Bling is a term coined in hip-hop culture and used to describe gaudy and elaborate jewellery as well as highly decorated personal accessories such as cell phones and dental caps. It is a term that is extensively used by rappers in rap music. The term supposedly describes the effect of a beam of light striking platinum or diamonds. Diamonds are, by the way, the major staple of bling.
Comedians like Martin Lawrence used the term to parody the bell sound in the famous “Ultra-brite smile” of the 1980s. The term was used to describe the gold teeth and flashy pimp jewellery of the lowdown character Jerome in the TV series called Martin. The first reference in rap music was in 1999 in the hit song “Bling Bling” and the lyrics went “Everytime I come around your city bling bling; Pinky ring worth about 50 bling bling; Everytime I buy a new ride bling bling; Lorenzo’s on Yokahama tires bling bling.” the term has moved well beyond the argot of rap and hip-hop and is now widely used everywhere.
In an unusual turn of events, many of the rappers who contributed to the popularity of the term are now turning away from it. The rapper known as Fat Joe stated, “Rappers don’t call jewelry ‘bling’ anymore, we just call ‘em “diamonds”. Several major members of the hip-hop establishment such as Public Enemy and the Puerto Rican Tego Calderon are believed to have refused to wear flashy and expensive jewellery as a protest against the bling culture. Missy Elliot has said that hip hop stars have a responsibility to act as role models and to encourage young people to invest sensibly.
If the jewellery is tasteful and well-designed, like Tacori engagement rings, then there is probably no such thing as too much bling. However, if you have the money and the freedom to flaunt it, go right ahead.
