Who Is The Mysterious Buyer Of Tupac's Favorite Crown-Shaped Ring?
According to Sotheby's, the crown-shaped ring, designed and worn by the California rap legend Tupac Shakur shortly before his assassination in 1996, has now become the most expensive hip-hop-related item ever sold at an auction.
The precious jewel, adorned with rubies and diamonds, fetched over one million dollars during the auction held at Sotheby's, which concluded on Tuesday. However, the buyer's identity remained shrouded in mystery until Thursday night.
Photo Credit:Sotheby's
The crown-shaped ring sold for an astounding $1,016,000, surpassing its initial estimated value of $200,000 to $300,000.
Finally, on Thursday night, the buyer revealed their identity via social media. The proud new owner of this famous piece of jewelry is none other than Drake. While currently on tour, the Canadian artist took the opportunity of Travis Scott's album release, UTOPIA, to share a photo of the ring on his Instagram Story.
The Story Of Tupac's Crown-Shaped Ring
The ring comes from the personal collection of Yaasmyn Fula, a close associate of Tupac and the mother of another rapper, Yaki Kadafi, who co-founded the group Outlawz with Tupac. Sadly, Yaki Kadafi was also assassinated just a few weeks after Tupac's death, further adding to the significance of the ring.
Cassandra Hatton, head of popular culture and science at Sotheby's, shed light on the ring's backstory. She explained that Tupac designed the ring shortly after being released from prison in 1996. During his time behind bars, he was captivated by Machiavelli's book "The Prince," which served as a profound source of inspiration.
The artist crafted the jewelry to commemorate his engagement with his girlfriend Kidada Jones, with the ring bearing the heartfelt inscription "Pac&Dada 1996."
Tupac, originally from Harlem, New York, gained fame as a representative of West Coast rap in California. The significance of the ring reached its peak when he wore it during his last public appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 4, 1996, just nine days before his untimely shooting on a Las Vegas street at the young age of 25.
The acquisition of Tupac's treasured crown-shaped ring by Drake marks a new chapter in the legacy of this iconic piece within the hip-hop community.
