Musically, he’s best known for his deep, rich baritone and earth-shaking singles, but when you think of Rag’n’Bone Man you’re also quite likely to conjure images of some serious ink. With some tattoos as epic as his hits, we’re turning our spotlight on Rags’ art, both body and soul, matching some of his biggest tracks with his biggest tatts! 

Skin – Oh No 

Although the title is a direct evocation of Rags’ own canvas, the song was not inspired by the needle and ink, but by the relationship between two characters on Game of Thrones. The third single from his seismic album Human, it’s about losing something you were so close to having. It’s a great link to his Oh No tattoo, which was inspired by his son’s first words. As he told BBC Music, “He used to just drop food on the floor and go, ‘Oh no, daddy!’” It might not be quite as developed as an Emmy-winning narrative, but it holds just as much emotion. 

Human – Soul, Funk

Across his knuckles, Rags famously has the words Soul and Funk, inspired by his love of the genres and their historic roots. We’re pairing it with Human, the title track from his debut album and his breakthrough song, winning British Single of the Year at the 2018 Brit Awards. Rags’ journey started when his dad encouraged him to sing at their local pub’s blues jams. Human is a rich and soulful cut that soars with classic songwriting and sentiment and echoes his early musical passions. 

Giant – Upside Down Crown

This monster of a collaboration between Rags and Scottish producer Calvin Harris dominated the UK’s airwaves in 2019 as the most played track of the year. A euphoric and commanding cut, the lyrics were inspired by the relationship between Rags and his parents. Its ruling qualities are a perfect pair with his Upside Down Crown tattoo, a symbol of the reversal of power or imminent change, and 2019 was the year that Giant conquered!

Anywhere Away From Here – LBM 

The second single from Rags’ second record Life By Misadventure, this tender and soulful duet with Pink reflects on the changes that come with growing up. The pair first met in Europe, but reconnected at the 2020 Brit Awards where they conspired to collaborate. The result was a platinum hit in the UK. Its tattoo sibling is surely Rags’ LBM tattoo on his left cheek which he got in the run up to completing his second album. 

Guilty – 101

The large 101 that runs down the left side of Rags’ face is a homage to the spiritual home of Rum Committee, the supercrew he formed in Brighton who gave him his first start in music. He got the tattoo as a tribute after his career began to take off, posting, “Ain’t gonna get that office job I always wanted!” To go with this tattoo, we’re picking one of his early big songs, Guilty. From his 2014 EP Wolves, it’s an epic cut of dark and soulful delivery that glows with promise.