The History of Hip Hop Bling: Gold, Diamonds, and Name Necklaces

The History of Hip Hop Bling: Gold, Diamonds, and Name Necklaces

Some might say that hip hop and jewelry go hand-in-hand; it's everywhere in the culture nowadays. Thick gold ropes, incredibly expensive diamond earrings, flashy gold teeth, fully decked-out custom cars, and yes, even giantname necklaces are worn or flaunted by the most successful rappers and MCs.

The rap movement has its roots in the late 1970's but truly took off in the early 80's. The timing for hip hop and jewelry to combine forces was perfect. MTV began airing music videos with gusto, and hip hop artists were able to show off their bling' through that medium. A top of the line gold watch or a heavyname necklace draping from a rapper's neck was an easy way to stick out in a culture that was becoming increasingly visual in the musical realm.

Jewelry was not only worn to differentiate from others. Many believe that rappers sported expensive clothing, wore fine jewelry, and bought other items that clearly demarcated wealth as a sign of rebellion and success. The 1980's hip hop artists, the majority of whom were African American, boasted wealth as a sign of racial change and black unitya way to overcome the stereotype of the poor black person who was unable to change their status. Instead, young rappers could show viewers and others who looked to them as role models that serious wealth was obtainable, even coming from very humble or poor origins.

Many rappers come from thug' backgroundsthat is, from neighborhoods rife with violence and drugs. Sometimes the only way to survive in such communities is to adopt an intimidating reputation. If the hip hop artist made it big, they sometimes wore, and still wear, expensive jewelry as an homage to the 1940s and 50s mentality of mob wealth and reputation. Essentially, rappers compared themselves to the gangsters of the past. Wearing aname necklace could further boost street cred', the legitimacy of the rapper's gangster reputation. Aname necklace was and still is a way to boast and brag about new found riches and glory.

Like any culture that is deemed to dwell too much on success, hip hop fashion has had its detractors. Some that criticize hip hop's seemingly indulgent ways are African American leaders who deplore rap's sometimes sexist and money-chasing messages. Others are hip hop artists themselves, who lament the future of rap and detest the overt signs of wealthyes that includes the diamond-laced watches and spinning silvername necklace s that we see on TV. Old-school (hip hop music or MCs from 1979-1985 or so) rappers and others often criticize the abundance of bling in hip hop culture, arguing that it sets a poor precedent for aspiring black children who are heavily influenced by the get-rich quick message.

Hip hop fashion, regardless of proponents or detractors, continues to evolve. Some rappers, like P-Diddy and Jay-Z, have capitalized on the culture of jewelry and fashion and established jewelry or clothing lines that appeal to the hip hop crowd. Does this mean the end of $20,000 tire rims and ten poundname necklaces ? Only time will tell.

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