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{{Short description|Flashy, ostentatious or elaborate jewelry and ornamented accessories}}
⚫ {{redirect|Bling|the Marvel Comics character|Bling (comics)}}
{{other uses|Bling Bling (disambiguation)}}
{{about|the slang term|the Ali G DVD|Bling Bling (Ali G DVD)|the Lynam album|Bling! Bling!|the hip-hop song by B.G.|Bling Bling (song)}}
⚫ {{Redirect|Bling|the Marvel Comics character|Bling (comics)|the animated singer|VBirds}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2011}}
] ]


'''Bling-bling''', often shortened to just '''bling''', is "flashy ] worn especially as an indication of wealth or status; broadly: expensive and ostentatious possessions"<ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of BLING|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bling|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> such as ] and designer bags. The term arose as slang, but grew into a cultural mainstay. Prominent examples of bling-bling include a large ] or ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oh |first1=Minya |last2=Mao |first2=Andrea Duncan |title=Bling Bling: Hip Hop's Crown Jewels |date=10 August 2005 |publisher=Wenner Books |isbn=978-1-932958-02-7 |language=en}}</ref>
'''''Bling''''' (or '''''bling-bling''''') is a ] term popularized in ] culture, referring to flashy, ostentatious or elaborate ] and ornamented accessories that are carried, worn or installed, such as ] or ].


==Origins and popularization of the term== ==Origins and popularization of the term==
In ] terms, ''bling'' is either an ] or an ], depending on the definition adhered to. Intended to evoke the "sound" of light hitting something shiny, especially valuables like silver, platinum, or diamonds. The form ''bling-bling'' is a case of ].
⚫ ] advertisement over this ] summer resort destination of ] in 2006.]]


{{weasel|date=October 2020}}
During the mid- to late 1960s, toothpaste maker ] ran a series of commercials stating, "Ultrabrite gives your mouth......sex appeal!"<ref>Goldie Blumenstyk (February 6, 2004). . The Chronicle of Higher Education. Vol. L, No. 22.</ref> Before the words "sex appeal", a bell sound was heard as a young man or woman smiled. Comedians such as ] parodied the "Ultrabrite smile" by vocalizing the sound effect as both "bling-bling," and "bling-blauw."
In ] terms, ''bling'' is either an ] or an ], depending on the definition one uses, with ''bling-bling'' being its ]. Some have attributed the term to rappers that came before ], or to the old cartoonish sound effects meant to convey the desirability and or shininess of gold, gems, jewels, money, and more.<ref>Renee Tawa (July 9, 2003). . '']''.</ref>


⚫ ] advertisement over this ] summer resort destination of ] in 2006.]]
The term was used in this way to describe a gaudy piece of jewelry, for example the otherwise rotten gold-toothed smile and stereotypical pimp jewelry of the character "Jerome" on the television series '']''. Jesse West (known as rapper 3rd Eye) is cited as perhaps the first rapper to use the complete term "''bling bling''"<ref name="Bling Etymology">{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopmusic.com/archives/000090.html |title=Bling Etymology |publisher=Hiphopmusic.com |date=2003-04-26 |accessdate=2011-08-15}}</ref> on ]'s 1993 hit "] (Remix)" - a song that West produced, and also featured ] and a young ] in his record debut. In 1994, the ] browser was released and supported the ]. This feature became very widely used, which many users considered to be irritating, and the term ''blink'' soon became synonymous with gaudy, tacky and overly flashy. That meaning of the word 'blink' remained in popular culture (although modern browsers stopped supporting the 'blink' tag).


Bling became increasingly entrenched within the ] movement following ]'s release of his lead single "Bling Bling" off of his 1999 album '']''.<ref>DONOVAN BARNETT (2023). . '']''.</ref>
The term 'bling' reached mainstream popularity in 1999 when the song ] by rap artist ] featuring the ] cracked the Top 40 of the ]; the chorus of the song featured a young ] rapping "Everytime I come around your city bling bling; Pinky ring worth about 50 bling bling; Everytime I buy a new ride bling bling; Lorenzos on Yokahama tires bling bling." Late rapper ] mentioned bling in the song called "Fuck Friendz" of his posthumous album ]. He goes by saying "Check out my - diamonds bitch everyone gonna blink (bling bling bling)". The song was recorded in 1996.


