Sothebys Auction House has opened bidding on its latest Hip Hop collection. According to an Instagram post from the National Hip Hop Museum, the auction is part of Pop Culture Week. As the caption explains, This March, Sothebys 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. Some rare items include original watercolor illustration entitled "Biggie" by Dan Lish. Biggie Smalls in profile, 1997, silver gelatin print signed by Sue Kwon, Oversized chromogenic print of The Notorious B.I.G., Beverly Hills, California, April 1994, Signed artist's proof of Tobak's "Contact High: A Visual History of Hip Hop" by Vikki Tobak with custom 'Biggie Crown' photographer's loupe, Lil' Kim at The Strand concert poster, 1997 and many more.


Sothebys held its first Hip Hop auction in September 2020 and fielded numerous offers on 120 pieces of memorabilia from original Beastie Boys Licensed To Ill Tour posters and vintage Hip Hop flyers designed by Buddy Esquire and Van Silk to Salt-N-Pepa Push It jackets and Slick Ricks multicolored diamond eye patch.

Most notably, the crown The Notorious B.I.G. wore for his iconic King of New York photoshoot for Rap Pages in 1997 sold for over $500,000. Sothebys tweeted a photo of the item and Biggie wearing the crown with the caption, #AuctionUpdate Following a bidding battle, one of the most iconic symbols of Hip Hops heyday: the crown worn and signed by Notorious B.I.G. from #BarronClaibornes iconic 1997 King of New York photoshoot for Rap Pages Magazine soared to $594.8k.

The auction also netted over $126,000 for the Rammellzee vs. K-Rob Beat Bop 12 vinyl with Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork, while Tupac Shakurs love letters sold for $75,600. Check out the current collection here.

Bidding is currently open and expected to close on March 30.

Source: Sothebys.com