And nobody’s ever told me that they look at the photo and think the crown is plastic… His power cancels out the fact that it is a novelty crown. “He said it would make Biggie look like Burger King,” Claiborne said. Biggie Smalls Christopher Wallace Crown King of New York, Distressed Black, Red, Gold Premium Vintage Style Hoodie. The crown was used by photographer Barron Claiborne.
I did this because I liked taking pictures of Biggie.”Īccording to Claiborne, the photo almost didn’t happen due to objections from Sean “Puffy” Combs, who owned Biggie’s label Bad Boy Records. A plastic crown costing 6 worn by the Notorious BIG has sold for 594,750 (461,000) at Sotheby’s first ever auction of hip-hop memorabilia. I was mostly shooting celebrities and reportage. He recalls, “I’m not sure that I even got paid for it. In an interview with the New York Post, Brooklyn-based photographer Barron Claiborne recalls picking up the crown at a store on Broadway called Gordon’s for a shoot featured on the cover of Rap Pages magazine in 1997, just three days before Biggie’s death. Originally purchased for $6 at a novelty store, the crown fetched $594,750 at auction. 3-6-97.' It carries even more significance as the photoshoot took place just three days before the rapper was murdered during. and signed and inscribed by Claiborne with 'Crown from Biggie KONY Shot. One noteworthy object on sale was a plastic crown once worn by the Notorious B.I.G. The plastic crown, which was originally bought for just 6, is adorned with multi-coloured plastic gemstones and was signed by The Notorious B.I.G. The prestigious auction house Sotheby’s held its first ever sale of hip-hop memorabilia tonight in New York, featuring items such as a one-of-a-kind Def Jam jacket and a DJ triptych by Fab 5 Freddy. In September last year, the crown The Notorious B.I.G donned for his final portrait shoot in 1997 with photographer Barron Claiborne sold for an eye-popping 594,750.