What’s Cooler Than Being Cool? Inside “Ice Cold: An Exploration of Hip-Hop Jewelry” at the AMNH

A brand new exhibition on the American Museum of Pure Historical past has introduced collectively 68 excellent items of hip-hop jewellery that appear a world away from the dinosaur fossils, area matter, and different wondrous specimens that appeal to faculty teams and science buffs alike. But in a darkened gallery throughout the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, the humongous chains, diamond pendants, and gleaming grills shine forth with each creative bravado and a type of anthropological, cultural significance.

“Ice Chilly: An Exploration of Hip-Hop Jewellery” is the primary main present to have fun and contextualize the customized bling that artists like Dangerous Bunny, Cardi B, Slick Rick, A$AP Rocky, Tyler The Creator, Pharrell, and Ghostface Killah have worn as a part of their image-making. From the gold pendant model of the Adidas Superstars worn by Run-DMC to Drake’s “Crown Jewel of Toronto,” a diamond-encrusted CN-Tower dotted with the town’s sports activities mascots, that is an all-star lineup of rapper’s delights. 

Whereas the 50-year evolution of the style is however a blink in comparison with the evolutionary timescales elsewhere within the museum, the curatorial staff notice how historic civilizations adopted comparable signifiers to flaunt wealth. The Etruscans, as an example, would put on gold dental bands like ur-grills. Extra just lately, with the rising recognition of hip-hop, artists who loved success couldn’t simply write bars about their VVS diamonds and jewels, they wanted to be seen carrying them. 

For these of a sure era, the present’s title will conjure Outkast’s “Hey Ya” (“Now, what’s cooler than being cool? Ice chilly!”). However ice, like rocks, may imply costly jewellery. Between the extravagant pavé settings, exaggerated measurement, and outrageous messaging, the items right here transcend mere trinkets; they function standing symbols which might be directly ridiculous and superior. Anybody who doubts their significance can seek advice from the gospel of Travis Scott: “Diamonds are the spouse of life…”