Lot 163A

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Description:

TUPAC SHAKUR''S CONTRACT TO RECORD ALBUMS TO OBTAIN BAIL MONEY
A most important, original document signed four times by legendary rapper TUPAC SHAKUR, 6pp. 8 1/2" x 11", [New York], Oct. 5, 1995, documenting a pivotal moment in the rapper''s career. Presented here are a cover letter and contract presented by Interscope Records and Atlantic Recording Corporation, modifying their 1993 agreement with Shakur and his label, Out Da Gutta Records. At the time the agreement was drafted, Shakur was imprisoned at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, pending his appeal of a 1994 sexual assault conviction. In order to obtain release prior to his retrial, Shakur would have to post bail of $1.4 million, and in the document presented here, Interscope and Atlantic agree to advance that enormous sum. In exchange, this agreement entitles the two companies to a share of any future profits realized by Shakur and Out Da Gutta, up to the amount advanced for the bail. In part: "... Interscope and Atlantic agree to make the financial commitments necessary to effectuate Shakur''s release on bail in consideration for Shakur''s and ODG Records'' agreement, as a joint and several obligation, to reimburse Interscope and Atlantic for any monies so paid by either of them, to secure such obligation with an assignment of, and to allow such monies so paid to be recouped out of, the Shakur income..." Shakur signs twice on the second page, and twice again on the next-to-last page as an individual and as president of Out Da Gutta Records. The page is also countersigned by representatives on both Interscope and Atlantic. The final page of the contract is a facsimile copy of a guarantee signed by Atlantic''s vice president, Fred Wistow, stating that Atlantic will pay the State of New York $850,000 should Shakur violate the terms of his bail. Only days after Tupac signed this agreement, his bail was paid and he was freed by the New York court system. Interscope interceded on Shakur''s behalf in part due to the influence of Suge Knight, head of Interscope subsidiary Death Row Records. Tupac, for his part, was to release three albums through Death Row, only one of which, "All Eyez On Me" was released before Shakur''s murder in September of 1996. The document shows staple holes at the upper left corner, else very good.

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April 7, 2017 2:00 PM EDT
Brooklyn, NY, US

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