Tupac's 1995 Prison Essay 'Is Thug Life Dead?' Sells For $173K

Today in Tha Wire Tupac Shakur is one of the undisputed kings of Hip Hop. He's been gone for 20-years but he left such an impact on the world that he's just as popular in death, as he was in life. Throughout the years fans have spent major dough to buy-up the rap legends memorabilia. This year alone auctioneers have sold a ton of his personal items, some being extremely rare. For example in April a high school love letter came up for grabs, from 1988 sold for an unbelievable $35,000. Then in May Pac's 1996, H1 Hummer, came up on the auction block and sold for $337,145...after an intense week-long online bidding war. Crazy right? See the actual Hummer below and peep the fact that it only has 10,000 miles on it. Pac was murdered a few months after being it.

Not only is the Hip Hop icon/actor still very popular, but his memorabilia is raking in some serious dividends. Now comes word a handwritten essay he pinned in prison has come up for grabs. The essay was written in 1995 and is four pages long titled, "Is Thug Life Dead?" Tupac wrote the letter while serving 9 months after being convicted, on what many believe was a bogus charge of, sexual abuse at the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York.

According to reports the signed and hand written essay, addressed to "young black Americans," was sent to a Death Row employee by the name of Nina Bhadreshwar. Allegedly she was supposed to see that it got published and then distributed to the youth. That obviously didn't happen and word has it, because Death Row blocked it from getting out. Somehow the folks at Golden Auctions got their hands on the it and they put it on the chopping block.

In the essay, Pac talks about three different stages in life. Below you can read "Is Thug Life Dead?" in it's entirety. Enjoy!

Tupac's essay went up for auction Saturday October 29, 2016 and the bidding began at $10,000. It was reportedly sold before the weekend was over to the tune of $172,725. The rappers "Is Thug Life Dead?" is not the only valuable items or rare item up for auction right now. Things like signed contracts for the movies Juice and Poetic Justice are also being sold. To see all the Tupac items up for auction click, here.

R.I.P. Pac. Your legacy continues to live, excite and inspire. For more on all things entertainment, tune into Tha Wire every weekday on The Peoples Station 107 Jamz.