October Legends Closing October 29

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2016

No artist in rap and hip-hop has as mythical a persona as Tupac Shakur.

A true Shakespearian character, Tupac was a raging bundle of contradictions that became the perfect storm of creativity. On the one hand a sensitive and eloquent poet, and on the other a spokesman for the “ThugLife” and a convicted felon. It was during his incarceration in 1995 that Tupac penned the essay we offer here. The four-page hand-written letter is essentially the abbreviated unpublished autobiography of Tupac Shakur. 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.

While every major music and media outlet was vying for Tupac’s story at the time, this letter shows the trust and friendship he had with Nina Bhadreshwar and gives her the exclusive rights to his story. The envelope is addressed to Nina Bhadreshwar at Deathrow Records with the return address being Clinton Correctional Facility, Dannemora, NY. In a separate introduction page dated May 6, 1995, Tupac thanks Nina for her first letter and tells how it “helped my spirit rebuild”. He then writes of the contents enclosed: "I am not granting this information to any other publication, not even Time & Rolling Stone so please represent it as it is layed. I trust u.(sic)”. The four page single-sided handwritten letter is entitled “Is Thug Life Dead?” and the rapper reflects on the story of his past, present and future: “Ours begins with a young DustKicker, a ThugNigga then finally a BossPlaya”. He defines what he believes he is: ”A regular Playa plays women .?.?. a Boss Playa plays life. A Boss Playa is a thinker, a leader, a builder, a moneymaker, a souljah, a teacher and most of all, a Man! I want all my homiez to know there is another level. (sic)" The essay concludes with the advice to “avoid the PlayaHaters and evil envious “homies” they will bring U harm.

It aint all good my people Be Aware! Hopefully this will do some of you some good.” He ends the letter by promising a new record when he gets out in 18 months and accurately predicts “I promise you one thing when I touchdown it will shake the world!”. The letter is signed “2PAC” and then with “Tupac Shakur”. As a postscript he scribbled “My Enemiez R.I.P. which was then crossed out and underwritten with “Revenge is the Lords”…(the bible)”. This is followed by “P.S. 2 MY ENEMIEZ, REMEMBER WHAT COMES AROUND GOEZ AROUND!!” It is a stunningly introspective and from-the-heart dispatch from hip-hop’s most revered artist.

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.