Last night in class, Mr. Kambara shared this paperback and the MTV Instructoart animation that accompanies it: The Life & Death of Bling Bling
The animation and paperback chronicle the lifespan of the phrase, "Bling Bling", defined on Wikipedia.org as "...a slang term in hip hop culture referring to flashy or elaborate jewelry and ornamented accessories that are carried, worn, or installed, such as cell phones or tooth caps."
As we discussed the life cycle of fads and trends, I could hear the chorus of the rap song of the same name. "Bling Bling" Released in 1999 by B.G., it was Lil Wayne who rapped the chorus:
"Bling bling
Everytime I come around yo city
Bling bling
Pinky ring worth about fifty
Bling bling
Everytime I buy a new ride
Bling bling
Lorenzos on Yokahama tires"
What made me think back to the chorus of this song and the fact that Lil Wayne was featured on the track was the fact that he is currently all over the FM hip hop radio stations - Power106 and Latino 96.3 - with 2 songs in the top 10 on both stations, I've been hearing his material for many recent weeks.
I find it fascinating that even though "Bling Bling" may be dead, the song and the message remain the same, repackaged, remixed, and remastered through the 'flava of the month' vocoder and that Lil Wayne has come out seemingly on top with 12 nominations from BET's Hip Hop Awards show that airs on October 23.
Good luck, Weezy. I'll be happier when sagging pants dies.
