Kid Cudi linked up with JOOPITER (AKA the auction house and content platform founded by none other than Pharrell Williams) and put some of his most prized and exclusive items up for sale from March 13 to March 25.
“This collection represents many eras of both my personal life and career, particularly how art and fashion influenced me over the years. Each piece holds a special meaning to me and I hope that they instill this inspiration into the next owner,” Kid Cudi said.
Williams hosted the inaugural auction on the site in 2022 with a mission of embracing “the energy that is released when objects change hands, and to respect the value that’s been created around these objects.” He sold his own merchandise, which included the iconic N.E.R.D. chain seen in Drake’s “Jumbotron S*** Poppin” video (which sold for a casual $2.1 million).
Since then, the platform has hosted auctions for artists such as J Balvin, whose most valuable items included diamond-encrusted McDonald’s pendants, and designers like Nigo in 2023, who offered a pair of Levis worth up to $70,000. Yes, you read that right.
The “On Another Planet: The Collection of Kid Cudi” auction featured one-of-a-kind chains worth more than a house, exclusive Nikes, a custom Ben Baller x BAPE watch, and more. Now that it’s wrapped, we’ve rounded up the most expensive items sold.
LOUIS VUITTON X VIRGIL ABLOH Cotteville Trunk 40 Sold for $8,125
RIP Virgil. The late and legendary fashion designer was also the first Black creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear, where he was able to create standout pieces like this trunk from the Spring 2022 collection — his last for the brand. Abloh’s connection to Kid Cudi went beyond admiration; they were close friends, with Abloh working with Cudi on his 2022 Netflix series Entergalatic and the rapper walking in the designer’s first LV show back in 2018.
“Virgil was superhuman, when people think they can match what he did, they can’t,” Cudi told British GQ in 2023.
CHROME HEARTS Cross Patch Pants Sold for $8750
The unique khaki pants (circa 2020) make sure to stay true to the brand’s rock and roll aesthetic, mixing different textures and colors. They feature the brand’s “signature cross motif patches” all over in both a black and white checkered pattern and a light pink. Chrome Hearts has been seen on everyone from Jay-Z to Uzi, so it’s no surprise that it ended up in Cudi’s closet, too.
Ben Baller BAPE Necklace Sold for $10,000
The featured pendant is a diamond-encrusted BAPE ape along with a 14-karat yellow gold chain. The piece was purchased by Cudi from jeweler Baller’s store and is symbolic of his “days working at BAPE [he worked as a sales associate at the flagship store in New York City], and is a reflection of his deep respect for Nigo [the creator of Bape who has also worked with Cudi on a still MIA clothing brand].”
“He’s an originator, and that inspires me … I always wanted to create my own sound, so anybody that I see doing their own thing and leading the charge in their lane, I have so much respect for them,” the rapper said about Nigo in a 2019 Complex interview.
CARTIER Juste un Clou Bracelet Sold for $11,250
The 18-karat yellow gold bracelet was originally designed in the 1970s and translates to “Just a Nail.” The rapper is a big fan of the jewelry brand, growing “an impressive collection over the years” and “often gifting bracelets to friends and family.”
CARTIER X CHITOSE ABE Choker Necklace Sold for $12,500
The luxury goods conglomerate teamed up with Abe, the creative director behind Sacai, to create their own jewelry collection. Among the standout pieces is a choker that blends 18-karat white, yellow, and rose gold into an exclusive design so coveted that Kid Cudi hopped on a plane to get his hands on it. Since the collection was only available overseas, the rapper flew all the way to Tokyo to snag the choker and other pieces.
Ben Baller Small Link Chain Sold for $15,000
This chain is made of 18-karat rose gold and is encrusted with pavé diamonds. The rapper was seen wearing the ice while hosting an Entergalactic party during New York Fashion Week back in September 2021.
Ben Baller Large Cuban Link Chain Sold for $17,500
Another Ben Baller creation, the piece is made of “9.11 carat VS diamonds and 210.4 grams 14k rose gold.” Cudi was seen wearing it at the Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers season opener game back in 2021. He was also seen wearing it while showing off another one of his Ben Baller items that sold in the auction for a lot more (keep scrolling).
