Seems like some of these rappers are finally realizing it isn't so financially sound to go all out with the extravagant jewelry. I, personally, always thought they were ridiculous and idiotic to spend tens of thousands, some even hundreds of thousands of dollars on enormous pieces that do nothing but shine and glisten. Haha. But that's just me. Here's the story brought to you by the Associated Press...
ATLANTA - The Hip-Hop World Is Dialing Back Its Bling.The music genre defined as much by diamond-encrusted watches and designer sneakers as its gritty urban lyrics is scaling down its flash, insiders say, as rappers join the rest of the world feeling the pinch of the recession.
Rappers are cooling off some of their trademark "ice," sporting fewer and smaller chains, opting for plain white Ts over pricey labels and introducing budget-conscious fashion lines designed to let fans still capture the hip-hop swagger.
Make no mistake: The industry that made New York businessman Jacob "Jacob the Jeweler" Arabov an urban household name isn't entirely reversing course. But "the day of conspicuous consumption is gone," says Tamara Connor, an Atlanta-based stylist who has created looks for chart-topping rappers including Lil Wayne.
In the late '90s, Lil Wayne surrounded himself in videos with stacks of cash and rapped about his $50,000 pinky ring, or "bling," a term that referenced the glint of the diamonds on his neck, hands and wrists.
"We're still going to see some bling, but it's just not going to be as much," Connor says. "Instead of four diamond necklaces, it might just be a diamond bracelet — and it's a piece the celebrity wears all the time. They're not changing their jewelry out everyday."
Photo shoots, for example, are being done with fewer of the specialized medallions considered a calling card for the likes of Rick Ross, whose chain with a likeness of his head — complete with black diamond beard — has an estimated value of $30,000.
Instead you might see a rapper in an off-the-shelf diamond cross or wearing lower-quality stones. "You can save $3,000 a carat if you do non-ring quality diamonds for studs (earrings)," Connor notes.
Newest Rappers Feel Pinch MostBen Baller, head of Los Angeles-based jeweler I.F. & Co., says the shift is most pronounced among up-and-coming rappers, for whom a steady income is seeming like less of a sure thing.
Before, a new artist might spend $25,000 of a $30,000 advance on a chain, according to Baller, who counts Fat Joe as a client. "Now they would rather try to spend $5,000 and $6,000," he says, adding, "they're willing to talk about options by using sapphires, using very, very low quality gold.
"Some people (are) even wanting to mix diamonds with cubics (cubic zirconia) so it would not be completely ungenuine."
Cost cutting is major for the industry in which the carat-weight of one's ring or the price of tennis shoes could carry more cache than record sales. Ostentatious fashion has been in hip hop's DNA since Run-DMC sang the praises of Adidas in the '80s.
The flash reflected the music style born of the streets of New York, its stars often hard-knock kids who christened their new success with thick rope chains and designer sweatsuits.
"It was about creating a signature," according to Memsor Kamarake, fashion director of Vibe magazine.
A decade later, newer rappers like Young Jeezy are more likely to keep it simple.
"He'll wear a scarf and no jewelry, maybe a bracelet, with a baseball hat, a T-shirt and a pair of jeans — that's not a lot of bling," says Connor, who has also styled the Georgia artist.
Rappers aren't giving up glamour altogether, they're just not wearing it 24-7. In the past, several chains were de rigueur for a grocery-store run, now they're reserved for a show or nightclub, says Baller, who also is seeing more artists trading in old chains instead of buying new ones.
Return To Rap's Humble RootsThe shift might not be entirely economic, though, as the industry also moves back to its humble roots, says Ralph Reynolds, creative director for the A.K.O.O. Clothing Brand, a label launched last fall by T.I.
"When (rappers) first got money, they were all over the place," Reynolds says. "Then, I think they also started to lose contact with who their fan base is."
Rappers who have continued to flaunt their riches have received criticism. Fans bristled earlier this year after Kanye West unveiled a line of $400-plus sneakers he crafted with Louis Vuitton.
"Some of those same people who would reach and stretch and do everything they could to get that Louis will now say, 'I already have these two bags, let me pay the rent,'" Reynolds says.
He says a new generation is keeping its everyday style within reach of those most likely to emulate artists. A.K.O.O., for example, features military-inspired woven shirts, polos and denim, with most items ranging from $44 to about $200.
Female fans of hip-hop style can look to a label such as Baby Phat, with T-shirts starting as low as $39. Designer Kimora Lee Simmons has built the line on the notion of 'fabulosity' — high-class opulence and bling.
