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      Tupac Cassette Tape
      Tupac Cassette Tape
      Tupac Cassette Tape
      Tupac Cassette Tape
      Tupac Cassette Tape
      Tupac Cassette Tape
      • Auctions
      • Tupac Grails & Hip Hop History

      Tupac Cassette Tape

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      AUCTION HAS ENDED
      End date: 02-11-2026 - 08:30:00 PM
      Winning bid: $17,000.00 (9 bids)
      Place automatic bid
      Bids
      Amount Date
      $17,000.00 02-11-2026 - 07:50:38 PM
      $16,500.00 02-11-2026 - 03:54:17 PM
      $16,000.00 02-02-2026 - 12:22:54 PM
      $13,500.00 01-31-2026 - 04:21:17 PM
      $11,000.00 01-31-2026 - 06:44:21 AM
      $10,000.00 01-30-2026 - 09:42:45 PM
      $7,500.00 01-30-2026 - 09:42:40 PM
      $5,000.00 01-25-2026 - 11:07:58 AM
      $3,000.00 01-23-2026 - 09:15:16 AM
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      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

      Pairs well with

      Provenance

      Direct from GE-OLOGY's personal collection

      Disclaimer: Use of Recorded Material or Photography

      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.

      Before you bid

      Before you bid:

      Please note that, on top of the final bidding price, you (the buyer) will be charged the following:

      • Buyer premium of 20% on top of the final hammer price. E.g. for a winning bid of $100, you will pay $120 plus shipping, insurance, and taxes. The buyer premium helps us invest in curation, appraisals, verification, content and platform development.
      • Shipping, packing, insurance & handling costs - see 'shipping' section below for more details
      • Import duties and taxes - these vary by location and are payable by the buyer upon delivery, if applicable
      Shipping & insurance

      Shipping method: All orders are shipped tracked.

      Insurance: For all orders over $200 we will include 1.3% on top of the hammer price to cover insurance.

      Packing: We work with trusted packing teams to ensure the best delivery of your items. This will be added to the final cost.

      Expected delivery: Item ships 2 weeks after auction closes. Delivery time varies by location.

      The bidding process

      We run a popcorn bidding process. This means that if you put a bid in within the last minute of the auction, the clock will extend for another 5 minutes. This allows everyone time to get their bids in fairly.

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      Final Bid: $17,000.00
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