Gold & Gemstone G-Shock Watch Sold for $21,250
The exclusive version of this G-Shock DW-6900 watch has the back face engraved with “KID CUDI” alongside his custom BAPE cartoon face, designed by Nigo. Ben Baller customized the watch face with pink sapphires and adorned the clasp with white diamonds.” The watch can be seen during Cudi’s performance of “Sad People” on SNL in 2021 and while performing at Rolling Loud Miami the next year.
Off-White x Futura x Nike Dunk Low Sold for $33,750
Virgil Abloh teamed up with designer Futura for a pair of shoes that first made their debut at the Off-White Spring 2020 Menswear collection in 2019. These Dunks rock a Syracuse blue and orange colorway, a nod to Futura’s favorite sports team, the New York Mets. Futura left his mark by spray-painting his signature over Off-White’s inscription on the interior sole and writing “Kid Cudi” in Sharpie on the exterior sole of the left shoe. The shoes also came with a full Futura box set.
Ben Baller x Takashi Murakami Spinning Flower Necklace Sold for $37,500
The piece marked the first official jewelry collab between Takashi Murakami and Kaikai Kiki, as well as the inaugural partnership between Ben Baller and Murakami. Unveiled at ComplexCon in 2019, it was part of a seven-piece collection, with each person limited to purchasing just one pendant, the collection sold out almost immediately. However, Cudi, who was performing at the event to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Man on the Moon: The End of Day, was granted an exception and allowed to buy two pieces — this rainbow edition (2/3) and a black diamond edition. He can be seen eating it at the Go Campaign’s 13th annual Go Gala in 2019.
Kid Cudi Pendant & Ocean Link Chain Sold for $43,750
This custom chain pays tribute to Cudi’s days working at BAPE before his rise to rap superstardom. The piece features the rapper reimagined as one of the brand’s signature cartoon characters, complete with bright red eyes and rocking a BAPE G-Shock watch. Crafted from 18k rose gold, the chain is covered in multicolor diamonds, pink sapphires, and red rubies. The back of the chain is engraved with “GENERAL CUD” and also showcases Cudi’s “Satellite Flight” logo. The rapper can be seen wearing the chain in his 2021 documentary A Man Named Scott.
Louis Vuitton x Nike AF1 Sold for $82,500
First seen at Virgil Abloh’s Spring/Summer 2022 Louis Vuitton Men’s Collection, these kicks are crafted from premium leather in two tones, decorated with the Louis Vuitton Monogram and Damier prints. The specific collaboration also comes with a leather orange and suede LV Pilot case and other keepsakes like “the original Louis Vuitton show invitation to ‘Mr Scott Ramon Mescudi’, original dust bags, leather luggage tag, additional laces and the Louis Vuitton leather card & envelope with ‘184’ written in pencil.” The same year, the rapper was featured in the brand’s unisex fine jewelry campaign.
Ben Baller x Takashi x Cudi “lei” Chain Sold for $187,500
Cudi stated that he wanted to create “the illest f****** chain I could possibly make” — and it took almost a whole year to do so. Working with Murakami and jewelry designer Baller once again to create a chain based on one of Murakami’s characters, Kiki. The pendant is made of 18-karat rose gold, pink sapphires, rubies, and diamonds while the chain is inspired by widgets on Murakami Crocs.
Made up of flowers (that also spin) and skulls in Murakami’s style, the piece is just one of the collaborations that Cudi and Murakami have together. They first worked together in Murakami’s studio in Japan to create the cover art for Cudi’s 2018 collab album with Ye (Murakami also designed their cover art for Graduation), Kids See Ghosts.
N.E.R.D Brain Pendant Chain Sold for $243,750
Cudi first snagged this piece at the inaugural JOOPITER Son Of A Pharaoh Auction, where Pharrell Williams’ own items were up for grabs. Commissioned back in 2005, the chain was created to commemorate Pharrell’s group N.E.R.D., alongside his partners Shay Haley and Chad Hugo. This hefty piece of history is crafted from 14-karat white gold, rose gold, and diamonds, and it weighs in at over two pounds.
According to Cudi, “the chain has powers.” The day he received it, the rapper pulled up to the studio with the chain on and recorded “10 songs in one night. Kid Cudi continued to use this powerful chain many times for future recording sessions, performing in it, winning an award in it, transferring his power into the already powerful chain.”
