A rare cassette tape containing one of the earliest known recordings of rapper Tupac Shakur, made in 1988 at his friend Ge-ology's home, is being auctioned by the music collecting platform Wax Poetics with an estimate of $120,000–$150,000. The sale includes other personal artifacts like handwritten lyrics and photos from Tupac's pre-fame years in Baltimore, with bidding ending February 11.
The article highlights a broader trend of high-value auctions for cultural memorabilia beyond traditional fine art. It details several other notable sales, including Beatles breakup documents, Oscar Wilde manuscripts, a Banksy painting, and items donated by major musicians for charity, illustrating how the collectibles market is expanding to encompass significant historical and pop culture artifacts.