Handwritten lyrics for ‘Fuck Friendz’ circa 1995 up for auction; Photo: Gotta Have Rock and Roll
In what is expected to be the greatest Tupac auction ever, fans will have the opportunity to buy some rare, never before seen ephemera from the late-great rapper.
The auction held by Gotta Have Rock and Roll is expected to fetch over a quarter-million dollars; highlights include jewelry, rare photos (one of which is a nude shot), and an unreleased demo worth an estimated $15,000.
Also up for auction is a number of handwritten lyric sheets. Classic songs like “Runnin’ on E” (listed at $8,000), “Smile” ($11,500), and “Niggaz Nature” ($11,500) will be up for sale. But the crown jewel of the bunch “Fuck Friendz” is what super fans are drooling over; expected to fetch a whopping $35,000.
In addition to lyrics, also available will be multiple handwritten love letters from prison, one of which mentions the end of his marriage. As a collection, the items paint a stark portrait of Tupac’s life. It may not be the whole story but it’s a broad enough view to help put his enigmatic personality into context.
There have been plenty of auctions out there where hand written lyrics have been available. The past couple years alone have seen lyrics from David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Prince go up for auction. As the stars have come and gone, it’s become all the important for collectors to preserve their work for the next generation to enjoy and learn from.
If you have the coin, the auction will be held from November 22nd to December 1st.