The Game
The hip hop star's body artwork includes tattoos of President Obama and Trayvon Martin.

US rapper Game has paid tribute to the late Nelson Mandela by getting a huge tattoo of the anti-apartheid icon's face on the side of his body.

The Compton hip-hop star, who already has inkings of President Obama and street shooting victim Trayvon Martin, etched on his body has added Mandela to his body art collection.

Game, born Jayceon Terrell Taylor, shared the tribute with fans by posting a snap of it on Instagram.

"The finished Nelson Mandela looking out of the prison bars by @NikkoHurtado done on my side. 7 hour sitting," he wrote.

"Few more hours to tie in the tats around it & we solid. #NelsonMandela #RIP #Legend #Leader #Freedom #Peace #Equality #Tattoos #SouthAfrica."

The Game tattoo
The Game got a huge tattoo of the South African freedom fighter.

California tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado, who did the work, said: "A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer and thus emerge stronger.

"You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed." #NelsonMandela Tattoo collector [The Game] In the armpit area! Ouch."

Mandela, South Africa's first black president, died at home in Johannesburg after a long battle with a lung infection. He was 95.

He will be buried on Sunday (15 December) in his home village of Qunu.

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