How Much Did Rapper 69 Pay for His Distinctive Grills and Veneers?
Tekashi 69, also known as 6ix9ine, is estimated to have spent over a quarter of a million dollars creating his signature bedazzled smile featuring luxurious custom grills and porcelain veneers. With prices ranging from $2,500 for basic grills up to $100,000 for diamond-encrusted, permanent dental pieces, 69‘s distinctive look did not come cheap!
69‘s Eccentric Style Grabbed Attention
When rapper 69 burst onto the scene in 2017 with his viral hit "Gummo", listeners were instantly hooked by his rowdy persona and eccentric rainbow-colored hair, extensive tattoos, and shiny grills. 69, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, leveraged his look to stand out in the saturated rap game.
However, his style choices also brought intense controversy. Many accused the Latino artist of cultural appropriation and perpetuating negative stereotypes. But 69 seemed to thrive off the criticism and became known as much for his provocative appearance as for his music.
Custom Grills Elevated 69‘s Smile
One signature part of 69‘s style has been his glittering grills. Grills, also called fronts, are decorative covers that clip or permanently adhere onto teeth. According to Johnny Dang, the famed "King of Bling" jeweler, grills surged in popularity in the 90s hip hop scene as rappers sought to show off their newfound wealth and status.
In 2017, 69 shared on Instagram that he paid around $150,000 for a set of permanent grills made of white gold and covered in diamonds. Reports state high-end custom grills range from $50,000 to $200,000 depending on the precious metals and gems used.
On Dang‘s website, prices currently start at $2,500 for a basic 14k gold 6-tooth grill but go up to $100,000 or more for diamond-encrusted grills spanning the entire smile. So 69 was certainly flashing his cash when he purchased his initial elaborate set!
Veneers Boosted 69‘s Look to the Next Level
In late 2022, 69 decided to further enhance his smile by getting porcelain veneers placed in Colombia. Veneers are thin shells bonded onto the front of teeth to mask imperfections. A full set runs $2,000 to $4,000 per tooth according to Veneers.com.
Footage 69 shared on Instagram shows him getting 28 teeth prepared and fitted with veneers over a 5 hour appointment with cosmetic dentist Dr. Mario Montoya. For that many veneers, 69 likely shelled out $50,000 to $100,000 if pricing averages $2,500 per tooth.
Between the grills and veneers, we can estimate 69 has spent:
- Diamond grills – $100,000 to $200,000
- Porcelain veneers – $50,000 to $100,000
So all told, 69 has potentially invested over a quarter million dollars into creating his signature smile! That‘s a lot of money just for a dental makeover.
Why Do So Many Rappers Get Expensive Dental Work?
The popularity of shiny grills and luminous veneers in hip hop highlights how dentistry has become a status symbol and display of wealth for rappers. However, the quest for the perfect mega-watt smile has also backfired for some.
Gucci Mane revealed he‘s spent around $1 million on his teeth over his career. But in 2016 he was hospitalized with complications from his dental implants. Cardi B also had issues after paying $40,000 for poorly done veneers that ended up staining and needing replacement.
And Lil Wayne infamously had permanent gold and diamond grills cemented on top of his real teeth years ago. Reports say the non-removable grills severely damaged his teeth and gums.
So while flashy smiles project success, they aren‘t without risks. But for image-conscious rappers like 69, the high price tags of grills and veneers are considered a worthwhile investment.
69‘s Smile Completes His Signature Look
Say what you want about 69, but his smile makeover achieves exactly what he likely intended. Along with his rainbow-colored hair and extensive tattoos, 69‘s bedazzled grills and bright white veneers complete the audacious, unique look that made him both famous and infamous.
For 69, his smile‘s high costs brought big returns in cementing his wild, attention-grabbing image. His dental bling immediately identifies 69 and his eccentric take on rap culture.
Of course, most of us don‘t have a quarter million dollars lying around to drop on our teeth! But 69‘s dazzling smile makeover shows the lengths some artists will go to create an unforgettable persona in the digital age. Whether you love or hate his music, 69‘s sparkling grin has etched him into hip hop history.