Sold For More Than 1 Million US Dollars, Tupac Shakur Rapper Ring Becomes The Most Expensive Hip-Hop Artifact Ever Auctioned

Tupac Shakur ring. (Source: Sotheby's)

JAKARTA - Gold city rings, rubys and diamonds belonging to the late rapper Tupac Shakur were sold for more than $1 million last month, the most valuable hip-hop artifact ever sold in auctions, according to Sotheby's.

The ring, designed by Tupac and worn on its final public appearance at the 1996 Video Music Awards (VMA), was sold at a price of more than three times the estimated auction house in hip-hop-themed sales in New York.

It reads "Pac & Dada 1996," referring to her engagement to actress and model Kidada Jones (the daughter of American record producer

The ring was designed for several months after the rapper signed a contract with Death Row Records after serving eight months in prison.

"This ring is modeled on the crown of European medieval kings in "self-controversy", said Shakur's stepmother, Yaasmyn Fula, who brought the ring to auction, according to Sotheby's press release, as reported by CNN on August 10.

Fula mengatakan, ia bekerja sama dengan anak pembepresinya dan para pemilik perjuyaan di New York untuk membuat perjenis tersebut, sebagai bentuk perayaan atas keberhasilan Shakur melewati masa-mosa sulit dalam hidupnya.

"What's special about this ring is, this ring shows itself at a moment where it is not at the forefront of being an artist, but only a man expresses his love for others, and it's beautiful to look at," Kelvin aired from De La Soul, a guest curator for this auction, said on the Sotheby's website.

On the same occasion, this auction presents more than 100 items, including everything from studio equipment to handwritten lyrics, personal papers, and original works of art from all eras of hip-hop history.

Among the items sold was the initial work of American artist KAWS, from his first London exhibition, which used to belong to label founder and production of Mo'Wax alias UNKLE, James Lavle. The wooden box, painted in the artist's classic cartoon style, sold for an estimated price of 76,200 US dollars.

Other works include RZA's handwritten notes for the Wu-Tang Clan album "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" and original artwork by Bill Sienkiewicz for the first release of Def Jam from the EPMD "Business as Usual."