Bling bling (usually shortened to simply "bling") is a hip hop slang term which refers to "jewelry," derived from the sound of jewelry knocking against jewelry, as often seen worn by rappers. By extension, bling bling can also refer to obvious and appealing wealth.
Origins of the term
Coinage of the term "bling" is often attributed to the rap artists Cash Money Millionaires. It was used on a song title by Cash Money artist B.G. and used in 1998 by fellow Cash Money Records artist Lil Wayne on the track "Millionaire Dream”.
The term was added to the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary in 2002.
Social significance
It is thought that wearing expensive jewelry was the one way in which young and previously impoverished men, who had acquired riches through crime, could be sure of holding on to their wealth by wearing it for all to see. |
Bling Bling
