Drake has recently added another piece to his growing collection of Pharrell’s iconic jewelry. The Toronto rapper shared a picture of the N.E.R.D. brain pendant chain on his burner account @plottttwistttttt, a chain that was previously owned by Kid Cudi. The pendant, crafted by renowned jeweler Jacob & Co., features a combination of 14k white and rose gold, along with a diamond-encrusted design. Pharrell originally commissioned this chain in 2005 to commemorate the formation of his alternative rock band, N.E.R.D, with his longtime collaborators Shay Haley and Chad Hugo.
The chain was first purchased by Kid Cudi during Pharrell’s inaugural personal auction, titled “Son of a Pharaoh,” which took place on the Joopiter auction platform in 2022. The chain fetched a price of $720,000 at the time. Cudi later decided to put the chain up for sale again at his own personal auction, “On Another Planet,” where it sold for $243,000. The chain’s estimated price range at this second auction was between $80,000 and $120,000, making its final sale price considerably lower than its original value.
In addition to the N.E.R.D. brain pendant, Drake has been known for his high-profile purchases during the Joopiter auction. In the first auction, Drake spent close to $3 million on six items, some of which made appearances in his 2023 music video for “Jumbotron Sh—t Poppin.” Later that year, Drake referenced the jewelry in his verse on Travis Scott’s song “Meltdown,” in which he subtly dissed both Pharrell and Pusha T, rapping, “I melt down the chains that I bought from yo’ boss/Give a f—k about all of that heritage sh—t.” Drake also showcased the same pieces again in the music video for “Family Matters,” a track that was released as his ongoing rap battle with Kendrick Lamar began to intensify.
Drake’s ongoing acquisition of such valuable and meaningful pieces highlights not only his status as a collector of iconic jewelry but also his connection to the ongoing culture and history of hip-hop.
