Tyrese once had some curious writing tattooed on his shoulder. What was it? It was a Japanese script, he once explained, meaning "beautiful, low-class talent."

["I was born and raised in the lower class (in the notorious Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles)," he explained, "and I'm proud of my roots." (Tyrese also had a vine tattooed on his arm, which he once described as "the stem of my life.")]

[According to Sherry Kendrick, a San Diego-based calligrapher of Chinese characters, many Chinese tattoo artists seem to enjoy having a laugh at the expense of Caucasian customers. She once had a woman ask her to verify that her tattoo said "beautiful woman." Sadly, Kendrick had to tell her it read "beautiful man."]