An oversized platinum, gold or silver pendant sometimes encrusted with diamonds and other gems made in the likeness of Jesus. These pendants are worn on a heavy rope style of necklace.
The Jesus piece, and other styles of large pendants worn with rope style jewelry have been a staple of hip hop youth culture for nearly thirty years. Presently, hip hop artists and fans alike use the Jesus piece as a symbol of being "
hood" or keepin' it real and being extravagantly wealthy at the same
time. The Jesus piece testifies to the fact "you can take the man out of the
ghetto, but you can'
t take the
ghetto out of the man."
It'
s like that, and that's the way it is. HUH!
After the
famous hip hop artist assured an entertainment reporter he was "an ordinary erryday
type-a dude from around the way just keepin it
gangsta and keepin it street"; he turned to the cameras to pose for a photo opportunity, holding his 150,000 dollar diamond studded platinum Jesus piece in his right hand and making a sideways peace sign with his left.