Hip hop has grown from a few guys with turntables in the Bronx rapping over the musical versions of hit records, into a multimillion-dollar worldwide industry. With the rise of hip hop has come to the demand for hip hop jewelry. Like anything else, if the demand for hip-hop jewelry is strong enough, there are bound to be imitators and profiteers willing to take advantage of a less than knowledgeable consumer-people who don’t know a diamond from cubic zirconium or platinum from sterling silver.
Each year, hip-hop lovers spend millions on hip-hop jewelry. The sad truth is many of them are buying fake hip-hop jewelry. Fake hip-hop jewelry has been around for a long time. During the early days of hip hop, the stupid thick rope chain and giant pendants were cool. Hip hop heads saw their favorite rappers rocking fat gold chains and thought for sure they were rich. Heads wanting to imitate their musical idols, rushed to the jewelers to have chains and medallions made. When they realized what it cost to buy a 30 inch long, two-inch thick rope chain with a three-inch diameter pendent, many decided to go with the electroplated version instead. A new industry was born: fake hip-hop jewelry.
Things are not that different today. Hip hoppers want everything to be icy-laced with diamonds. One danger with this trend is the risk of robbery. Rappers, including the Notorious B. I.G., confessed on wax to having had early careers snatching jewelry. Even obscenely wealthy streetwise superstars don’t want to lose expensive jewelry to just any bold and desperate hip hop head, so many of them began leaving their real gold and diamonds at home and rocking fake hip hop jewelry.
Nowadays, it’s hard to tell whose jewelry is real and who is flexing with faux gems. It is even more confusing when you go to your local flea market to buy an iced out necklace, diamond stud earrings, or platinum grill. Are you into fake hip-hop jewelry? Then that’s fine. If you are not into fake jewels, take time to know your gems and your jeweler. That way you can be sure what you’re rocking is real.
