Rappers Downsizing Bling

Its remarkable that the Wall Street Journal is writing stories on the fate of rappers in this economic downturn.  I found the article more comical than serious, and perhaps its WSJ’s attempt at expanding its readership.  The article details how rappers, extolling the virtues of materialism, misogyny, and violence , have to downsize to lower quality diamonds (the horror!).

After years of starring in rap-music lyrics and videos, “bling” is losing its ring.

The recession is cramping the style of hip-hop artists and wannabes — many of whom are finding it difficult to afford the diamond-encrusted pendants and heavy gold chains they have long used to project an aura of outsized wealth.

Hip-hop luminaries with the cash to keep it real are appalled. Bling aficionados fret that the art of “ice” is being watered down.

In an attempt to keep up appearances, celebrity jewelers say rappers are asking them to make medallions with less-precious stones and metals. Some even whisper that the artists have begun requesting cubic zirconia, the synthetic diamond stand-in and QVC staple.

Seriously? I didn’t even know there was an “art of ice.”

Hip-hop artists aren’t eager to admit to thrift, and numerous rappers rumored to be trading down declined to talk about the trend.

“You gotta understand, it is every rapper’s fear to be exposed as a fraud,” said Gregory Lewis of Brooklyn, who posts conversations with artists on the Internet under the alias “Doggie Diamonds, the interview king.” “If you admit you wear fake jewelry, it is over for you. It’s like bragging you drive a Lamborghini when you really drive a Toyota.”

How ironic.  Fear of being exposed as a fraud. 

Oh, and if you need to sell your gold teeth or bling, a Web site called sellyourgoldteeth.com is doing brisk business buying grillz for meltdown value.

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