# How Much Did 69 Pay for His Teeth? - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/how-much-did-69-pay-for-his-teeth/ - Published: 2023-09-30 - Author: Nelson Ayers - Categories: [Business & Worth](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/worth/) --- Right off the bat, rapper 69 (also known as Tekashi 69 or 6ix9ine) recently paid a whopping **$45,000** for a custom set of diamond grills for his teeth, according to sources like TMZ and Complex. With his rainbow-colored hair and extensive face tattoos, 69 has become one of hip hop‘s most controversial stars – as well known for his legal issues as for hit songs like "GUMMO". Let‘s dive into the details around how much 69 has spent to customize his smile, how grill culture took off in rap, and why mouth bling remains an important status symbol. ## 69‘s Pearly Whites Price Tag While $45,000 may seem like a small fortune for most of us to spend on our teeth, it‘s pocket change for many rappers and celebrities looking to stand out. 69 is just one of many hip hop stars investing big bucks into flashy "grills" or other cosmetic dentistry: | Rapper | Estimated Grill Price | | --- | --- | | Post Malone | $130,000 | | Quavo | $70,000 | | Cardi B | $40,000 | | Travis Scott | $35,000 | But this wasn‘t 69‘s first smile makeover rodeo. In 2021, he dropped $40k and 5 hours getting [porcelain veneers](https://www.tmz.com/2021/11/24/tekashi-69-new-teeth-veneers-colombia/) done by celebrity dentist Dr. Mario Montoya. **All in all, experts estimate 69 has spent over $100,000 transforming his smile over the past two years.** Now _that‘s_ some serious dental work! ## Bedazzling Mouth Blingcustom 69‘s sparkly grills were customized by "King of Bling" Johnny Dang – _the_ go-to jeweler for rappers‘ mouthpieces. The process of crafting custom grills is extensive: - Getting a dental mold or scan - Shaping the precious metal frame (gold, platinum, etc) - Setting intricately cut gems in place by hand - Contouring and polishing to perfection - Engraving names, logos, or symbols It takes serious jewelry skills to make grills that are comfortable, durable, and worthy of being shown off. ## The Evolution of Grill Culture **Grills first emerged back in the 1980s within hip hop culture**, when rappers like Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane started sporting gold teeth caps. But it wasn‘t until the mid-2000s that grills exploded, with Paul Wall dubbed the "King of Grills". - Paul Wall sold over **$25 million in grills** by 2006 through his TV Jewelry company. Soon rappers everywhere were opening up their mouths to show off glittering grills and gems. **By 2012, grills were a $5 billion industry**, proving mouth bling had gone mainstream. ### Why Do Rappers Love Grills? Beyond just aesthetics, grills symbolize: - **Status and wealth** – the more diamonds, the more successful - **Creativity and customization** – chance to design unique "dental jewelry" - **Confidence** – grills transform rappers‘ personas - **Club cred** – fitting in with hip hop culture and trends - **Legacy** – joining a tradition of famous rappers with grills For many artists, especially in rap, cultivating a unique and memorable image is critical to standing out in the game. ## Dropping Big Bucks on Dental Work 69 is hardly the only rapper to spend big bucks on his teeth: - Lil Wayne has a $150,000 diamond grill - Kodak Black got new $40,000 veneers in 2021 - Young Thug spent $250,000 on veneers made of real diamonds **In fact, the average grill costs $5,000 to $20,000, while veneers run $500 to $2,000 per tooth.** All that bling adds up quick! But for rappers rolling in cash, it‘s worth investing in their image. Here‘s a breakdown of estimated spending on dental work by some of music‘s biggest names: | Rapper | Estimated Dental Work Expenses | | --- | --- | | Post Malone | $130,000 | | Cardi B | $80,000 | | Lil Wayne | $150,000 | | Young Thug | $250,000 | | Quavo | $70,000 | Those are some serious price tags just for a perfect smile! But a grill can be more than just vanity for rappers – it‘s a career investment. ## The Broader Impacts of Grill Culture On one hand, hip hop grill culture represents: - Creative self-expression and freedom - Striving for success - Resilience and confidence **But critics argue it also promotes:** - Excessive materialism - Flaunting of wealth - Status obsession - Overt capitalism and consumption Rappers‘ platinum grills and diamond encrusted teeth can also touch on issues like: - Racial representation and stereotypes - Wealth inequality - Gender roles and expression **There‘s no denying mouth bling is here to stay in rap.** While grills are now mainstream, they remain most prominent as a status marker within hip hop culture. So 69‘s shiny new $45,000 mouthpiece both builds on – and adds to – much bigger conversations around music, wealth, and culture. ### Why Rappers Feel Pressured to Flaunt In an industry that runs on image and perception, rappers know showing off can be key. A few reasons artists feel pressure to flaunt flashy diamonds and grills: - Rappers often come from poverty – now have means to display success - Wealth as proof their music and hustle paid off - Validation when music/art is subjective – diamonds are forever - Want respect in a culture that values hypermasculinity and extravagance - Outdoing their competition with more bling, cash, cars - Simply enjoying looking and feeling like a baller ## 69: Controversy and Luxury Known for his wild behavior, 69 is no stranger to flaunting extreme wealth. With a net worth around **$10 million**, he can drop $50k like it‘s nothing. - Named Billboard‘s inaugural TikTok Artist of the Year in 2022 - Hit songs like "GOOBA" and "TROLLZ" collective over 2 billion YouTube views - Makes estimated **$300k a month** from music and merch sales - Instagram following of 20+ million - Reported **$5 million** record deal with 10K Projects **In fact, 69 continues showing off luxury despite his serious legal troubles.** After pleading guilty to federal racketeering charges and testifying against former gang associates in 2019, he served just 2 years of a 4-year sentence. Now he‘s out and back to his selectively flashy ways. His diamond teeth likely help project success after his snitching damaged his reputation. Regardless of his scandals, 69 clearly still has plenty of fans – and cash – to spare. ### The Bottom Line While $45,000 could seem outrageous to spend on teeth, it‘s pocket change for rappers like 69 focused on cultivating a controversial yet successful image in hip hop. But grills are about more than just vanity. They symbolize deeper notions of making it, resilience, creativity, and belonging within rap culture. As for 69, only time will tell if his dazzling new smile helps write his next chapter. Love him or hate him, his diamond grill shines bright – at least for now! --- Source: [How Much Did 69 Pay for His Teeth?](https://33rdsquare.com/how-much-did-69-pay-for-his-teeth/)