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March 28, 2024

News: Tupac’s Handwritten Prison Essay Sold For More Than $170,000

tupac

As one of the most influential rappers, activist and novelist of our time it’s no surprise as to why fans would shell out thousands for a piece of history. One of Tupac’s handwritten essays created while in prison sold for over $170,000 over the weekend.

Goldin Auction had a lot up for bid of Tupac Shakur’s Four Page Handwritten and Signed Essay to Black American Youth Written From Prison With Original Envelope titled ‘IS THUG LIFE DEAD?’ They detail the work as the abbreviated unpublished autobiography of Tupac Shakur. Goldin also had additional Tupac Shakur pieces which were sold including an Illustrated Childhood Letter To A Friend, his Signed ‘Juice’ Movie Contract, his Signed Columbia Pictures Contract for ‘Poetic Justice’ and more.

The essay was sent to Nina Bhadreshwar, publicist for Deathrow Records and a trusted friend. Written from his cell in New York’s Clinton Correctional Facility while doing time for sexual assault, Tupac addressed his essay to young black Americans.

Unfortunately, the essay was never published. Tupac’s record label and Bhadreshwar’s employer, Deathrow Records, quashed the story. Why is a mystery. Perhaps it showed something in Tupac’s character that was not in-line with the carefully-crafted image Deathrow wished their highest-grossing act to portray. A little over a year after sending this letter, Tupac was murdered in a Las Vegas drive-by-shooting. Nina Bhadreshwar left Deathrow Records and went on to publish seven books and according to her online profile “continues to write and teach in Scotland, England and the USA”. The letter is written in blue ballpoint pen on lined 8 1/2” x 11” notebook paper. The pages have horizontal creases from the mailing envelop and have been well preserved by being stored in the original envelope. The envelope has been torn open and shows wear from mailing and age. Signed letter of Authenticity from Nina Bhadreshwar along with photocopies of various letters pertaining to her time with Deathrow Records accompanies this item.

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