Body modification: Gold teeth

A popular trend in the hip hop and rap music industry today. But the insertion of gems into teeth has long predated hip hop culture, with rich Mayans drilling pieces of jade into their teeth. 



Hip hop artists began wearing grills in the early 1980s; New Yorker Eddie Plein, owner of Eddie's Gold Teeth, is often credited with starting the trend. Plein made gold caps for Flavor Flav, and then outfitted New York rappers before going nation wide.