In this issue

We’re starting out 2022 with a bang!

20 years after her game-changing debut album, “Let Go,” Avril Lavigne has returned to her punk rock roots and the cover of Inked. Lavigne dishes on her upcoming studio album, which she wrote while burnt out on love after a breakup. Against the odds, in the midst of writing about heartbreak and revenge, Lavigne wound up finding love along the way.

We made history with this issue. For the first time ever, we partnered up with our sister publication “Revolver” to showcase the talents of hip-hop duo City Morgue. ZillaKami and SosMula both grew up with an eclectic love for music and when they met at a tattoo shop, City Morgue was born. Their chemistry was instantaneous and today, they’re three studio albums deep, performed around the world and created a punk rap empire.

Reggaeton has officially gone international, but everything goes back to Puerto Rico. And one of PR’s hottest exports, Rauw Alejandro, is leading the charge of the modern reggaeton movement. 2021 was a breakout year for Alejandro, as he released his second studio album “Vice Versa” and won a coveted Latin Grammy award for his multi-platinum single “Tattoo (Remix).” But 2022 will be another banger for Alejandro, as he’s on the precipice of dropping his highly anticipated mixtape, “Trap Cake Vol. 2.”

But that’s not all. NLE Choppa stopped by our New York headquarters to discuss his second studio album “Me vs. Me” with hip-hop writer Christina Lee. We spoke to TikTok heartthrob Vinnie Hacker about his meteoric rise to social media stardom. Plus, we asked some of NYC’s top artists to add some flair to ice-dyed hoodies, talked to some world-renowned tattoo artists and much, much more.

FIVE-MINUTE MASTERPIECES

By mashing up works of fine art with photos from tattoo collectors, Patteef forces us to reconsider everything we know about the meaning of art.

5 mins

MEI PANG

Mei Pang didn’t set out to make a bold statement when she started getting tattooed, she just wanted to get a cool tattoo. Nonetheless, the celebrated beauty influencer with more than 1.7 million TikTok followers ended up making an enormous impact with her unconventional artistic choices.

4 mins

BIRDSALL

Legends often prophesize a chosen one who will rise from nothing to rescue the masses. Many times the chosen one will bear a mark or symbol, a way to reveal their true identity. Aaron Birdsall carries one such mark on his back. Non-believers may say it’s merely a tattoo procured in an impetuous moment, but it may very well be a sign Birdsall will become the rocker who was prophesied, destined for greatness.

4 mins

BE VANIAN

No matter who you are or where you’re from, every tattooed person has been asked the same question—“You know those tattoos are permanent, right?” Chances are that this query has never once been met by anything other than an eye-roll and sigh of exasperation, but there is some merit in going a little deeper on the idea of tattoos and permanence.

4 mins

COCO BLAKE

The streets of Los Angeles are littered with the shattered dreams of people who left their small towns with hopes of becoming a star. Yes, we are fully aware this is a cliché, but lurking behind every cliché is a nugget of truth.

4 mins

HACK THE SYSTEM

TIKTOK'S RESIDENT HEARTTHROB IS MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE

7 mins

TODODE RAUW

THE GRAMMY-NOMINATED RAUW ALEJANDRO'S CAREER IS GOING AT WARP SPEED AND HE HAS NO PLANS ON SLOWING DOWN ANY TIME SOON.

5 mins

AVRIL

AVRIL LAVIGNE ONCE HAD TO FIGHT TO BE HEARD. NOW, AS THE UNDISPUTED QUEEN OF POP-PUNK, SHE IS LEADING A NEW GENERATION INTO THE FUTURE.

10+ mins

MALÚ

FROM TIKTOK TO TRE VEJO LEAVES THE LATIN NO PLATFORM UNTURNED.

6 mins

THE DUALITY OF NLE CHOPPATHE

AFTER BECOMING AN UNEXPECTED BEACON OF WELLNESS, THE MEMPHIS RAPPER IS BACK TO ACTING RECKLESS.

7 mins

Read all stories from Inked

Inked Magazine Description:

Inked is the convergence of culture, style, and art. It’s the celebration of “rebellious lifestyle” and the voice of hip, edgy, and creative individualists. Packed with stunning photography, cutting-edge content, and the latest in fashion, music, art, and pop culture, Inked provides a unique platform for your brand to connect with this audience of innovators in an effective and unparalleled way.