Hip Hop Jewelry

Hip hop jewelry has its origins in the fashion seismic shifts that began in the 1970s, when early rappers such as Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa birthed the music genre. In the 1980s, godfathers of hip hop, such as LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane, developed a yen for gold products, such as necklaces, rings, and other expensive types of jewelry. The advent of the gold-jewelry trend coincided with the release of rebirth of dreadlocks and African-oriented clothing themes.In the 1990s, artists like Kriss Kross, Will Smith, and Public Enemy shook up the hip-hop fashion scene further. As West Coasts stylings transformed hip hop into a play land for gangster rappers, more and more up and coming artists borrowed from prison fashions and adopted hooded sweaters, fatigues, and beltless pants in their wardrobes. During the height of the West Coast-East Coast rivalry, hip hop jewelry thieving became commonplace among C level artists.Mafia culture as depicted in the 1983 Al Pacino classic gangster movie, Scarface, also heavily influenced the evolution of hip hop jewelry and fashion. Artists like Master P and Brian Baby Williams have even gone so far as to put platinum and jewelry in their mouths to protect their hard won wares.Sean Combs also pushed the envelope of hip hop jewelry by introducing shiny suits and a yen for platinum and silver. The concept of 'Bling' hit the mainstream in 1999 when BG released his hit, Bling Bling. Mainstream fashion designers, such as Fubu, G-Unit, Phat Farm, and Baby Phat all celebrate the Bling outlook. Popular British comedian Ali G has satirized the excess and ostentation of hip hop jewelry.