Diamond jewelry, or "bling-bling," has been a big part of rap culture's fashion sense from its beginnings. Some pieces have signified label affiliations and others religious backgrounds, but recently, absurd pop-culture references are more fashionable than ever. These outlandish accessories can be a symbol of high status, or just a lighthearted fashion statement.
Established jewelers have begun to capitalize on this market, selling one-of-a-kind custom pieces. TraxNYC, a Manhattan accessory hub, is one jewelry store that has really flourished in the bling world, selling to Pharrell, Fabolous, Justin Bieber, Jim Jones, and recently Nick Cannon. The shop, located at 62 West 47th street in Manhattan, sells high end jewelry, including these ultra-modern creative pieces that are being championed by the hip hop community.
In conjunction with TraxNYC, we have compiled a list of the top ten most ridiculous bling pieces in hip hop history: