Tupac’s Jewelry, handwritten lyrics and Some Personal Belongings Have Been Donated to Temple!
Tupac’s Jewelry, handwritten lyrics and Some Personal Belongings Have Been Donated to Temple!
All eyes are on Temple University as a surprise donation has been turning heads in the hip hop community. Philly’s own Temple University is slated to receive a donation of some of Tupac’s prized possessions!
The donated items come from the New Jersey based auction house Goldin Auctions and will be on display at the Charles L Blockson Afro -American Collection. The collection boasts over 500,000 items detailing “the global black experience.” It is probably one of Philly’s top hidden jewels but expect it to become a Mecca of sorts for hip hop enthusiasts.
So what exact items are coming to Temple? Well, for starters they include handwritten lyrics from some Tupac’s legendary hits “It Ain’t Easy” and “I Ain’t Mad At Cha.” In addition the donation includes handwritten track listings from his unreleased albums including Nuthin Gold, Street Fame, and Troublesome as well as the diamond earrings. Perhaps the most haunting and intriguing item is the bullet-dented gold medallion Tupac wore the night he was shot in New York City in 1994.
Aaron Smith, a professor of Africology and African American Studies, teaches a Shakur-focused class at Temple. When asked about the donation by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Smith stated, “For a hip-hop head, this is truly a dream come true. Just 20 years ago, they were saying [hip-hop] was a pariah in society. Here, we have legitimization from the academic community on the highest level.”
Diane Turner who is the curator for the Blockson Collection intends to add to more hip hop memorabilia, “This is just the beginning of a long journey to collect and preserve hip-hop culture,” Turner said.
