The History of Grills & Why They’re a Staple Summer Essential in Black Culture
Believe it or not, grills have been around for centuries dating back to the seventh century B.C. Etrurian women wore gold dentures as a sign of wealth. The Mayans inserted jade by drilling holes into their teeth. According to archeologists grills also became popular in the Philippines during the sixteenth century.
So how did grills make its way into Black American culture? In the 1980s, gold crowns were the cheapest way to fill cavities. Black people from lower income communities in New York would get gold caps for dental purposes, and fell in love with the aesthetic. From there the phenomenon quickly grew into a flashy, fashion statement.
Photo from Eddie Plein’s memoir, Mouth Full of Golds.
For Black people, grills are a way to flaunt one’s swag and personality. A way to be boisterous and cocky by simply cracking a smile. Thanks to Eddie Plein, a Suriname immigrant, who started making grills in his Brooklyn apartment accounted by Lyle Lindgren in his book: Mouth Full of Golds, Plein began selling grills to folks in his NYC neighborhood right around the time hip hop was introduced.
Plein later opened up a shop - Famous Eddie’s and sold grills to rap artists such as Flava Flav, Big Daddy Kane, and Method Man. As the trend circulated past New York and to Atlanta, Plein also customized grills for OutKast, Lil Jon, and Ludacris.
In recent years, the trend has made its way to red carpets, runways, and high fashion editorials. Now sported by models, athletes, influencers, and public figures, the once dental requisite morphed into a staple accessory representing status, wealth, and notoriety. One could argue that mainstream media has robbed Black culture of yet another trend, however there is no denying the deep origins of gold teeth and Black people’s role in its popularization.
via @asaprocky on Instagram
The best part about grills is that they are still very accessible to the average American. The price can vary depending on the material, design, gemstones used, and labor costs. Unlike Quavo who spent a whopping $260k on his diamond encrusted grills; the rate for one 10 karat gold tooth cap starts at about $200.
As we get closer to hotter days, grills are the perfect staple accessory to bring a full look together. Grills exude a cool factor, and you could learn a lot about a person by their embellished mouth piece. As we opt for lighter and simple pieces for Summer, grills will add an effortless touch to our Summer uniform. Grills encompass all the glory, and power of Blackness, and the trend reminds us all of the rich legacy of Black culture & its role in American fashion.
