Snoop Dogg to Auction His Memorabilia, Including Master Recording Tapes

Snoop Dogg is set to auction a collection of his personal memorabilia.

According to Variety, the rapper is collaborating with sports-and-music auction house The Realest, founded by producer and radio host Scott “DJ Skee” Keeney. The auction, titled “The Shiznit,” will feature a variety of items including photos, PlayStations, production books, autographed TV scripts, platinum discs, autographed jackets and jerseys, master recording tapes (excluding copyrights), and an autographed Deаth Row Records chain.

“The items he is putting up are iconic,” Keeney told Variety. “Everything from lyrics, awards — like ‘Pιmp of the Year’! — unreleased tapes, outfits, sample toys, photos, scripts, concert riders, even a Snoop-authenticated smoked blunt in a crаzy display case and ashtray.”

Launched in December 2023, The Realest raised $4.6 million in seed funding led by KB Partners. Keeney emphasized the rigorous authentication process to ensure the legitimacy of the items being sold. The company employs witness-based authentication, hologram stickers, and hidden markings in partnership with Opsec Security, a sports apparel security firm. The Realest operates as two entities: TRuEST, which handles security and authentication with a network of 50 authenticators, and The Realest, which focuses on promotions and sales.

“Memorabilia has not been a real thing in music,” Keeney explained. “Items listed are often either fake or stolen, and hip-hop has been wildly under-represented as well.”

Snoop Dogg’s involvement in this auction could signal a new wealth-building avenue for artists. He has been outspoken about the low compensation from streaming services, noting that he only received $45,000 from Spotify for 1 billiоn streams.

“Can somebody explain to me how you get a billiоn streams and not get a million dollars?” Snoop Dogg questioned at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference. “That sh-t don’t make sense to me. That’s the main gripe with a lot of us artists is that we do major numbers with streams but it don’t add up to the money.”

Through this auction, Snoop aims to monetize his legacy in new ways. “This is sh-t that we have, but we didn’t know it was worth something,” he told Variety.

Keeney added, “Snoop is passionate about helping introduce an entirely new revenue stream for artists that is not just a typical ‘estate’ or garage-type sale of items, but from documented and authenticated ephemera. Items like setlists, stage equipment, outfits, signage, and more are things that fans desire but can’t find. It helps to build a new revenue stream for artists.”

The auction is already live and will conclude on June 2, 2024. A preview will be held in Los Angeles, CA, on May 29, with items available for viewing in other locations as well.