Drake has once again proven his admiration for Tupac Shakur by acquiring one of the late rapper’s most iconic items. The Canadian superstar purchased Tupac’s original Death Row Records chain, a piece valued at around KSh 65 million.
What Makes Tupac’s Death Row Chain So Valuable?
The pendant, which Drake flaunted on Instagram, was purchased from renowned collector Alexander Bitar. Rap TV confirmed the deal, writing, “Drake purchased #Tupac’s Death Row pendant and just flexed it on IG. We have confirmed that Drake purchased the famed piece from Alexander Bitar, a collector of historical pieces. Drake is now in possession of Pac’s ring & pendant. Y’all rockin’ with it.”
The piece is considered a cultural treasure, deeply tied to Shakur’s influence and the golden era of hip-hop. The pendant’s front features the Death Row logo of a man strapped in an electric chair, while the back is engraved with “All eyez on you,” a nod to Tupac’s landmark All Eyez On Me album. Drake paired his reveal with a carousel of photos, including a rare outtake from the album shoot, captioned “Copenhagen night one” in reference to his ongoing $ome $pecial $hows 4 EU Summer Tour.
What Other Tupac Memorabilia Does Drake Own?
This is not Drake’s first major Tupac purchase. In 2023, he paid over KSh 129 million at a Sotheby’s auction for Tupac’s crown ring, a gold, ruby, and diamond piece last seen publicly at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. The ring is engraved with “Pac and Dada 1996,” honoring Tupac’s relationship with fiancée Kidada Jones.
Beyond Tupac memorabilia, Drake’s collection also includes Frank Ocean’s 2021 Met Gala necklace, worth approximately KSh 245 million, along with Pharrell’s N.E.R.D. and BBC chains. These acquisitions highlight his fascination with preserving music history while blending it into modern fashion culture.
How Did Fans React to Drake’s Purchase?
Reactions to Drake’s latest buy were split. Some saw it as a powerful tribute, while others questioned his intentions. One user wrote, “Tupac would hate him if he was alive, he’d hate half these modern rappers for being fake gangsters but nobody’s ready to talk about that.” Another added, “Bought Tupac ring…. bought his chain? Clout chasing is getting wild …. Boi is becoming irrelevant, and he feels it.”
Others weighed in with sharper takes: “If Tupac was alive to diss Drake it would be so hard, I think even Kendrick could agree,” while another simply commented, “Anything to stay relevant huh man is washed.” Despite the criticism, the pendant stands as another milestone in Drake’s growing collection of hip-hop history.
By Risper Akinyi