I go back with grills. Now classy rap star Nelly is singing about 'em, in "Grillz." 
They're the removable gold teeth grills sported by rappers and wanna-be playas, and the L.A. Times drills down. My read: grills are the new cigarettes. Some people think they make you look cool, but they're bad for your health and make you stink. Oh, and the rappers who wear them, can't rap wearing them. It's a photo-op thing.
Houston rapper and grill entrepreneur Paul Wall says:
"Down South, gold teeth were always a symbol of poverty. But the hustlers — gangsters or drug dealers — made them a symbol of respect on an extreme level."..."People originally thought it was a ghetto kind of style," said John Hallett, office manager of Mr. Bling, a jewelry store in Las Vegas that sells an average of five to 10 grills a day. "But now a lot of white people from L.A. come down to buy them. Punk rockers and alternative people with tattoos and piercings."
...While grills are not subject to any specific health ordinances, dental experts caution that there are risks to wearers who leave the jewelry on for more than two hours. "The mouth is not a clean and tidy place," said Dr. Matt Messina, consumer advocate for the American Dental Assn. "And anything that has crevices and rough surfaces, bacteria and plaque are going to stick to. If somebody's going to snap one of these in and then leave it for a long time, they've basically installed a bacteria condominium complex.
"That could have long-term effects in terms of decay on the teeth and gum recession. Plus, if you have all that bacteria, you can have some really foul breath."
Grill wearers have discovered their own do's and don'ts. "It's not really comfortable to eat in," said (rapper) Bun B. "It's mainly for photo-ops. As much as a grill costs, you want to make sure as many people are going to see it as possible." Whatever their visual effect, the jewelry makes it harder for rappers to serve their primary purpose: rapping. "[Grills make it] real hard to talk," Bun B said.
Can't talk with grills on your teeth? Easy. Just slip on your iPod, and chill with the latest issue of Don Diva.
TECHNORATI TAGS: NELLY, GRILLZ, GOLD TEETH GRILLS, IMAGE, HEALTH
TO COMMENT: The regular "comment" feature is not in operation. E-mail comments to address under "Contact" on main page masthead, and I'll add them, here.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at November 23, 2005 10:37 AM
I think yall grillz is shittn on the game! I really wish I could have a pair, so forget wat all these haters r sayn Nelly and Paul Wall and keep Shittn on the Game Period!
LOVE,Whitney
send me a grillz please
Posted by: alecia at December 10, 2005 12:55 PMI am in need of a new supplier of gold grillz the company i use now does terrible work i am willing to pay 20 a tooth on 10kt, 25 a tooth on 14kt, and so on hit me up if you can help me out i sell 3 to 4 pairs a day and need a reliable supplier i am looking to get into pouring the gold myself
thanx custom grillz
springfield, mo 65806
417-866-9717
( shaun price )
Whitney, your vernacular is arresting. Alecia, your syntax is whack. Shaun, I hope you give your customers a dental hygiene pamphlet with their grills.
Posted by: Matt Rosenberg at December 12, 2005 09:22 PMHey! Here's an idea. If you have a grill, take it out every night & soak it in listerine or hydrogen peroxide (anything that kills germs &/ or bacteria). & Don't eat in them. & it is very possible to talk in them. Clearly whoever wrote this article does not like grills. Where is the objectivity of good journalism. If this person worked for me, I'd fire them.
Posted by: Maurice at December 12, 2005 11:04 PMMaurice, this is an opinion piece, as is a lot of what you see on blogs, and even some of what you see in newspapers. You're right: I think the whole idea of grills is pretty lame. Hanging gold ornamentation on your teeth to impress people with what a playa you are just strikes me as plain dumb.
Posted by: Matt Rosenberg at December 13, 2005 07:01 AMyo!I want a grill wit nuttin but red diamonds or rubies in it.
Posted by: face-off at December 14, 2005 07:05 AMi want grillz
Posted by: stephanie at December 14, 2005 02:33 PMhook me up with so grillz please silver
Posted by: stephanie at December 14, 2005 02:34 PMI must say being from New York and all I am feeling the whole grillz look. I think i'm ready to do it real big when i get my grillz.
Posted by: Shawntae at December 16, 2005 08:44 PMay i need a job hook a nigga up
Posted by: marcus massey at December 19, 2005 10:48 PMseattles premier grill shop PLATINUM PLUS GOLD TEETH and WWW.GrillzRus.com working to serve all your gold, platinum, and diamond grill needs, with an office in pioneer square (open by appt. only)
need more info? check us out online www.GrillzRus.com or call 866 629 8273
Hey,
I have a grill, with diamonds on the top and bottom, Im white,36 years old, I listen to hip hop, rock and roll, & heavy metal, I look like a prince with or without my grill. im not trying to impress anyone, i just like shiny things
tip : carry a toothbrush and listerine strips
I'm in south beach, fl were can I buy mouth grillz or order over internet.
Thank you
Posted by: Mike at December 22, 2005 04:05 PMall ya'll talkin dis and dat about a grill need to come see johnny at sharpestown mall in the hou
Posted by: bgzy at January 4, 2006 10:32 AMi sell grillz my yahoo e-mail is mickeygrl4@yahoo.com if you'd like to get ahold of me. the site you can pick what you want is www.goldteethusa.com
Posted by: Kristen at January 6, 2006 12:40 AMMan I been having golds, not a pop in pop out grill, for about 5 years. Down here, they don't make temp. grillz, they shave ya teeth down and cement um on. I don't see what the big deal is, I go to the dentist on the regular, and they don't see any problems.
Posted by: N.O. Savage at January 6, 2006 11:40 PMey sup man reppin in da atl joja lookin for a site wit some grillz or a place or wateva u can gib me dat sell sum grillz iight den payce
Posted by: azian boi at January 7, 2006 08:10 PMman dogg i wanna kno the damn cost of grillz i got like 200-300 and wanna see if they like 100 fer a roww?? if any1 kno plz comment mehh
Posted by: Jackson at January 7, 2006 10:05 PMan't no matter if yur bling'd out... u still a nigga foo....
Posted by: oscar at January 11, 2006 08:36 PMIn the bay area gold ones are common. i think that they show creativity because every1 dont have the same grill. out here in the bay we wear them to stunt with our white tees and stuna glasses.
Posted by: jamal sample at January 13, 2006 01:46 PMi sell grillz at www.goldteethusa.com. My e-mail is mickeygrl4(the l is a lower case L)@yahoo.com. Get ahold of me if you want one.
Posted by: Kristen at January 13, 2006 09:10 PMerrty body n da LOU got GRILLZZZZZZZZ thank to NELLY
Posted by: hydres at January 29, 2006 06:37 AMI live in michigan i want to know where i can find a "grillz" shop here.HIT ME BACK ON THE E-MAIL PLEASE =)
Posted by: Don Hunter at January 30, 2006 01:35 PM