TUPAC GRAILS & HIP-HOP HISTORY
Tupac Shakur – Earliest Original Recording with 'Born Busy' (1988) Add to favourites
This cassette represents an extraordinary and irreplaceable opportunity to acquire one of the earliest original recordings of Tupac Shakur from his pre-fame rap group, Born Busy, captured years before any commercial studio work.
Recorded in 1988 at Ge-ology’s parent’s home in Baltimore, the cassette captures Tupac (aka MC New York) alongside close friends and fellow Born Busy members Gerard ‘Ge-ology’ Young (aka DJ Plain Terror), Darrin K Bastfield (aka Ace Rocker), and Dana ‘Mouse’ Smith (aka Slick D), then approximately 16 years old, rapping acapella.
These recordings were made as part of an early creative process in which Ge-ology captured acapella performances so he could later learn the verses and build beats around them, effectively reversing the production workflow that would later define professional hip-hop recording. The sessions were informal, personal, and rooted in a tight-knit creative circle, preserving a candid snapshot of Tupac’s earliest artistic development. The tape features a collection of song acapellas, samples, freestyle sessions and laughter.
Tracklist:
"Check It Out!" - (c) 1988
"That's My Man Throwin' Down" - (c) 1988
"I Saw Your Girl" - (c) 1988
"We Work Hard" - (c) July 12, 1988
"Born Busy LIVE Freestyle" - (c) 1988
"Babies Having Babies" - (c) 1987
"Terror's On The Tables (Dedication to DJ Plain Terror)" - (c) 1988
What elevates this first-hand recorded cassette beyond an exceptional early document is its unbroken chain of custody and absolute rarity. Retained, protected, and personally archived by Ge-ology since its creation, it represents one of the earliest surviving Tupac recordings to date. This singular artifact now offers one collector the rare opportunity to acquire the original cassette from one of the earliest periods of a generational artist’s creative life. Never commercially released, this decades-old preserved tape from Ge-ology's personal archives with Tupac could soon be yours.
Key Details
- Original home-recorded cassette captured at Ge-ology’s family home, Baltimore
- Features Tupac Shakur (performing as MC New York) alongside Born Busy members
- Recorded in 1988, when Tupac was 16 years old
- Acapella recordings made as source material for early beat construction
- Original cassette retained by Ge-ology, never commercially released
Collectibility
- Provenance: Direct from Ge-ology, with first-person documentation of the tape’s origin, purpose, and timeline
- Rarity: Exceptionally high — an original copy from one of Tupac’s earliest known creative period
- Historic importance: A foundational pre-fame document from one of hip-hop’s most studied and mythologized figures
By bidding on or purchasing any item from this collection that includes recorded audio material (such as master tapes, demo recordings, or unreleased sessions), or photography you agree to the following terms:
- These recordings and photographs are sold strictly for private, non-commercial use by the winning bidder only.
- Ownership of the physical item does not grant any rights to the underlying recordings, compositions, performances, images or intellectual property. All rights remain with the original rights holders.
- You may not reproduce, copy, distribute, publish, share, broadcast, perform, licence, monetise, or otherwise exploit them in any form.
- They must not be shared with third parties in any format, whether for free or for financial gain.
- Any unauthorised use may result in legal action, including claims for copyright infringement, injunctive relief, and recovery of damages and legal costs.
By proceeding with a bid or purchase, you confirm that you understand and accept these terms in full.
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hear a clip from the tape
A rare insight into the early years of Tupac.
Ge-ology interview
