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Ice Cold. A Hip-Hop Jewelry History

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( 34 ratings, 3 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Ice Cold. A Hip-Hop Jewelry History traces the dazzling evolution of hip-hop jewellery from the 1980s to today. Featuring iconic pieces like Run-DMC's gold Adidas pendants and Eric B. & Rakim's dookie rope chains, it explores how jewellery became a bold declaration of identity and street culture. The book profiles pioneering and modern jewellers alongside major artists such as Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Gucci Mane, and Cardi B, showcasing how "Ice" transformed into a vibrant design culture infused with pop culture references and exclusive artistic collaborations.
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Format: Hardback
$23500
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book will appeal to fans of hip-hop culture, jewellery enthusiasts, and readers interested in arts and popular culture history. Its visually rich content and expert essays engage those who appreciate the intersection of fashion, music, and identity.

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Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History presents the bling culture of rappers and their jewelry. Using 40 years of iconic imagery and compelling stories, this visual history shines a light on the world of hip-hop, where mega stars from Run-DMC to Tupac and Jay-Z to Migos and Cardi B flash brilliant custom pieces to show status and personal style.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Whether it's diamond-encrusted grills, oversized "truck" style chains, bust-down Rolex and Patek Philippe watches or a Tiffany necklace, jewellery is a cornerstone of hip-hop culture. Glittering, blinged-out jewels are the shining statement of a collective identity: unapologetic, charismatic, and street savvy.

Spanning the history of hip-hop jewellery, from the 1980s to today, Ice Cold. A Hip-Hop Jewelry History is a stunning compilation of storytelling and visuals. Hundreds of extraordinary images of every major hip-hop artist on record celebrate how "Ice" has become a proclamation of identity and self-expression.

Starting with Run-DMC's gold Adidas pendants and Eric B. & Rakim's ostentatious dookie rope chains and Mercedes medallions, the jewellery then transforms from street style into a booming design culture. The hip-hop tradition of "show up and show out" reaches new heights with artists like Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Gucci Mane, and Cardi B, whose over-the-top pieces integrate unique pop culture references, unconventional materials, and enduring collaborations with artists like Takashi Murakami.

Author Vikki Tobak revealsβ€”in great detailβ€”the work of pioneering jewellers such as Tito Caicedo of Manny's, Eddie Plein, and Jacob the Jeweler, as well as newer artisans such as Avianne & Co., Ben Baller/IF & Co., Greg Yuna, Johnny Dang, Eliantte, and many more.

Ice Cold is a treasure trove of dazzling, inspirational style, featuring the work of leading photographers, including Wolfgang Tillmans, Janette Beckman, Jamel Shabazz, Timothy White, Gillian Laub, David LaChapelle, Danny Clinch, Chris Buck, Mike Miller, Phil Knott, Raven B. Varona, Al Pereira, Albert Watson and many more.

A foreword by hip-hop superstar Slick Rick and essays by A$AP Ferg, LL COOL J, Kevin "Coach K" Lee and Pierre "P" Thomas of Quality Control Music take us on personal journeys into their jewellery universe.

Ice Cold goes beyond the ostentatious bling to reveal a transformative story that is loud and proud.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Ice Cold has been praised as a "stunning photo album" and "lavish catalog of ostentation". Critics from The New York Times and TIME highlight its rich visual archive and essays celebrating decades of hip-hop bling culture, documenting artists from Run-DMC to Cardi B. It is recognised for presenting both the craftsmanship of jewelers and the personal style defining hip-hop’s cultural impact.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783836584975

Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 02 August 2022

Country: Germany

Imprint: Taschen GmbH

Edition: Multilingual edition

Illustration: 495 Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 45.0mm

Width: 250.0mm

Height: 340.0mm

Weight: 3059g

Pages: 388

About the Author

Vikki Tobak’s work has appeared in Complex, Rolling Stone, The FADER, Mass Appeal, Paper, Vibe, i-D, and the Detroit News amongst others. She is the author of Contact High: A Visual History Of Hip-Hop and curator of the traveling exhibition of the same name. She is a former producer and columnist for CBS, CNN, and Bloomberg News. Tobak got her start as a culture editor for Paper magazine before going to Payday Records/Empire Management, working with groups including Gang Starr, Jay-Z, Mos Def, Show and AG, Jeru and other hip-hop legends.

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  • Ice Cold
    Pre-order
    Ice Cold
    Whether it's diamond-encrusted grills, oversized "truck" style chains, bust-down Rolex and Patek Philippe watches, or a Tiffany necklace, jewellery is a cornerstone of hip-hop culture. Glittering, blinged-out jewels are the shining statement of a collective identity: unapologetic, charismatic, and street-savvy. Spanning the history of hip-hop jewellery, from the 1980s to today, Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History is a stunning...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Pre-order
    Out 23 Oct 2026

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