Religious jewelry is the uniform for two types of people; a rapper aiming to reach the status of Kanye West or the Notorious B.I.G; and a baptized Mexican (L.A.) toddler.
These two worlds collide in the city of Angels, best depicted through the album covers of two Los Angeles rappers: The Game and Moneysign Suede. The Game mentions Biggie and includes Ye and Common in his song “Jesus Piece”, both whom are famously known to rock the son of God pendant .
Huntington Park’s Suede spotlights his younger self, while still referencing himself at that moment in 2022. A South East LA rapper debuting a major label album. A reflection and imagery that includes a St. Judas chain to complete his school uniform. An album that was an ode and love letter to his city.
In early-January I visited the location where all these histories and identities meet, Los Angeles’s Jewelry District on Broadway. At the midpoint of 6th and 5th Street, I met with Victor Hugo Sanchez (nicknamed VHS) where he and his uncle have a jewelry repair and custom orders booth. The booth, Victor & Co., sits last in line of the glossy gold shops.
Victor tells me he has aspirations of one day owning a store front, because most Latinos in the district work the counter but own nothing. According to Victor if Latinos have a set up shop, the focus is repair. At Victor & Co., Victor works on customs/regular orders, while his uncle works repairs. A family business originating from Puebla, Mexico continuing for a second generation. Although VHS started in the business two years ago after leaving political organizing, his family has been in this line of work for 30 years.
I first met Victor last year at an album release for a rising West Coast rapper. He was roaming around the venue with his signature VHS camcorder documenting the smoke, celebration, and my awkward stance between it all. Our first interaction was initiated by my curiosity of his Biggest Bros logo pendant. Biggest Bro Entertainment is the podcast/ YouTube show that highlights fashion, culture and the lives of its hosts; Blazzy, Lil House Phone, Yuriy, and Potlord. He confirms to knowing the group, and the jeweler creating the “BB” pendants.
Side note: Our guest last season, Edgar from Cielos, is a designer for Blazzy’s brand Nothing Personal. I briefly spoke with Blazzy at a 22gfay show, and he told me he had seen our interview with Edgar. In a “closed mouths don’t get fed” moment, I asked Blazzy if he would be open to coming through for an interview. He said “yea just DM me” followed by something along the lines of “invest in mics”. We invested in mics. Will Blazzy ever come through?
The Sunday morning I met VHS for our interview, his hands were already foggy from cleaning a “star” piece for a client. He welcomed me into his narrow booth, where I interviewed him in front of the jewelry buffer. Once his uncle arrived, the space felt like the Firestone Porto’s on a Sunday.
Victor tells me that his main inspiration is Jacob & Co., and the origin similarities he shares with Jacob the Jeweler. Both starting with a humble back booth. With this inspiration in mind, Victor & Co. plans to debut a pendant under the brand. A pieces encapsulating Mexico, hip hop, and Los Angeles all in one. What he calls his ode to the city, the “L.A. Jesus Piece”.
There Radio was able to document and feel the sample.
The piece will not be out for another month or so.
We spoke with Victor about the “L.A. Jesus Piece”, and what inspired him to create it. Along with the work he has done with creatives like Burberry Erry, Coral Studios, 10c41, and Evil Vice. INSTAGRAM REEL
We learned more about his transition from political organizer to jeweler and makes jewelry unique to Los Angeles. Listen below.
Follow Victor for more updates on the release of the L.A. Jesus Piece, here.
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW BELOW
There Radio 
Leave a comment