This is the second part of early hip-hop jewelry, we recommend you to read first part before starting this.

There are many rappers we that had style in 80s. There is one whom we remember when we think jewelry helped rappers to create unique style and express themselves. His name is LL Cool J, rapper who called himself bad, a friendly reminder, in the 80s bad meant good. And good he was. LL Cool J

What LL Cool J added into early Hip-Hop jewelry style

He recorded album called Bigger and Deffer, that was abbreviated as BAD. This album featured hit songs like I’m Bad and very first successful rap ballad I Need Love . In musical video he have created style became iconic. So iconic that one of the NPCs in GTA San Andreas was not just inspired but practically copied from him. But, enough with this build up, let’s look at this bad rapper, but before, put on some music.

As you can see in the picture, LL Cool J had very 80s kind of style. He as the most rappers have chosen track suit, but, he decided to pick a red one. As an addition, he picked a bucket hat of the same color and started putting on all the shiny stuff. Starting with the 2 Big Golden Cubans, which was, is, and always will be a big part of Hip-Hop fashion. Some nice big golden rings, golden bracelets, and his addition into Early Hip-Hop Jewelry style, multiple finger rings. Yes he wasn’t the first one who was shining with multiple finger ring. But he made it look so good, that people associate him with such style. So much that he had custom made LL Cool J 4 finger ring, that he loved to show.

You can see that exact ring on the cover of another album Mama Said Knock You Out . Dej Jam Records relased this album in 14 September, 1990, and it was critical and commercial success. LL Cool J was one of the best rappers in early age of HIp-Hop,. One of the main reasons of his popularity was his iconic style. Of course jewels were big part of that iconic style. He was wearing classic big gold cubans and his own custom 4 finger rings, and he add some more style into Early Hip-Hop Jewelry style.

If you wish to look at the third part of these blog series, click here.