The Metro: Author Vikki Tobak celebrates hip-hop jewelry, history with ‘Ice Cold’ exhibit

Last year marked 50 years of hip-hop. Detroit has many musical contributions to the genre as well as influence on the culture surrounding hip-hop street wear.  

“Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry,” opened last month at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, featuring notable  jewelry that trace the history of hip-hop from the 1980s to today — including pieces worn by iconic artists like Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, Nicki Minaj, Erykah Badu and more.

The exhibit, on display through January 2025, is based on the book “Ice Cold: A Hip Hop Jewelry History” by Oak Park native Vikki Tobak. Tobak joined The Metro on Tuesday to talk about her book, the exhibit and her passion for jewelry and hip-hop history.

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Tobak says she discovered her passion for visual expression while growing up in Oak Park. With her frequent visiting of the Northland Mall, she was exposed to many jewelry stores, which she says has been a source of influence to this day. 

Tobak has been writing about hip-hop for 20 years and contributes a lot of musical influence to Detroit. Her experience growing up during the golden era of hip-hop has shaped her love for music and her career, she says.

“I grew up in Detroit in the late 80s, early 90s. So I was listening to a lot of Motown, Anita Baker, of course. But yeah, Detroit is a city that’s so rooted in music, and specifically Black music, that had a big impact on me from the start,” Tobak said.

She says it’s been a long time dream of hers to bring the exhibit to Detroit, as it’s a city she holds close to her heart. 

“It’s been my longtime dream to bring it to my city that I’m from, and that’s going to be on the road next year,” she said. “But ‘Ice Cold,’ well you know, it’s really hard to get the artists to loan their pieces for that long. They are still wearing and performing in them.”

Tobak says she defines style as the visual dialogue of hip-hop. The exhibit will include several famous pieces from the genre’s history, including  Slick Rick’s dazzling crown, the Notorious B.I.G.’s legendary gold ‘Jesus piece,’ the diamond-studded Roc-A-Fella medallion for the record label co-founded by Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj’s sparkling ‘Barbie’ pendant and more.

For more information about the exhibit or to purchase tickets, visit amnh.org/exhibitions/ice-cold-hip-hop-jewelry.

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Tobak.

More headlines from The Metro on June 4, 2024:

• Home prices in metro Detroit have grown 8.9% in one year, outpacing the national rate of 6.4%. These numbers leave people wondering more about what the market is like for buyers and sellers. Darrin Fendley, a real estate agent with The Stonway Group at Good Company Realty and Jeanette Schneider, president of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan joined The Metro to share their expertise. 
• The Detroit Parks Coalition has been working with park leaders and community advocates for nearly two decades to maintain parks in Detroit. DPC Program Director Yvette Pullom-Bass joined The Metro to chat about the summer line-up and what the park system means to its residents.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.