=== Mass usage === ===Mass usage===
The word was added to the '']'' in 2002, and to the ] dictionary in 2006. Companies such as ] and ] have used the word ''bling'' in their advertisements, for instance. On the other hand, in 2004, ] released a satirical cartoon showing the term first being used by a rapper, followed by several progressively less "streetwise" characters, concluding with a middle-aged white woman describing her "bling" to her elderly mother.<ref>{{cite web|title=MTV: Bling Bling - Advertisement|url=http://creativity-online.com/work/mtv-bling-bling/10129|date=July 13, 2004 |website=MTV|publisher=Creativity Online|access-date=April 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=15 Most Expensive Gold Chains In Hip Hop |url=https://www.hatton-jewellers.com/blog/most-expensive-gold-chains-hip-hop |date=December 3, 2019 |website=Hatton Jewellers Blog|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref>


The term was subsequently used for anyone displaying a luxurious and ostentatious lifestyle.<ref>Jason Moyo (April 4, 2012). . '']''. South Africa/</ref><ref>Kate Bowler (October 9, 2013). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928132557/https://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/09/believing-in-bling-meet-the-prosperity-preachers-of-l-a/ |date=2020-09-28 }}. CNN.</ref><ref>. '']''. (May 14, 2020).</ref>
While the specific term ''bling'' was first popularized in the hip hop community, it has spread beyond ] and into mass culture after the original Hot Boyz chart-topper "Bling-bling" became popular. This is similar to the meteoric rise of hip hop music itself, which has led to its most popular artists becoming mainstream pop music icons. "Bling" was added to the ] in 2002 and to the ] dictionary in 2006. Companies such as Sprint and Cadillac have used the word ''bling'' in their advertisements. During a 2008 ] parade in ], Republican presidential candidate ] admired a baby decked in dress attire with gold jewelry and said, "Oh, you've got some bling-bling here."<ref>, Michael Powell, '']'', January 22, 2008.</ref>

In 2004, ] released a satirical cartoon showing the term being used first by a rapper and then by several progressively less "streetwise" characters, concluding with a middle-aged white woman describing her earrings to her elderly mother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://creativity-online.com/work/mtv-bling-bling/10129 |title=MTV: Bling Bling - Video |publisher=Creativity Online |date=2004-07-13 |accessdate=2011-08-15}}</ref> It ended with the statement, "] bling-bling 1997-2003." In 2005, the rapper B.G. remarked that he "just wished that he'd trademarked it"<ref>{{cite news | url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1383653,00.html | title=How bling-bling took over the ring | publisher=The Guardian | date=2005-01-09 | accessdate=2007-03-27 | location=London | first1=Thomas | last1=Hauser}}</ref> so that he could have profited. Like many cases of once-exclusive vernacular that becomes mainstream, the views of the originators towards the term have changed significantly over the years. On ]'s ''Why You Love Hip-Hop'', rapper ] stated, "rappers don't call jewelry ''bling'' anymore, we just call 'em ''diamonds''."


