Hip hop chains have long been a symbol of excess as well as success in the inner city music world. What would hip hop jewelry be without the Run DMC rope chain or the Machiavelli crucifix? It matters not whether it is Platinum, gold, or silver that catches your eye, the bling that you bring will sure to catch everyone’s attention when you walk into the room sporting your 37 inch gold barrel link necklace, or your diamond studded mighty dollar sign emblazoned in shining stones at the end of a 42 inch platinum masterpiece.
While the popularity of the over sized and bejeweled hip hop jewelry movement has been in full swing for several years, the recent influx of hip hop chain wearing, gold laden rap stars has promoted the fashion trend to an unprecedented level. Young and enterprising vocal superstars such as 50 cent and Sean Puffy Combs have brought such terms as the bullet chain and the iced out bracelet not only into the mainstream but have made them common household identifiable names. Hip hop gold chains and hip hop grillz are now everywhere. Never before has it been so in vogue to wear your retirement around your neck, and to see young inner city youth rushing off to the dental artist.
Whether faux or GinuWine, the fascination with dripping brocades of iced out jewelry and grillz that could be proclaimed as “the shiznit” are not a passing fad. With long time rap veterans such as Snoop Doggy Dogg and rambunctious upstarts, such as the never subdued Lil’ Wayne paving the way, it is going to make it hard to forget the sparkle of silver and gold, shaped into objects of vainglory pleasure and adorning every hip hop star and CD cover that matters.
Men are not alone in their desire to show their stuff. While not the usual ghetto inspired expression of triumph, Lil’ Kim may be remembered for pulling off the perfect alter ego portrayal, while maintaining her glowing reputation for bling appeal with her silver coin dress used in her promo photos for “dancing with the stars” on ABC. While a four finger platinum ring is isn’t, anything that dares to be crafted out of a semi precious or precious metal in the shape of money covering (almost) the body makes her our bling diva, and no number of hip hop chains or Mercedes pendants on any body’s neck even comes close to touching it.