While previous generations of rappers held to their West Coast or East Coast visions of Success by affiliation, there recently came a third rail, a fifth pillar, emerging from the deep south, that used hip hop to spread a message not of neighborhood superiority, but a sense of not only Southern but national pride and a shared personal satisfaction at the fact that we now have an average disposable income that allows hip hop jewelry made from gold, silver, and even diamond lined mouthpieces to be a fashion statement rising out of the backdrop of our inner cities’ poverty.
I think Nelly said it best
I got the wrist wear and neck wear dats captivatin’
But it’s my smile dat’s got these onlookers spectatin’
My mouth piece simply certified a total package
Open up my mouth and you see mo carrots than a salad
My teeth are mind blowin’ givin’ everybody chillz
Call me George Foreman ‘cuz I’m sellin’ everybody grillz
While some may not understand, or even mock the legitimate fashion standing of hip hop grillz and their roots as a statement of overcoming adversity against all odds, they will at the same time totally enwrap themselves in all other aspects of a culture that seems to be based on opportunity and risk, but at the same time views the enjoyment of the profits to be something shameful.
Don’t ask Lil’ Wayne, Lil’ Kim, Jay Z, or Sean Combs to be bashful or repentant for their success. Lil’ John even rewarded himself in selfish splendor by spending over $150 on a 12 pound hip hop bling showered necklace and pendant stamping out the important social message “Crunk Aint Dead” in all its naked beauty.
Where Grillz take a special place in history is their unique body positioning as a jewelry item. While there have been many various reincarnations of older themes, such as tattooing and piercing arise throughout the years, grillz are uniquely modern. While tattoos or tribal piercing may have been the status defining adornments in previous cultures, the dramatic honesty in the display of raw wealth as the status symbol of today through real hip hop jewelry could never be a more natural act, no matter what you think of Nelly’s top row of diamonds and bottom row of gold.
If you would like to express what you got because you can, then a simple search of your favorite gold grillz and hip hop jewelry information will point you to an endless supply of choices of products, styles, and suppliers, of grillz, bling bling jewelry, and other iced out hip hop jewelry.