But she says even that adjusts to tough times.
"Fabulosity is not — the girls are seeing — that $5,000 pair of shoes," Simmons says.
Vibe's Kamarake says the key to looking like you spent more than you did is focusing on sturdy accessories — possibly a watch for men or unique shoes for women.
"The less you do the trend-copying and trying to look like whoever, it will be more enriching, both to your spirit and your wallet," he says.
Nothing like an early afternoon listening of some good old hip hop from a bunch of different artists. Some of which I've previously heard of. Some of whom I'm learning of now. I know this mixtape was released in 2008 but since I have a full time job that doesn't involve listening to music all day long, I'm a little late. But you know what they say...better than never. So do me a favor, check it out!
She's a beast! You don't own "19" yet? Why not?! She recently scooped up two Grammy Awards for her work. Check out Melt My Heart to Stone (Click to Listen). This is a remix version off the Adele and Mick Boogie mixtape 1988. Yeah, that's Big Pooh of Little Brother on the track. Enjoy it.!
Thank Little Brother! You might have heard Carlitta Durand on Sirens from Little Brother off of Get Back (and a few other LB tracks). Yesterday the crew shouted her out on Twitter telling heads to email her immediately to get the new mixtape "CARLITTA'S WAY: THE PRELUDE". She has a very chill and laid back vibe. Check out What If (Click to Listen).
I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about Jimmy Fallon's new late night talk show but I love when he slow jams the news with the Legendary Roots Crew backing him up. Black Thought gets it in on those vocals! It definitely makes the news more entertaining.
Dope intro by Melissa Czarnik (What I'm Listening to, A Second Listen), vocals by Eric Mire and watch out for that sax at the end! Yes, that's a band on the track (The Eric Mire Band is out of Milwaukee). Something caught me when I heard it. It's kind of spoken word like. Listen to Loose Ends (Click to Listen), a poetic track off Eric Mire's upcoming release "Spooky Love" out May 5, 2009. More info: www.myspace.com/ericmire
Check out the homie OnCue! I first came across dude a few years back when I was looking for a freelance graphic designer (in addition to rhyming, he does the freelance design hustle). I was impressed with him then and over the years his lyrical abilities have grown. He's dropped a few mix tapes over the years and is currently working on two new projects. The first, "Cueyfornication" will have OnCue flowing over Red Hot Chili Pepper tracks, due out late May. Should be an interesting final product. The other project is "In a Class All by Myself", which will drop at some point over the summer. The 20-year-old emcee ain't no joke and he's still growing lyrically. Watch out for OnCue.
A PUNK('D) BITCH: Ashton Kutcher challenged CNN a few days ago to see who would surpass one million followers on twitter. Great news story (riiiight)! I know you were all on the edge of your seat to find out who would make it first (or not). It was cool for like 30 seconds, but then it became news on every channel. Seriously? Dude is on Larry King Live, talking about it on Oprah, E News running it at as a teaser before a commercial ... "find out what Ashton did the moment he reached one million followers and what he's going to do now." What makes this news worthy? Does anyone even really care? (for like two minutes I felt less about myself for even writing about here) Dude should have matched everyone that followed him by following them (Ashton only follows 80 people on Twitter including P. Diddy who was "locked in" and pushing for Ashton to reach one million first and supported him via phone during the big moment).
OH, SHE CAN SANG?!: Susan Boyle, the sudden YouTube sensation, shocked all those that judged a book by it's cover (you know she came out frumpy looking and all) before her singing audition on "Britains' Got Talent". The 47-year-old has quite the voice but really is it news worthy? So, she can sing. Now what?! Guess the mix tape is in the works.
HULK-A-MANIA: Hulk Hogan has apparently gone off the deep end just a bit... He reportedly told Rolling Stone Magazine, "I could have turned everything into a crime scene, like OJ, cutting everybody's throat. You live half a mile from the 20,000-square-foot home you can't go to anymore, you're driving through downtown Clearwater and see a 19-year-old boy driving your Escalade, and you know that a 19-year-old boy is sleeping in your bed, with your wife . . . I totally understand OJ. I get it."
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG FLIGHT: So apparently United Airlines figured out another way to make cash on its passengers. But not all passengers, just the overweight ones. They are going to start charging overweight passengers for another seat. Ouch. Their rule of thumb for judging an overweight passenger? "When a person cannot sit in one seat with both armrests down they have to pay for an extra seat." Wooooooow.
Texas Governor Rick Perry
