The hip-hop culture through rap music has finally crossed over into mainstream society with the language, music; fashions, and jewelry have created a multi-million dollar industry. Some artists in the world of Hip Hop have brought into the culture a lot of the street elements such as gang insignias and gang culture through fashion and jewelry.
Men’s hip-hop jewelry is used as a status symbol to display the artist’s individuality, sense of style, and even subliminally mock society at large with the oversized jewelry and gang affiliation. The main staple in men’s hip-hop jewelry designs are crosses, skulls, guns, roadsigns and money signs (dollar…), and grilles.
In terms of men’s hip hop jewelry vs. women’s hip hop jewelry, the men have far more variety in terms of expression and jewelry designs where the women haven’t been embraced in the world of hip hop. The women have a limited presence in hip hop and are just now being valued as potential customers with a powerful capital base. The truth is women like to shop and are willing to spend more money consuming than men. In recent years there have been quite a few incidents of people getting hurt or killed over their hip hop clothing, shoes, and jewelry. The marketplace today has made it affordable to indulge in the world of hip hop.
The men’s hip hop jewelry not unlike the women’s hip hop jewelry can range in price between $9.95-$69.00 for a simple bracelet, silver or gold plated pendant, ring, chain, belt buckle, or Grillz. The women’s jewelry designs usually are a pendant, watch, ring, bracelet, or chain. High-end hip-hop jewelry pieces can be custom designed and made and can start as high as $10,000.00 up to $1,000,000.00. Diamonds, gold, silver, and titanium are usually the elements used for making the jewelry and have become sin ominous with hip-hop jewelry.
In the early years of hip hop clothes, shoes, bandanas, use color, and jewelry was used to distinguish different breakdance groups and rappers from one another. The critics contend that hip hop has become too corporate, misogynistic, youth-oriented, and buffoonish. The men’s and women’s hip hop jewelry designers are beginning to design high-end jewelry pieces and more affordable jewelry in the world of hip hop. Both men’s hip hop jewelry and women’s hip hop jewelry both styles have true customers.
