Drake's Subtle Instagram Post Hints at Involvement in Record-Breaking Tupac Ring Auction

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On Monday, Tupac Shakur's custom gold, diamond, and ruby ring, which he wore nine days before he was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in Las Vegas at the age of 25, sold for more than $1 million. The sale marked it as the most valuable hip-hop artifact ever auctioned, according to Sotheby's.

The legendary auction house showcased the ring as part of its third dedicated hip-hop sale, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the genre and its profound impact on art and culture.

VIDEO: Tupac Shakur's ruby ring sells for record $1 million

A gold, ruby and diamond ring worn by American rapper Tupac Shakur during his last public appearance sold for $1 million at auction in New York on July 25 pic.twitter.com/PL6kfLS0BP

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 26, 2023

Crafted by Tupac himself, the ring bears the inscription 'Pac & Dada 1996,' symbolizing the artist's engagement with Kidada Jones. It gained global attention when Tupac proudly displayed it during his appearance at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.

The final sales price of the ring reached $1,016,000, surpassing Sotheby's estimated value of the item after a bidding war that more than tripled the initial appraisal.

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As of now, the buyer's identity remains shrouded in secrecy, with no official disclosure from Sotheby's. However, intrigue surrounds the purchase as hip-hop sensation Drake hinted at his involvement by subtly claiming ownership of the iconic ring in a late-night Instagram post on Thursday.

In an Instagram story promoting Travis Scott's album "Utopia," where the two artists collaborated on the track "Meltdown," Drake appeared to be holding the unique ring.

Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Gets Unexpected Film Companion

With the imminent release of his first studio album since 2018's "Astroworld," the rapper is making efforts to promote his latest project, "Utopia," which is set to launch this Friday. This comes after a tragic incident at the Astroworld Festival in 2021, where over 300 fans were injured and 10 lost their lives in the rapper's hometown of Houston while he was performing on stage.

On Friday, Scott released the lead single from the album, titled "K-Pop," which features fellow perennial Billboard chart-toppers Bad Bunny and The Weeknd. This move was an effective way to tease the much-delayed album. However, it was a surprise movie drop on Tuesday morning that took his marketing game to a whole new level.

CIRCUS MAXIMUS
IN THEATRES JULY 27
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh FINALLLYYY HEAR
SEE U IN UTOPIA!!!!
Tickets https://t.co/IAE55veLSR pic.twitter.com/EWtDVFeAju

— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) July 25, 2023

The Cactus Jack Records boss unveiled a trailer for "Circus Maximus" on Twitter, a movie that coincides with the release of "Utopia." Scott is credited with writing and directing the film. The trailer also revealed high-profile collaborators, including famed indie filmmaker Harmony Korine, Gaspar Noé, Nicolas Winding Refn, Valdimar Jóhannsson and Kahlil Joseph. 

Its official description on AMC's website describes the film as "a surreal and psychedelic journey, uniting a collective of visionary filmmakers from around the world in a kaleidoscopic exploration of human experience and the power of soundscapes."

"The film was shot in five countries (Iceland, Denmark, France, Nigeria and Italy), and the poster claims it was produced by A24; however, studio representatives later denied its involvement in the production.

To celebrate the launch of "Utopia," Scott will be performing a livestream concert in front of the Pyramids of Giza on Friday.

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Watch: Netflix Unleashes 'Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop' Docuseries Honoring Genre's Female Pioneers

Courtesy Netflix

In anticipation of hip-hop's forthcoming 50th anniversary, Netflix is gearing up to pay tribute to the influential female legends who have played an essential role in the genre's evolution.

The network's four-part limited documentary, "Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop," promises candid reflections from trailblazing artists like Queen Latifah and Da Brat, alongside an impressive array of other iconic female emcees.

The newly released official trailer from Netflix unveils the series' mission to recontextualize and elevate the irreplaceable contributions of women in hip-hop, placing them squarely at the core of the genre's history, from its inception to the present day. The documentary delves into the profound impact of the wider social, racial and political landscape that influenced these pioneering artists.

Queen Latifah, who released her debut album a mere decade after hip-hop's birth at the age of 19, asserts in the trailer, "We have come through a lot. We have stood back up, and we'll always keep standing back up. We will always be stronger together than we are apart."

The star-studded lineup of interviewees includes not only Da Brat and Queen Latifah but also other lauded artists such as Bahamadia, Coi Leray, Kash Doll, Latto, MC Lyte, Monie Love, Remy Ma, Rapsody, Roxanne Shante, Saweetie, Sha-Rock, Tierra Whack and Yo-Yo.

Produced by Culture House and executive produced by a team led by Dream Hampton, Troy Carter, Raeshem Nijhon, Carri Twigg, MC Lyte, Nicole Galovski, Justin Simien, and Jennifer Ryan, all four episodes of "Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop" are set to premiere exclusively on Netflix on August 9.

Preview the compelling journey of these remarkable women in hip-hop by watching the full trailer below.