New Year, New Bling: 12 of the Hottest Hip Hop Jewelry Styles You Won't Want to Miss

It’s about to be the second coming of the roaring ’20s up in hurr, and we’re ready to make some New Year’s resolutions—most of which include making our bling look bigger and badder. As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new, and we’re bringing in the hottest new hip hop jewelry styles this year. 

Here at Frost NYC, we consider ourselves experts on living the baller lifestyle, and with that kind of lifestyle comes a certain level of sophistication. If you’re looking to up your urban streetwear look this year, check out our guide to the hottest trends and styles dominating the hip hop world, from diamond chains to gold pendants.

This Year’s Hip Hop Jewelry Trends

1. Flashy Iced-Out Pieces

The iced-out piece is nothing new to the world of hip hop, but this look started to fade for a while as musicians and athletes began to experiment with more subtle looks and thicker solo chains. No matter who you are, the iced-out piece is an attention grabber. From the moment you walk down the block, people will notice your chain sparkling in the light. 

But, if you prefer your accessory to be a bit more low-key, you can always opt for an iced-out bracelet or necklace over purchasing a diamond chain. You’ll still be looking flossy with real diamonds on your wrist, but the piece won’t be as in-your-face. If you’re looking to really floss on everybody, you can invest in the matching diamond necklace, iced-out bracelet, and ring to show everyone just how stylish, important, and successful you are. 

2. Wearing Multiple Chains

When it comes to bling, more is always better. Because jewelry in general is typically worn as a symbol of status and success, the more you have, the more important you must be. And, men’s gold chains are not cheap, so donning multiple gold necklaces at once shows everyone what a true baller you are. 

Of course, it can take time to build up a dope gold chain collection. These pieces tend to be on the expensive side, but, once you’ve purchased more than one, try mixing and matching the different styles for a fresh-to-death look. With the high price tag comes high-quality products. Every single one of our products at Frost NYC is made from genuine 10K or 14K gold, and iced pieces feature real, clear-cut diamonds.

3. Grills Are Still In

The grill is another old-school look that seems to be making a comeback as of late. Although many of us probably still think of Nelly’s 2005 hit “Grillz” when we picture a traditional grill, this type of mouth jewelry can be traced back to ancient times when early civilizations used gold, gold wiring, and even precious stones to alter their appearance and adorn their teeth with valuable items. 

Our modern-day idea of a grill was first spotted in the mouths of early hip hop artists and MCs in the ’70s and ’80s. This look truly reached its peak popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s before the trend seemed to die down a bit. 

Most recently, artists like A$AP Rocky and Kodak Black have been sporting this flashy accessory, but big names like Lil’ Wayne and Kayne have long been fans of grills. In the last decade, grills have even left the hip hop sphere and captured the interest of pop stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Shockingly enough, the Guiness Book of World Records  confirms that Katy Perry is currently the person who has worn the most expensive grill, valued at a whopping $1,000,000.

4. Ball Out on Cufflinks

Cufflinks are the ultimate sign of class and, while they are a more understated piece of jewelry, they can still make or break a baller outfit. Finding the perfect cufflinks can also help to complement the rest of your hip hop jewelry; just be sure to buy a pair that matches the same type of gold you’re wearing around your neck or wrist. 

It’s a cardinal rule of jewelry wearing not to mix types of metal. Sporting a gold chain and a white gold bracelet can look tacky and unplanned. The dopest part about wearing cufflinks is that they are so customizable, meaning you can easily find a simple blinged-out pair or opt for a more personal design with your favorite gemstone or in the shape of your sports team’s mascot. Some other boss ideas for cufflink shapes include diamond money rolls, fast cars, or even your favorite hip hop stars.

 

5. Add a Watch to Your Outfit

The watch has long been a staple accessory in men’s fashion. It’s the perfect piece because it’s functional but has so much potential for boss-looking designs to floss on everybody around you. Of course, a solid gold piece is dope, but you can take this accessory to the next level when you get an iced-out version. 

Watches can be totally iced out—band, dial, and bezel—or partially, to give a more subtle, less sparkly look. Much like gold chains, watches are extremely versatile, and it’s important to have many different looks to go with all your different outfits. 

A sleek, classy watch can be worn to  a professional event or a to a fancy event; a casual watch is perfect for every day, and a blinged-out diamond watch will have you looking fire when you hit the club with your homies on the weekend. Add to your watch collection this year so you can be stepping out in style no matter where you’re headed. 

