I do not approve how ignorant a people got

Speaker A

Although instead of going to a professional tattoo studio, he instead opted for a much riskier location. I go to my friend that was living in Pomona, his name is Ryan. I love this kid because his brother does tattoos out the house. And yeah, I run to Ryan's brother's house and I tell him about my genius plan. He's like, so how much money do you have? And I was like, 20 bucks, bro.

Speaker A

respond despite by this initial burst of public attention Arnold maintained that he hadn't orchestrated this to go viral I didn't think this was going to be a viral thing bro I was moving off my like heart it wasn't a try to be like a viral

Speaker A

On the 20th of August 2017, for a home job price of $20, the Anne Frank face tattoo was finished, prompting an instant response from those who knew him. Can someone tell me why Teddy got a tat of Anne Frank big as on his face? Why? With many others echoing a similar sentiment, this is so irresponsible and frankly, I do not approve. How ignorant a people got to get for attention?

Speaker A

tentasion and others start working with ski mask I started working with trippy red start working with Warhols I started working with Cole Bennett which eventually led to his now Infamous Meetup with the one and only Lil xan Arnold explained that he met Lil xan

Speaker A

Now, while others made the argument that everybody should be allowed to make their own choices. I mean, you didn't do it, so why do you care what other people do? That's just hating. If you don't like it, you don't have to respond.

Speaker A

shooting jokes and he was like this is like xan Frank like this is this is wild this on its own wasn't anything interesting however when somebody from the media began talking to the two their evening took an unexpected turn hey yo

Speaker A

Despite this initial burst of public attention, Arnold maintained that he hadn't orchestrated this to go viral. I didn't think this was going to be a viral thing, bro. I was moving off my, like, heart. It wasn't a try to be like a viral thing. I was really into tattoos. I wanted to always be completely tattooed, inked up the head to toe, you see what I'm saying?

Speaker A

they were they were just capturing that exact moment rapper gets tattoo of Anne Frank on his face because he's dying for his music Arnold gurz who goes by the name xan Frank and Arnold is dead stunned rap fans with a huge inking of

Speaker A

Yet the uniqueness of the piece certainly helped to expand his network, becoming closely acquainted with XXXTentacion and others. Start working with Ski Mask, I started working with Trippy Red, start working with Warhols, I started working with Cole Bennett, which eventually led to his now infamous meetup with the one and only Lil Xan.

Speaker A

leading to an Instagram post by Lil xan announcing that Arnold was the new third member of zanaki the post was Amplified further when Adam 22 reposted the image to his Twitter with the caption mood anrank face tattoo before getting Arnold

Speaker A

Arnold explained that he met Lil Xan while hanging out backstage at a festival. And we see that Lil Xan's there, so I just introduced myself. We're just hanging out, we're chilling, we're smoking, during which Lil Xan saw the tattoo and gave him a funny nickname. We're just shooting jokes and he was like, this is like Xan Frank, like this is, this is wild.

Speaker A

hear your version I don't got a version dog Zam Frank dog xanarchy that's what is that what inspired it no that's xanarchy all day okay despite this Arnold explained that people often didn't recognize who it was in the image

Speaker A

This on its own wasn't anything interesting. However, when somebody from the media began talking to the two, their evening took an unexpected turn. Hey yo, Lil Xan, who you hanging out with? Yo, this is my boy Xan Frank. That's it. The internet broke. That was it.

Speaker A

receive 4.8k up votes on the atbge subreddit which is a space dedicated to Awful t but great execution for everything that displays quality craftsmanship in the least elegant way possible not a bad compliment for a $20 home job others on the post Express

Speaker A

All the photos that went viral into memes and everything came from them taking pictures of that day because they were like, they were just capturing that exact moment. Rapper gets tattoo of Anne Frank on his face because he's dying for his music. Arnold Gurz, who goes by the name Xan Frank and Arnold is Dead, stunned rap fans with a huge inking of the Jewish guest.

Speaker A

a career what the internet thought wasn't of interest to Arnold anyway as he only cared about the opinion of one specific person the only person's reaction is my mother's she looked at me bro and she was like oh you're still my

Speaker A

Articles such as this one helped Arnold's social media to explode. After that, I wake up the next day and have like 15K followers and the whole internet just wrecking me with the virality of the situation, then leading to an Instagram post by Lil Xan announcing that Arnold was the new third member of Xanarchy.

Speaker A

had an opportunity to be able to walk into rooms that I wouldn't be able to walk into like I said it wasn't the intention but the fact that it happened like that that's what made it 10 times better one such instance was a meeting

Speaker A

The post was amplified further when Adam 22 reposted the image to his Twitter with the caption "Mood Anne Frank face tattoo" before getting Arnold in a No Jumper video titled "He Got an Anne Frank Face Tattoo." This is the legend everybody's been talking about. Give me your version of why you got the Anne Frank face tattoo. Let's hear it.

Speaker A

was about to cry yeah she was Arnold then gave a description of that day in his own words she comes from a Jewish background and she's one of the big label legs that she brings a lot of big

Speaker A

What is my version? I don't know. Let's hear your version. I don't got a version, dog. Xan Frank, dog. Xanarchy. That's what is that? What inspired it? No, that's Xanarchy all day.

Speaker A

even had someone like use it as the only thing I've seen is like comments online and like people just bashing it but around the same time Arnold also got a zanaki tattoo on his neck which is both strange and unfortunate as he never even

Speaker A

Okay, despite this, Arnold explained that people often didn't recognize who it was in the image. I get funny ones like, "Is that your daughter? Is that your mom? Is that your girlfriend?" And then I'm like, "It's Anne Frank." Some people don't know who Anne Frank is, which is surprising as a now deleted Reddit post of the tattoo received 4.8K upvotes on the ATBGE subreddit, which is a space dedicated to awful tattoos but great execution for everything that displays quality craftsmanship in the least elegant way possible.

Speaker A

called them but you know yeah was it the an Frank face tattoo that was too much no Arnold then explained that he was was removed from zanaki after the group's management told him this I had gotten kicked out from the group because they

Speaker A

Not a bad compliment for a $20 home job. Others on the post express concern over his future employment prospects, yet the reply suggested that he might qualify for some niche roles, stating, "Tell that to the HR department at the Holocaust Museum, as well as standing at the exit offering pictures with his face might be the best bet for a career."

Speaker A

now after having a daughter after cleaning up and stuff like that you know I haven't taken xans in a long time probably been like almost 2 years now I'm not going to continue doing Xanax and I'm not you know what I'm saying

Speaker A

What the internet thought wasn't of interest to Arnold anyway, as he only cared about the opinion of one specific person. The only person's reaction is my mother's. She looked at me, bro, and she was like, "Oh, you're still my son, bro. I don't, I don't see that. Like, nothing, nothing changed."

Speaker A

music video during the line I'm a pass the blunt to Anne Frank Arnold has also recently rebranded to La penin which is Spanish for DJ child support combining his old skill of producing music with his love for Latin culture ultimately

Speaker A

And if anything, the situation helped Arnold to take care of his family given he was now being presented with new opportunities which he previously hadn't had access to. Now I had an opportunity to be able to walk into rooms that I wouldn't be able to walk into. Like I said, it wasn't the intention, but the fact that it happened like that, that's what made it 10 times better.

Topics:Arnold is DeadAnne Frank tattooface tattooSoundCloud rapLil XanXXXTentaciontattoo controversyhome tattoorapper interviewviral tattoo

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