NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Following last year's 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop -- a culture and art form born in the Bronx -- comes "Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry" at the American Museum of Natural History, which opened Thursday and runs through Jan. 5, 2025.
Slick RickJanette Beckman, Courtesy of Fahey/Klein Gallery
The exhibition -- located in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery, part of the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals -- features the most iconic and blindingly spectacular jewelry from Hip-Hop superstars.
Think Slick Rick's twinkling crown, eye patch and five-foot-loing chain. The artist served as a senior adviser for the exhibition. There's also an Adidas necklace from Run D.M.C.'s Jam Master Jay, as well as Nas' diamond-encrusted "QB" pendant, which pays tribute to Queens' Queensbridge Houses, where he grew up. On a colorful note, there's A$AP Rocky's multi-colored, moveable Lego figurine.
Nicki Minaj's iconic Barbie pendant—which boasts 54.47 carats of diamonds on 18-karat gold and bright Barbie-pink enamel—was made by Ashna Mehta in 2022 and is the most recent commissioned by Minaj, whose first Barbie pendant dates to 2009.Alvaro Keding/AMNH
This playful Lego pendant, designed for A$AP Rocky by Alex Moss X Pavē in 2022, is made of 14-karat gold with multicolored diamonds, sapphire, ruby, and enamel.Alvaro Keding/AMNH
Vikki Tobak, the exhibition's guest curator and author of "Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History," told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 at a preview of "Ice Cold" Wednesday, "Hip-Hop is now mainstream culture and pop culture, but we always have to remember that it started from a very specific community and the jewelry and the show kind of celebrates those beginnings. And it's an important story we wanted to tell with the show."
Designed by Slick Rick, who embraces grandeur and royalty in his style, this costume jewelry piece is by Tanya Jones of Lucki Crowns. Presented with the crown is a custom-made eyepatch designed for Slick Rick by Jacob & Co in 2012, with refinements by Avianne & Co in 2023, featuring platinum and diamonds.Alvaro Keding/AMNH
This pendant—designed by Alex Moss in 2023 to celebrate Drake's hometown of Toronto—boasts multicolored diamonds and rubies on 18-karat gold and features the mascots for the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Blue Jays wrapped around Toronto's CN Tower.Alvaro Keding/AMNH
Speaking specifically to jewelry's importance and place in Hip-Hop, Tobak said, "Hip-Hop jewelry has been part of the Hip-Hop culture story since the beginning. It might have not been as blingy as it is today. But what we put on our bodies and what we show to the world is a very human trait. But for Hip-Hop specifically, with identity, with showing the world who you are transcending your circumstances, all of those things are expressed through the jewelry."
Designed for Bad Bunny by ALLIGATOR JESUS (David Tamargo) in 2023, this grill set features 14-karat white gold with sparkling diamonds and rhodium plating.Alvaro Keding/AMNH
Ghostface KillahAtsuko Tanaka
This massive 14-karat gold piece was designed for Ghostface Killah by Jason Arasheben in the 1990s and remains one of hip-hop's best-known jewelry pieces.Alvaro Keding/AMNH
And considering Hip-Hop took root in the city five decades ago, Tobak said, "This is a love letter to New York, for sure."
Sean Decatur, president of the American Museum of Natural History, echoed Tobak's sentiments, telling 1010 WINS/WCBS 880, "There is a special connection between New York [and Hip-Hop]." He also proudly noted that "all five boroughs are represented in the artists and pieces that are here."
Decatur continued, "I'd also say that from my perspective, doing this work in a natural history museum is meaningful because this is a place that tells the stories of human cultures."
Featuring white and rose gold, this custom diamond-encrusted Queensbridge pendant was commissioned from Pristine Jewelers by Nas in 2018 to commemorate Queensbridge Houses in Queens, New York, where he grew up.Alvaro Keding/AMNH
Following Run-DMC's 1986 song "My Adidas," Adidas struck a first-of-its-kind endorsement deal with the group, giving each member one of these 14-karat gold sneaker-shaped pendants.Alvaro Keding/AMNH
