The Evolution of Gaudy & Glorious Grillz
Grillz – also known as ‘gold fronts’ has been a statement piece in the Black community for quite some time; more specifically a major staple while hip hop was in its early stages of development.
This enigmatic piece has elevated the art of personal adornment, transcending traditional notions of luxury and grandeur.
The embezzled mouth garb added a different level of razzle dazzle beyond the shine of big faced watches, four finger rings and gold rope chains paired with heavy medallions. The piece carries its own essence; the most unique quality being no two could ever be the same. What sets the enigmatic piece apart is its intrinsic essence. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, each piece possesses an individuality. This rarity factor adds an air of exclusivity, making it a coveted statement piece in the realms of haute couture and artistic expression.
A QUICK BACKSTORY:
Although grills made a grandstand in the mid-1980s, its origin story dates back to ancient civilization when the Etruscans are credited as the first to ever adhere gold to their teeth for dental purposes. Then there are the Mayans who also indulged in the embellishment of teeth. For them, adorning teeth with jewels held deep spiritual significance, symbolizing status and wealth. Although somewhere between that time and 1980s, the story of decorative golden grins has been lost in translation, the symbolism of affluence behind wearing grills has remained the same.
Grills made a resurgence when a man made a trip from New York to Suriname and was inspired by his own circumstances to reinvent the wheel.
Eddie “Famous Eddie” Plein came to making the most known form of grills while looking for a less permanent solution to the gold caps he was offered after a dental issue he faced himself.
After a short time in dental school and honing in on his craft of creating crown moldings Plein began to build his clientele and opened up “Famous Eddie’s Gold Teeth” in Queens N.Y. where up and coming rap artists would seek him out to create their one-of-a-kind mouth pieces. This included rising icons such as Jay-Z, Flava Flav, Nas and Just-Ice; whose 1987 album cover where he donned grills created by Plein was quietly one of those pivotal moments that brought major business to Famous Eddie’s.
After gaining notoriety, other local designers began to replicate his formula, so Plein took his talents to the South where he began to create more elaborate pieces for artists such as Outkast, Ludacris and Goodie Mob.
MOUTH FULL OF GOLDS
BY EDDIE PLEIN & LYLE LINDGREN
In 2021, Eddie Plein partnered with director Lyle Lindgren and released a photobook chronicling the underground history of Famous Eddie’s Gold Teeth, it’s evolution and the evolution of grillz, including conversations and excerpts by icons who were there during Plein and his work’s inception, as well as those who continue to make the mouth garb prevalent cultural staple today.
While some may believe Grills have become mainstream, I see the beauty in its evolution, all while maintaining the essence of its origin story
What once might have been regarded as a gaudy piece of jewelry only seen in the hood or among those in the rap industry, are now worn on red carpets as well as on the runway; it’s even seen being worn in spaces you would have never imagined such as graduation announcements -- The accent piece is now honored in many ways for what it represents, as even today, it tells a tale of affluence, and for some it’s an ode to the grit of humble beginnings, subtly letting others know no matter how successful you’ve become or what you have acquired, those things haven’t changed who you are at your core, and your origin story is something you will forever carry with you.