Hip Hops Crown Jewels: Sorry, No “Lay-A-Way”…

Read on, playa, read on…
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New York — Phillips de Pury & Company is pleased to announce “Hip Hop’s Crown Jewels”, the first-ever hip hop jewelry auction to be held on October 1, 2008. A portion of this pioneering auction will benefit Rush Community Affairs, Russell Simmons coalition of non-profit organizations including Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, the Hip Hop Summit Action Network and the Diamond Empowerment Fund.

“Hip Hop’s Crown Jewels” showcases complex cultural artifacts embedded with style, and indelibly marked with narratives of class, religion, materialism and the American Dream.This unprecedented auction is led by specialist Alia Varsano, Worldwide Head of Contemporary Jewelry at Phillips de Pury & Company, in consultation with Minya Oh (Miss Info), noted hip hop authority and author of Bling Bling: Hip Hop’s Crown Jewels.

This is the first time that hip hop jewelry will be presented within the auction setting, as glittering cultural artifacts woven into hip hop’s colorful legacy. A historic selection of approximately 50 jewelry pieces from some of hip hop’s most illustrious musicians, rappers and jewelers will be offered, including those worn by:

50 Cent | Mary J Blige | Biz Markie | MC Lyte |Busta Rhymes | Missy Elliot | The Diplomats | Nas | Gnarls Barkley | Notorious B.I.G. | Jah Rule | Pharrell Williams | Jay-Z |Sean “Puffy” Combs | Kanye West | Slick Rick | Lil’ Jon | Swiss Beatz | Lil’Wayne |Tupac Shakur | LL Cool J | Wyclef Jean .

Through the design, creation and display of custom-made jewelry, these artists expressed instantly recognizable personal and even political, identities. The cultural artifacts offered in this sale span the dynamic phases of hip hop history, from the “Golden Era” of hip hop (1980 – early 1990s), to the dramatic mid-1990s battle between East and West Coast sounds, through hip hop’s eventual “bling bling” mainstream musical success to its current position as a globally celebrated culture — from NewYork toTokyo; Atlanta to Paris; Moscow to Miami.

The “Hip Hop’s Crown Jewels” auction catalogue will also be available in limited-quantity prior to the October 1 sale.This beautiful document includes significant contributions from Simon de Pury and Russell Simmons and promises to be a valuable addition to hip hop history.

For highlights on some of the items that are up for auction, continue here… .
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I don’t usually post up (cut & paste) press releases word for word, but this right here is definitely an event I would love to be present for. Imagine bidding on a treasure trove of original jewels once worn by Hip Hops royalty; “glittering cultural artifacts woven into hip hop’s colorful legacy”. For some of us the imagination needn’t stretch far. I’m dying to know who walks away with the bling and the fabulous details of the auction — you know, the attendees, final bidding prices (bidding wars) and stuff like that. Champagne flowing, the wealthy, well established, and elite politicking while classic hip hop soundtracks spin softly in the backdrop. All for a worthy cause. Ah yes, now that’s the luxe life. Or at least that’s how I picture it in my head. The scenario may be something completely different.

All I want to know is…CAN I LIVE ?

But mostly, it’s not so much about the jewels, more so the history attached to each item. As a B-Girl my heart is filled with pride.

I would be just darling at rockin’ MC Lyte’s gold “Nefertiti” ring and necklace featured in the video for one of her greatest hits, “Cha Cha Cha” . I just know it.