In the mid 90’s Ghostface Killah unveiled a new pendant in Raekwon’s music video for “Incarcerated faces”. Unknowingly, this was the birth of what would later become the most iconic piece of jewellery in hip hop history. This is the story of the Jesus Piece.
The Origins of the Jesus Piece: Biggie Smalls
The Jesus piece is a pendant which holds religious symbolism and is a depiction of Jesus Christ with a crown of thorns. Over the years, the piece has become a statement not only in hip-hop but the entertainment scene as a whole. More than just a fashion statement, the piece is a symbol of hope, faith and overcoming adversity.
Although the piece was originally worn by Ghostface Killah it was popularized by Notorious B.I.G aka Biggie Smalls in the late 90’s. In his hit single “Hypnotize”, Biggie created the now commonly used term with the lyric :
“So I just speak my piece, keep my peace Cubans with the Jesus piece, with my peeps”
… and the rest was history. Now any pendant with the depiction of Jesus Christ is referred to as a Jesus piece. This lyric was likely a reference to Biggies pendants which he bought three of, one for himself and two for his friends, Lil’ Cease and D-Roc.
Jay Z
Even after Biggie’s passing, the legacy of the Jesus Piece endured, finding new life as it was passed on to his son CJ. Jay Z also acquired one of the pieces which became a good luck charm for him. In his book decoded, Jay explained it became part of his ritual saying :
“I wear the Jesus piece and let my hair grow till I’m done”
Kanye West
Another important figure in the story of the Jesus Piece is Kanye West who kept the fire burning through the 2000’s. In 2004, Kanye commissioned Jacob Arabo to reimagine the classic Jesus piece. They created a Jesus Piece with yellow and brown diamonds for hair white diamonds and blue aquamarines for the eyes. The piece also had a clearer depiction of the face, representing the evolution of the pendant. West received some backlash for this with critics saying they he should have depicted a black Jesus as opposed to a blond haired blue eyed Jesus.
Kanye later collaborated with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami to create a playful version of the piece. This piece was a eccentric version of the original, with the main features warped and would later become the inspiration behind Travis Scott’s Utopia pendants.
Modern Day Jesus Piece
Today the list of celebs who have worn the piece is endless, ranging from small pendants to large flamboyant pieces. Check out some looks below.
The Jesus Piece’s evolution, starting from Ghostface Killah’s introduction, reflects its lasting impact as a symbol of hope and faith in hip-hop culture. Its ongoing transformation through artists like Kanye West keeps its cultural relevance alive. From Biggie’s lyrical introduction to Jay Z’s personal connection and Kanye’s artistic reinterpretation, the Jesus Piece isn’t merely jewellery; it’s a symbol of the continually unfolding narrative of hip-hop history.