6. Wearing Chains Solo

You’ve probably noticed a lot of big celebrities and famous athletes still rockin’ the multiple chains look because, like we said, this is one of the best ways to show off your swagalicious style. This new year, the multi-chain look is definitely still hot, but so is wearing a chain without a pendant. If you’re going with the multiple chain look, stick to wearing only one or two pendants to prevent your jewelry from looking too distracting or overwhelming. The rest of your chains should be worn solo to draw attention to the necklace itself. 

For years, hip hop stars and athletes have been rocking a single chain without a pendant for an everyday look. Rappers sometimes try to stunt with a single chain by finding the largest, thickest solid gold chain they can find. Baseball players also tend to rock the single chain look, but usually they opt for a smaller, thinner style like the Franco or the Figaro style. 

7. Adding a Custom Pendant

Pendants are hot, especially custom ones that have been designed especially for you and your interests. At Frost NYC, we have a huge collection of pendant styles, from dozens of classic Jesus pieces and crosses to marijuana leaves and stacks of money rolls. 

But, we love a challenge, which is why we give you the option to create your own custom piece. All you have to do is select the type of gold or metal you’d like to use, describe your design to us—including measurements, and we’ll send you a design to approve before we craft your custom piece. Literally no one will have a pendant as dope as yours. 

The best part? We do all different types of custom pieces, so you can create a dope matching chain. And, when it comes to custom jewelry, we offer platinum as a metal option, which is sure to have you standing out from any of your homies. 

Top Hip Hop Jewelry Styles

8. Miami Cuban Link

The Cuban Link chain has long been a classic look for hip hop stars and urban streetwear fans, and it’s unlikely that it’s going to go out of style anytime soon. This type of men’s gold chain usually features thicker links that are slightly oval in shape, all interconnected. It’s a pretty simple design, but looks dope on everybody. 

When you throw on a Miami Cuban link, you’re giving yourself an old-school kind of look, back to the days of Run DMC and even the father of hip hop, DJ Kool Herc. If you’re going to rock the Miami Cuban link look, it’s typically worn solo—no pendant necessary. Because the chain itself is so thick, the pendant can be distracting. For a more blinged-out look, purchase an iced-out version of the Cuban link.

9. Franco Chain

The Franco chain is an essential style to have in your collection because it’s so versatile. You can toss this type of gold chain on when you’re headed out to chill with the boys or to a big, important event. 

Made up of tiny interconnected links, the Franco look has a seamless appearance that is sleek and classic. This chain can easily be worn solo or with your favorite pendant, so why not switch it up every once in a while? If you are going to sport a pendant with this style, we suggest opting for a chain that is a bit thinner to help draw people’s attention to the pendant—but a thicker style would work fine too. 

10. Dog Tags

If you’re looking for a different type of chain to wear with your everyday white tee, the dog tag look is perfect. The chain is simple—a thin strand of beads—and the pendant is, as you probably guessed, a dog tag. 

While we love rockin’ this look on the daily, we wouldn’t suggest breaking out your dog tag chain for a big night out. You can mix and match it with other chains in your collection, but this style isn’t as much of an attention-grabber as some of the more popular styles like the rope chain or the Cuban link. Get yourself a dope dog tag to wear with your casual attire, and then use it to beef up your multi-chain look.

11. Figaro Chain

One of the most popular styles, the Figaro chain is another look that tends to be more laid-back. This gold chain style is very popular with baseball players because it’s simple and can be worn during games without getting in the way of play. Many ballers who rock the Figaro chain like to add a religious pendant like a cross or praying hands, but it can definitely be worn solo if you prefer. 

This is another great subtle piece to have for when you’re trying to build up your multiple chain look. The Figaro has an interesting pattern, but isn’t so big, bold, and unusual that it grabs attention away from whichever chain is your main piece. Elevate your swag even more when you add a matching Figaro bracelet.

12. Mariner Style

Not quite as popular as some of the other looks, the mariner chain reminds us of a unique twist on the Figaro chain but with all oval links that feature a line through the middle. Although this look isn’t seen as often, 2020 is all about flexing, and flexing hard, so why not try rockin’ a more unusual look this year? The chain itself tends to be thinner, so it makes for a great subtle or everyday look. Much like the Figaro chain, it can also add a lot to your look when you’re rocking several chains at the same damn time. 

Ring in the New Year with a Chain from Frost NYC

This year, your baller self deserves some new gold necklaces to keep you looking fresh to death as always. But, it’s important to stay on top of the latest hip hop trends so you can flex on everybody from the streets to the club. 

When you shop our collection of Frost NYC hip hop jewelry, you’re sure to have the hottest styles for reasonable prices. We make sure that each and every one of our chains, bracelets, rings, and watches are made from the highest-quality materials and coated with a lasting finish that will keep your pieces in pristine condition for years to come. So, what are you waiting for, my dude? Shop our collection today!