Fróðleikur Bling bling

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.  This marks the wearer of such jewelry, or of jewelry which looks expensive, as a person with ghetto roots.  Hence 'bling bling', while widely regarded as a slang phrase, has been seen by some as manifestation of a deeper socioeconomic problem in the United States of America, trivialized by mainstream media and hip hop.

In a 2004 television interview, rapper Missy Elliot spoke out against 'bling bling' culture, saying that it encouraged young men and women to spend their money irresponsibly ( Miss T )