Bidding on Sotheby's latest Hip Hop collection has begun. It features items such as Biz Markie's golden sable fur coat and hat and B-Boy Crazy Legs' adidas track jacket, as well as Chuck D's original Raiders jacket (autographed) and a DJ Quik gold record for "Quik Is The Name." The collection is curated by former Tommy Boy Records executive Monica Lynch and Cassandra Hatton.
An Instagram post from the National Hip Hop Museum indicates that the auction is part of Pop Culture Week. As the caption explains, “This March, Sotheby’s is thrilled to present its first ever Pop Culture Week featuring Hip Hop which celebrates the art and objects that have been inspired by and that have in turn inspired contemporary culture.”
Bidding is currently open and is expected to close on March 30.
Sotheby's held its first Hip Hop auction in September 2020 and received numerous offers on 120 items, from original Beastie Boys' Licensed To Ill Tour posters to vintage Hip Hop flyers designed by Buddy Esquire and Van Silk as well as Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It" jackets and Slick Rick's multicolored diamond eye patch.
Notably, The Notorious B.I.G.'s iconic "King of New York" crown sold for over $500,000.
Sotheby's tweeted a photo of the item and Biggie wearing the crown along with the caption, "#AuctionUpdate Despite a bidding war, the iconic crown worn and signed by Notorious B.I.G. from #BarronClaiborne's iconic 1997 "King of New York" photoshoot for Rap Pages Magazine soared to $594.8k."
As well as the Rammellzee vs. K-Rob "Beat Bop" 12" vinyl with Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork, the auction netted over $126,000, and Tupac Shakur's love letters sold for $75,600. Check out the current collection here.