==In other languages== ==In other languages==
The term has also spread to Spanish: rappers use the term in Latin hip-hop and in ] from ] and ], although it is usually written and pronounced "blin-blin".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diccionariolibre.com/definition.php?word=blin+blin |title=Blin blin |publisher=Diccionario Libre |date= |accessdate=2011-08-15}}</ref> The Spanish word ''blinblineo'' is also used to refer to bling-bling style. The term is used in French traditionally to describe ] attitudes; such as "wearing expensive suits, stylish sunglasses and conspicuously large wristwatches" or anything that is ostentatious and can be considered of "poor taste".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1697098,00.html | title=Sarkozy's 'Bling-Bling' Presidency | publisher=] | date=2007-12-20 | accessdate=2008-01-21 | first=Bruce | last=Crumley}}</ref> The term has spread to Spanish speaking countries around the world, with Latin hip-hop and ] artists from places like ] and ]. The main nuance is that, in Spanish, it is often stylized and pronounced as "blin-blin".<ref>{{cite web|title=Blin blin|url=http://www.diccionariolibre.com/definition.php?word=blin+blin|publisher=Diccionario Libre|access-date=2011-08-15}}</ref> Furthermore, the Spanish word ''blinblineo'' also refers to bling and its style. Similarly, in French, "bling" traditionally describes ] attitudes; such as "wearing expensive suits, stylish sunglasses and conspicuously large wristwatches" or anything that is ostentatious and can be considered of "poor taste".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Crumley|first=Bruce|date=2007-12-20|title=Sarkozy's 'Bling-Bling' Presidency|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1697098,00.html|magazine=] |access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref> In German, it is usually used as simply "Bling".{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

⚫ ==Criticism==
The short film ''Bling: Consequences and Repercussions'', shot by Kareem Adouard and narrated by ] frontman ], explains how diamonds (a staple of bling fashion) occasionally originate as ], fueling wars, poverty, slavery and killings in Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wghfilms.com/bling.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090302060744/http://www.wghfilms.com/bling.htm |archivedate=2009-03-02 |title=Bling: Consequences and Repercussions, short film narrated by Public Enemy Chuck D on Conflict Diamonds and Bling fashion |publisher=WGHfilms.com |date=2009-03-02 |accessdate=2012-06-14}}</ref>


⚫ ==Criticism and response==
''Bling: A Planet Rock'' (2007) documents the flashy world of commercial hip-hop jewelry against the significant role diamonds play in the ten-year civil war in ], West Africa. The movie follows three hip-hop celebrities: ] (Wu-Tang Clan), ] (maker of diamond grills), and ] king ] as they visit the capital of ] to meet the community and survey the devastation caused by the diamond mines.
The short film ''Bling: Consequences and Repercussions'' explains the troubled backstory of many of the diamonds jewelers often use to make the gaudy jewelry. Explicitly, the film takes issue with the fact that, occasionally, the diamonds were originally ], that fuel wars, poverty, slavery, and killings across countries in Africa.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bling: Consequences and Repercussions|url=http://www.wghfilms.com/bling.htm|last=Edouard|first=Kareem|date=2009-03-02|publisher=WGHfilms.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302060744/http://www.wghfilms.com/bling.htm|archive-date=2009-03-02|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> Similarly, ''Bling: A Planet Rock'' (2007) documents and subsequently contrasts the flashy world of commercial hip-hop jewelry against the significant role diamonds play in the ten-year ] in ].


From a different perspective, many people consider bling and its aesthetic as empowering, rather than literally and metaphorically likening the expensive chains to slavery.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Thompson|first=Krista|title=Shine|pages=51}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Thompson|first=Krista|title=Shine|pages=100}}</ref>
Before, during, and after ], South Africans have been exploited for their land's precious gems<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html |title=Conflict diamonds |publisher=Un.org |date= |accessdate=2011-08-15}}</ref> and metals. Gavin Steingo has stated, "It truly is tragic that many young South Africans have embraced the Western gold fetish: a fetish which prizes gold as nothing more than a label of ostentatious wealth."<ref>{{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> ] continues to show the ] that originated in Black American Hip Hop, despite its relations to blood diamonds.


==See also== ==See also==
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'''General:''' ;General
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'''International:''' ;International
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==References== ==References==
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Latest revision as of 18:26, 13 December 2024

Flashy, ostentatious or elaborate jewelry and ornamented accessories For other uses, see Bling Bling (disambiguation). "Bling" redirects here. For the Marvel Comics character, see Bling (comics). For the animated singer, see VBirds.
Bling-bling jewelry

Bling-bling, often shortened to just bling, is "flashy jewelry worn especially as an indication of wealth or status; broadly: expensive and ostentatious possessions" such as grills and designer bags. The term arose as slang, but grew into a cultural mainstay. Prominent examples of bling-bling include a large cross necklace or Jesus piece.

