Hip Hop has always been more than beats and rhymes. It’s about expression, fast-moving wit, legacy, innovation, and, for the artists, creating their own style and breaking from the norm. That individual spirit from the streets is embodied in jewellery. From the heavy rope chains of the ‘80s to today’s custom bussdown masterpieces, ice tells a story of hustle, triumph, and self-made royalty.
This issue is dedicated to that shine, both literal and cultural, and to how Hip Hop culture has moved into the mainstream, a shift celebrated at this year’s Costume Institute, where the dress code was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, a theme that extended to this year’s Met Gala. On the morning of the event, Production Editor Malcolm Mafara met with producer and rapper Swizz Beatz, AKA Mr.…
