Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History

Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History by Vikki Tobak is a photo-led account of hip-hop jewellery and its cultural history, tracing styles from the 1980s to today. Its combination of extensive imagery, stories and essays may suit readers interested in rap, fashion and jewellery design, though the listing's large format and listed weight are worth considering for display or portability.

At a glance

Covers hip-hop jewellery from the 1980s to the present, with artists, signature pieces and changing design culture.
The publisher describes hundreds of images alongside storytelling, including work by photographers and jewellery makers.
Includes a foreword by Slick Rick and essays by A$AP Ferg, LL COOL J and music-industry figures.
The listing describes an English edition with German and French translation available as a download.

Price

£62.41Save 22%

Reference price: ~~£80.00~~

Price checked: 14 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

The visual-history approach combines photographs with accounts of artists, jewellery makers and cultural context.
Its scope spans multiple decades and includes both iconic hip-hop styles and later design collaborations.
Customer feedback describes the book as an appealing gift, particularly for rap listeners.

Cons

The listed 1.05 kg weight and 25 x 4.5 x 34 cm dimensions make it a substantial-format book rather than a compact read.
Some customer feedback considers the book pricey, so its large visual format and subject matter need to justify the spend for each buyer.

Technical specifications

8 specifications

Publication
Publisher	TASCHEN
Publication date	2 Aug. 2022
Edition	Multilingual
Print length	388 pages
ISBN-10	3836584972
ISBN-13	978-3836584975

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	1.05 kg
Dimensions	25 x 4.5 x 34 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers interested in hip-hop history, jewellery, fashion or visual culture.
Fans of artists and photographers featured in the book who want an image-rich reference or display book.
Gift buyers looking for a substantial book for someone interested in rap music.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a compact, lightweight book for regular travel.
Buyers looking mainly for technical jewellery-making instruction. The listing presents this as cultural history and photography.

Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.8 / 5 · 256 ratings

5 stars91%91%
4 stars6%6%
3 stars1%1%
2 stars1%1%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback highlights the book's content and visuals, with some describing it as an encyclopaedic look at hip-hop culture and jewellery and as a suitable gift for rap listeners. That response aligns with the listing's emphasis on hundreds of images and a broad cultural history. Value opinions are mixed, with some finding it pricey, so the substantial listed format and photographic focus are central to whether it feels worthwhile.

Positive themes

Customers praise the content and visual presentation.
Some customers consider it a good gift, especially for rap listeners.

Mixed feedback

Opinions on value for money are mixed, with some customers finding it pricey.

Frequently asked questions

What period does Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History cover?

The listing says the visual history spans hip-hop jewellery from the 1980s to today.

Is the book mainly text or images?

It is presented as a visual history with hundreds of images as well as storytelling and essays.

What languages are listed?

The edition and language are listed as multilingual. The publisher copy specifies an English edition with German and French translation available as a download.

Is this a guide to making jewellery?

The supplied description focuses on the history, cultural meaning, artists and design of hip-hop jewellery, rather than practical making instructions.