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Tupac Shakur Ring Sells For Record $1 Million

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A gold, ruby and diamond crown ring worn by rap legend Tupac Shakur during his last public appearance sold for $1 million at auction in New York Tuesday.

The winning bid was well above Sotheby’s pre-sale estimate of between $200,000 and $300,000 and becomes the most valuable hip-hop artifact ever sold, the auction house said.

The New York-born rapper wore the ring during his final public appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 4, 1996.

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He was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas just days later on September 13. He was 25.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Kidnap Former Provost, FCE Abeokuta, Driver

Shakur, whose hits included “California Love,” designed the ring over the course of a few months, Sotheby’s said.

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He did so through his godmother Yaasmyn Fula, who put the ring up for sale.

Shakur was influenced by 16th century Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli’s political manifesto “The Prince” which he read while in prison on sex abuse charges.

He modeled the design on the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe, Sotheby’s added.

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The ring is engraved “Pac & Dada 1996,” a reference to his girlfriend Kidada Jones.

A gold circulet studded with a central cabochon ruby flanked by two pave-cut diamonds sits atop a diamond-encrusted gold band.

The sale was part of a dedicated hip-hop auction to mark 50 years of the genre which falls in August this year.

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READ ALSO: Police Obtain Search Warrant In Tupac’s Murder Case

Shakur is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, selling 75 million records.

He was a central figure in the Los Angeles-based West Coast hip-hop scene, which feuded with rival East Coast rappers in New York.

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His killers have never been caught and theories about who was responsible have long abounded.

Shakur’s murder was followed six months later by the gunning down of East Coast rapper Christopher “The Notorious BIG” Wallace.

Many believe they were slain as part of a rivalry between their music labels, LA-based Death Row and New York’s Bad Boy Entertainment.

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But some music historians say the coastal rift was exaggerated for commercial reasons.

Last week, Las Vegas police searched a home as part of their investigation into the murder of Shakur.

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Entertainment

UK Police Storm Peller’s Apartment After Noise Complaint [VIDEO]

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The United Kingdom police have stormed the apartment of a popular Nigerian Tiktoker, Peller.

The police arrived at the Peller’s apartment following noise complaints.

A viral video on social media captured the moment the police arrived at Peller’s UK residence for a search.

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READ ALSO:20-year-old TikToker Peller Buys N350m Lekki Mansion, Promises To Reveal Secret Benefactors

The TikTok star who is currently in the UK was having a live streaming session when the police knocked at the door complaining that Peller was reported to have been making noise.

In response Peller told the police that he was on livestream, but the police insisted on checking the rooms to be sure he wasn’t having a shouting match with anyone.

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Watch the video here

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Why Some Celebrities Go Broke – Rapper M.I

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Ace Nigerian rapper Jude Abaga, popularly known as M.I, has shared how he handles people’s expectations from him as a celebrity.

The ‘One Naira’ hitmaker disclosed that he trained himself mentally to accept being “broke shamed” so as not to pressure himself into constantly proving that he has a flamboyant life.

Speaking in a recent interview with Chude, M.I explained that many celebrities became broke while living beyond their means just to adjust to people’s expectations.

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READ ALSO:VIDEO: Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade Finally Reconcile After 7-year Feud

“When I understood that people in Nigeria tend to broke shame celebrities, I had to make a decision if I want to let that have power over me. Because if you don’t deal with that, it will have exceeding power over you.

“If you are not comfortable with the fact that some fans can broke shame you if they see you driving a car they consider below your level, then you are going to continue adjusting to their expectations. And that is how you go broke. You go broke trying to adjust to people’s expectations.

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“One of the things that Nigerians are concerned about is their perceptions. And statistically, we are a country where most people don’t have money. It took me time to mentally prepare myself to accept being broke shamed. All our celebrities who were flying private jets 20 years ago are no longer affluent,” he expressed.

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How I Was Sexually Harassed By Music Executives As A Teenager – Yemi Alade

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Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has opened up about the challenges she faced during her early years as a young, struggling female artiste.

The Johnny crooner revealed that sexual harassment was the major challenge she confronted, recalling how music executives often harassed her during meetings and studio sessions while she was still a teenager.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Swift Conversations podcast, Alade said, “In those beginning days, all I thought I needed was just my talent because that’s what I have. I didn’t have a bank account full of money I could use to sponsor myself.

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READ ALSO:How I Lost My Voice Before Recording With Beyoncé – Yemi Alade

“I just had a talent and a zeal, and a promise that I made to myself and a promise I believed God made to me. So, I always tried to show up. I was told that I needed to work harder and so I worked harder, and it wasn’t enough. There were doors I needed to walk up to and when I walked up to the doors, they didn’t want my talent, they wanted something else.

“Many times from business meetings to studio sessions to even winning certain awards and you meet maybe the managing director or any other executive and they are trying to rub your thighs under the table. And I was just a teen. My grand pa is rubbing my legs and I can’t speak because I’m in shock.

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READ ALSO:Yemi Alade, Phyno, Others To Perform At 2023 AFRIMMA Awards

“We are having an actual business meeting. Why are you rubbing my thighs? I had to speak to myself and decided if music was what I wanted to do because the sexual harassment was becoming too rampant. But something in me told me to keep pushing my talent. So, I still showed up. If door was left open for me, I would walk in. If it was shut in my face, I would walk away.”

The singer said she became successful in the music industry after she realised that she “needed to stop walking through the doors and start breaking down the walls.”

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