October Legends Closing October 29
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2016
If you listen closely, deep beneath all the bluster and bravado of his music, that Tupac Shaker had the sensitive and thoughtful soul of a true poet. This one-page hand written and illustrated note was given by the teenage Shakur to a fellow classmate. Shakur had recently relocated from Baltimore to Marin City, California, and as all kids do when switching schools, Tupac was an outsider, eagerly trying to fit in.
In his drama class he befriended the subject of this note, a white girl who he nicknamed “Beethoven” because she took piano lessons. The two bonded over mutual heartbreak, Prince records and a fondness for candles. Dated November 22, 1988, this touching note was one lonely soul reassuring another that he understood what the other was going through. The one-sided note is illustrated with little playful icons that Tupac substituted for words such as “I” (an eyeball), “telephone” (a drawing of a phone) and “point” (a pencil point). To reassure his friend, Tupac bares his own soul: “My “heart” (heart icon) leads me 2 fast and that’s probably why “I” (eyeball icon) always get hurt”. The margins are filled with upside-down bird silhouettes and he ends it with his telephone number and a graffiti-like “4ETERNITY TUPAC SHAKUR”. This is a truly a remarkable insight into the young heart of the sensitive boy who became the face of “gangster rap”. The letter has three horizontal and one vertical fold and has edge wear and toning from age. Some of the creases have separated and the corners are bent. It looks every inch an important note that was kept and re-read often. Almost as touching is the one page letter of provenance by the original recipient of the note.
In it she recalls her friendship with the sensitive and artistic young Tupac and how years later she did not recognize the gangster persona had become. Signed and notarized affidavit statement from the original recipient. Due to age of Tupac when this was written and limited examples PSA/DNA was inconclusive and unable to authenticate.