All The Shine
Hip-hop s most in-demand jewelers tell the stories behind working with rap stars to create icy works of art that are completely unmatched.
Words: William Ketchum
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now.
Jewelry in hip-hop may not be as important as beats, rhymes and graffiti, but it can be just as powerful as a tool of self-expression. Whether it’s the huge gold ropes that Run-DMC wore in the 1980s, Ghostface Killah’s golden eagle bracelet from the 1990s or Gucci Mane’s Bart Simpson pendant in the 2000s, bling has always been a status symbol in hip-hop. Even before Cash Money Records popularized the term. Iced-out jewelry allows rappers to boast of their success, show off their personality, rep their crew or celebrate a monumental occasion. They also use their necklaces, bracelets, rings, grills and earrings to stunt on each other, add another forum for friendly competition or even show love to a
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