Arthur Baker auctions off his “most treasured” music memorabilia

Legendary US producer Arthur Baker is auctioning off his “most treasured” music memorabilia.

The 91-piece collection is being sold by music platform Wax Poetics, and includes what they’re calling “the most important contract in hip hop history” – the first-ever signed contract for the debut Def Jam release.

The contract, which currently has a bid for $4,500, was signed by Rick Rubin, Jazzy Jay, and Arthur Baker’s Streetwise Records imprint in 1984. It’s estimated to fetch up to $8,000.

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Other pieces of memorabilia in the collection include personal invites to David Mancuso’s The Loft parties, a “vintage” Beastie Boys flyer from New York’s Roxy nightclub, and lyrics handwritten by Bernard Sumner for New Order’s hit track ‘1963’.

The collection also includes dozens of records, from Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born In The USA’, to a “one-of-one acetate” vinyl pressing of New Order’s ‘Confusion’.

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“Arthur Baker is an architect of modern music — producer, DJ, record exec and true pioneer,” a description of the collection reads. “We spent a few days in Miami with him curating his collection, uncovering lost demos, tapes and never released records.”

“From the original Def Jam contract signed by Rick Rubin, to studio reels from The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck and personal invites to Mancuso's Loft.”

The Arthur Baker collection is on sale until 8:PM (BST) today, August 12. Have a look through the listings here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter