Tupac Shakur had the word "THUG LIFE" tattooed across his abdomen by a tattoo artist during the 1990s, though the specific identity of the tattoo artist who performed this work is not definitively documented in widely available sources. The tattoo became one of Tupac's most iconic body modifications and reflected his persona and philosophy during that era. The acronym "THUG LIFE" stood for "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody," a concept Tupac explained in interviews as relating to systemic inequality and how society's treatment of youth perpetuated cycles of violence and crime. The tattoo was visible in many of his music videos, performances, and photographs from the mid-1990s onward. While various tattoo artists worked on Tupac throughout his life, and some have claimed involvement in his various tattoos, no single artist is universally recognized as having done the THUG LIFE piece specifically. Tupac was known for getting multiple tattoos that reflected his artistic vision and life philosophy, with different artists contributing to his overall body art collection during different periods of his career.