Welcome to the 129th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we take a look at rapper Kendrick Lamar’s custom ‘Crown of Thorns’, explaining the controversy behind his $3 million diamond headpiece.
Since Kendrick Lamar’s dawn, Christianity has been prevalent in cypher, image and attitude. If you’re familiar with the dingy undertones of ‘HiiiPower’ or the distorted vocals on ‘YAH.’, you’ve certainly uncovered K. Dot’s loyalty to the heavens above. Despite a constant shift in persona, from Kung Fu Kenny to Mr. Morale, his faith is the only consistent theme across his discography, praising God in creative and hidden ways.
When approaching Tiffany & Co. to commission a custom headpiece, Lamar drew from his religious background to plague the cover of his 5th studio album. Working alongside his manager Dave Free and Tiffany’s jewellers, the team was able to create a product that embodied a “godly representation of hood philosophies told from a digestible youthful lens,”.
Across 10 months, craftsmen dedicated over 1,300 hours of labour-intensive work to construct Lamar’s ‘Crown of Throns’. Perhaps one of the most prevalent symbols of Christian iconography, the wreath (according to the New Testament), was placed atop Jesus’ head in the events preceding his crucifixion. A metaphor of grit, suffering and perseverance, Kenny reinterprets the crown, paying homage to artists that influenced his career with the utmost respect.
Demanding 8,000 cobblestone micro pavé diamonds (137 carats) for a total weight of 200 grams, the crown required 4 jewellers to handset the stones, cast in 14 components with 50 thorns. Sculpted in New York, the piece would then cross the Atlantic to be fitted in Northern Italy, amassing a light $3 million price tag.
Worn at Louis Vuitton’s FW22 collection and at his headlining performance at Pyramid Stage, outrage sparked as commenters debated the line between blasphemy and creativity. While the headpiece may appear as sacrilege, others favour an admiral narrative.
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