Autograph letter signed (“2PAC”), 1 p, Dannemora, New York, postmarked August 15, 1995, to Desiree Smith. Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope, also in Tupac’s hand. Tupac writes to Desiree that he is divorcing his wife Keisha: “This time it’s final … I’m / not depressed I’m happy almost. The jealousy / and immaturity was too much.” Their divorce would not be finalized until the following year.
Tupac ends the letter, “Be / Careful!!! / The Walking Dead / Jack Agnant R.I.P. / Tut R.I.P. / Jimmy Ace R.I.P.” In this list, Tupac names the people he felt were behind the shooting at Quad Studios, “Haitian Jack” Agnant, Walter “King Tut” Johnson, and James “Jimmy Ace” Rosemond. Tupac later publicized these beliefs in his song “Against All Odds” on his posthumous album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
8 x 10 1/2 in.
Estimate: $1,500 – 2,000
Autograph letter signed (“Tupac A Shakur”), 1 p, n.p. [but Dannemora, New York], July 30, 1995, additionally signed (“Desiree Smith”) by Desiree Smith. In this statement, Tupac authorizes David Kenner, the attorney for Death Row Records, to “receive copies of my / contracts and royalty statements” and gives him “permission to negotiate / on my behalf.” Tupac formally signed his infamous three-page handwritten contract with Suge Knight of Death Row Records on September 16, 1995, but this document shows that their negotiations had started almost two months prior. In that contract, Tupac would authorize Knight to act as his manager and Kenner as his lawyer, an arrangement which Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur would criticize as a conflict of interest in her lawsuit against the label after Tupac’s death.
5 7/8 x 8 7/8 in.
Estimate: $1,200 – 1,800
See Also: Streets Is Talkin’: Haitian Jack Speaks On Tupac, Suge Knight & Being Labeled A Snitch
