Bling-bling

For the Marvel Comics character, see Bling (comics).

Bling-bling is a hip hop slang term which refers to expensive jewelry and other accoutrements, and also to an entire lifestyle built around excess spending and ostentation.

Origins

The first apparent use of the term 'bling bling' in mainstream culture was in a hip hop track of the same title, by rappers Baby Birdman, B.G., Juvenile et al ^*, celebrating their wealth (as many of their tracks do). "Bling Bling," released in 1999, led to the term proliferating through mainstream hip hop and eventually spilling over into popular culture as a sarcastic term used to mock the perceived vacuousness of hip hop culture. Comedians such as Ali G in the UK, exploited this for humour.

In 2005, the rapper B.G. remarked that he 'wished he'd patented the term' ^* so that he would have profited from its extensive use. In interviews, he has stated that the term refers to the imaginary sound that light makes when it hits a diamond.

The culture of ostentatious display of wealth was ingrained in street culture long before the 90's, however: it is thought that wearing expensive jewellery was the one way in which young previously impoverished men, who had acquired riches through crime, could be sure of holding on to their wealth by keeping it about their person. This marks out the wearer of such jewellery as a person with ghetto roots, as it shows that the source of their wealth or their personal prejudices prevent them from investing in more stable assets such as cash in the bank or property. Hence 'bling bling', while widely regarded as a faddish slang phrase, has been seen by some as manifestation of a deeper socioeconomic problem in the US, trivialised by mainstream media and hip hop. For comparison, see chav.

Criticism

Mainstream hip hop music's fixation on bling bling and other material and luxury goods has led to much criticism from media pundits and musical critics. They charge that the phenomenon promotes conspicuous consumption, and strengthens racist arguments that young African American men are supposedly incapable of higher or more virtuous or spiritual goals than material gain, reinforcing the hood rich stereotype. Some of the most vocal critics of "bling bling"-oriented music are so-called "alternative" hip hop artists. An example of this is the group Dead Prez, from "Hip Hop" ^*:

The short film "Bling: Consecuences and repercusions" shot by Kareem Adouard and narrated by former Public Enemy Chuck D explains how diamonds in bling fashion are often conflict diamonds fueling wars and killings in Africa.

In a 2004 television interview, rapper Missy Elliot spoke out against 'bling bling' culture, saying that it encouraged young African American men and women to spend their money irresponsibly. Missy stated that she believed it was important for hip hop artists to act as role models in this respect, and encourage young people to invest responsibly and sensibly in stable, long term assets such as real estate. Some observers found this ironic in that she herself owns several expensive luxury cars, a gaudy-style decorated condo that was featured on MTV's Cribs, and has been seen with expensive luxury clothes.

Later use of the term

The extreme proliferation of the term into the early 2000s inevitably led to a degrading of its hipness value. With MTV itself even releasing a satirical cartoon commercial in 2004 showing the term being used by a rapper, then several other progressively less "streetwise" characters, then finally by a middle aged white woman who uses the term to describe her earrings to her elderly mother. It ends with the deadpan declaration: "RIP Bling-bling 1997-2004". The clip thus simultaneously recognizes the term's once attainment of an unusual level of popularity while cleverly underscoring the term's perceived aspect of "tiredness" in the current youth culture. Today, it is rare to find a mainstream rapper who uses the term in anything but a sarcastic or joking manner.

In Latin Hip-hop (and Reggaeton from both Puerto Rico and Panama), rappers also use the term, but it is usually written/pronounced as "blin-blin". Also, "blinblineo" means bling-bling style or bling-bling life-style.

Several Cadillac Escalade billboards and magazine advertisements used the phrase "Bling Bling" to promote the expensive vehicle.

The Shorter English Dictionary added "Bling-bling" as a new entry in its fifth edition (2002).

The wine cooler MD 20/20, also known as "Mad Dog," has recently marketed a flavor called 'Bling Bling Blue Raspberry' in an attempt to attract a more youthful and affluent demographic.

Beginning in 2005, Sprint advertised ringtones for its cellular phones under the name "Blingtones."

The term has appeared in the women's shopping magazine SHOP Etc..

Related meaning

In the Middle East, counterfeit brand-name goods (such as Rolex watches) may be known as bling bling specials.

Merriam-Webster officially added term to its dictionary (July 2006)

External links

Bling-Bling | Bling bling | Bling bling | Bling bling | Bling-bling ↓

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Bling-bling

Origins

Criticism

Later use of the term

Related meaning

See also

External links