Origins and popularization of the term

This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (October 2020)

In linguistics terms, bling is either an ideophone or an onomatopoeia, depending on the definition one uses, with bling-bling being its reduplication. Some have attributed the term to rappers that came before B.G., or to the old cartoonish sound effects meant to convey the desirability and or shininess of gold, gems, jewels, money, and more.

The use of the phrase became popular, as seen in the skywriting advertisement over this New York summer resort destination of Southampton in 2006.

Bling became increasingly entrenched within the hip hop movement following B.G.'s release of his lead single "Bling Bling" off of his 1999 album Chopper City in the Ghetto.

Mass usage

The word was added to the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary in 2002, and to the Merriam Webster dictionary in 2006. Companies such as Sprint and Cadillac have used the word bling in their advertisements, for instance. On the other hand, in 2004, MTV released a satirical cartoon showing the term first being used by a rapper, followed by several progressively less "streetwise" characters, concluding with a middle-aged white woman describing her "bling" to her elderly mother.

The term was subsequently used for anyone displaying a luxurious and ostentatious lifestyle.

In other languages

The term has spread to Spanish speaking countries around the world, with Latin hip-hop and reggaeton artists from places like Puerto Rico and Panama. The main nuance is that, in Spanish, it is often stylized and pronounced as "blin-blin". Furthermore, the Spanish word blinblineo also refers to bling and its style. Similarly, in French, "bling" traditionally describes nouveau riche attitudes; such as "wearing expensive suits, stylish sunglasses and conspicuously large wristwatches" or anything that is ostentatious and can be considered of "poor taste". In German, it is usually used as simply "Bling".

Criticism and response

The short film Bling: Consequences and Repercussions explains the troubled backstory of many of the diamonds jewelers often use to make the gaudy jewelry. Explicitly, the film takes issue with the fact that, occasionally, the diamonds were originally blood diamonds, that fuel wars, poverty, slavery, and killings across countries in Africa. Similarly, Bling: A Planet Rock (2007) documents and subsequently contrasts the flashy world of commercial hip-hop jewelry against the significant role diamonds play in the ten-year civil war in Sierra Leone.

From a different perspective, many people consider bling and its aesthetic as empowering, rather than literally and metaphorically likening the expensive chains to slavery.

See also

General
International

References

  1. "Definition of BLING". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  2. Oh, Minya; Mao, Andrea Duncan (10 August 2005). Bling Bling: Hip Hop's Crown Jewels. Wenner Books. ISBN 978-1-932958-02-7.
  3. Renee Tawa (July 9, 2003). "'Bling-bling' in the Oxford dictionary? That's phat". Los Angeles Times.
  4. DONOVAN BARNETT (2023). "'A Brief History of Bling: Hip-Hop Jewelry Through the Ages". HIGHSNOBIETY.
  5. "MTV: Bling Bling - Advertisement". MTV. Creativity Online. July 13, 2004. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  6. "15 Most Expensive Gold Chains In Hip Hop". Hatton Jewellers Blog. December 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  7. Jason Moyo (April 4, 2012). "Preaching the gospel of bling". Mail & Guardian. South Africa/
  8. Kate Bowler (October 9, 2013). "Believers in bling: Behold, the prosperity 'Preachers of L.A.'" Archived 2020-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. CNN.
  9. "De choses et d'autres - Cachez ce bling-bling!". L'Indépendant. (May 14, 2020).
  10. "Blin blin". Diccionario Libre. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
  11. Crumley, Bruce (2007-12-20). "Sarkozy's 'Bling-Bling' Presidency". Time. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  12. Edouard, Kareem (2009-03-02). "Bling: Consequences and Repercussions". WGHfilms.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  13. Thompson, Krista. Shine. p. 51.
  14. Thompson, Krista. Shine. p. 100.
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