Hip-hop culture has always placed a strong emphasis on flamboyant jewelry. Rappers have been dripping in diamonds since the beginning of the music’s ascent, from the early days of Run-DMC and Notorious B.I.G. to modern icons like Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, and Cardi B.
Oversized chain necklaces, diamond-encrusted Rolex and Audemars Piguet watches, not to mention glittering grills, have become signatures of personal style that today influence the creations of high-end luxury brands.
Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History is a lavishly illustrated book that revisits the way hip-hop artists have used over-the-top jewellery as a method of self-expression, not only in their lyrics and videos but also in their extremely curated daily get-ups.
Written and curated by Vikki Tobak and published by Taschen, the book is filled with hundreds of striking portraits of legendary artists like Tupac Shakur and Rihanna, all adorned in some major bling. If you’re a fan of hip-hop, this book is a fittingly flashy addition to your bookshelf.
