Godfather of Sold!

Posted Apr 6th 2008 12:45PM by TMZ Staff

Uhhh! James Brown's stuff is getting on up the auction block!

Tons of the late legend's crap will be sold by Christie's in August. Some of the items for sale include canceled checks, letters (one written to Princess Di on the back of a Delta Airlines flight service paper and another to rappers to tell them to stop taking advantage of him), an AOL disc envelope -- yeah, even he got them -- with song lyrics on the back and 590 "accessories," which include ties, socks and underwear. Be careful -- you don't know where those have been!

The list of items has already drawn the ire of Brown's kids and his maybe-she-is-maybe-she-isn't fourth wife, Tomi Rae Hynie Brown. Apparently she says some of the stuff is hers.

A judge ordered in February that some of the gear be auctioned off to pay his mounting legal bills and overdue estate taxes. According to the Augusta Chronicle, the singer's estate is in financial trouble -- and needs $1.6 million to pay just this year's bills.

Check out some of the stuff you can bid on. Hit me!

Filed under: Music, R.I.P.

Comments [24]

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1. WHO would want any of that crap?

Posted at 1:00PM on Apr 6th 2008 by jkl

2. Tres sad.

On an unrelated note - regarding the muppet post below -- Yah. The blonde muppet does look like Daisly lol.. Anyone ever notice she can't talk without doing those retarded hand motions? I think VH1 should staple her hands to the bench..

Posted at 1:34PM on Apr 6th 2008 by emgee

3. some of the items on the list, if you took the time to open it up and read it are quite interesting and will rise in value over time. But some items are downright ridiculous and reflects the classless and clueless types that Brown surronded himself with throughout his life---including the women/wives he abused.

he was a pathetic creature of a man. A flat out abuser of people, particulary women, a man who was in desperate need all his life of psychotherapy and medications. He was an angry man. A resentful man. A perfectionist and obsessive compulsor. A man with sexual assualt charges following him. A convicted felon. he could sing and dance but truly became the step n fetch it of his generation for White People. Not putting down the man or his accomplishments, but truly, was he really a hero? Not with his treatment of those around him he wasnt. May he rest in Peace...finally

This scavenger hunt sale after his death shows just how financially unstable he and his estate were at the end of his life.

Posted at 1:38PM on Apr 6th 2008 by wasnt a fan

4. Whenever I see Tommi Rae and think of her with him it makes my skin crawl. What was she thinking? I doubt there will be any money left for her or her son, his estate is in such a financial mess.

Posted at 2:09PM on Apr 6th 2008 by lori

5. So is the property of any wife beater of so much interest or does it have to be James Brown specifically?? As far as i'm concerned he should have been tried for murder.

Posted at 2:17PM on Apr 6th 2008 by Anon

6. He is a profound and significant aspect of and a powerful contributor to music history even if these are not much as to memento's...what...no used Kleenex?
I can't imagine anyone bidding on them but there are a lot of Freaks out there...just read some of the TMZ posters...and all of the staff for that matter!

Posted at 2:39PM on Apr 6th 2008 by USBkurtdermensch

7. I'll take the yellow sex suit....moth holes and all...

Posted at 3:34PM on Apr 6th 2008 by Fast and Cool

8. They should auction a picture of his slick rick. That would generate some serious coins from some freak.

Posted at 4:09PM on Apr 6th 2008 by Christopher

9. I'm surprised they're not auctioning the lint out of his dryer.

Posted at 4:22PM on Apr 6th 2008 by TBA

10. I'M SURE SOME SKID MARKED UNDERWEAR WILL GET A LOT OF SCRATCH!!!!

Posted at 4:40PM on Apr 6th 2008 by NUMbnuts

11. Absolutely pathetic..why is this stuff being auvtioned off in the first place..to pay the greedy ex-wives and his kids. Isnt there enough of his money to go around with out pawning all his crap too?? Geez go out and get a fricking job ..or marry some other rich old man.

Posted at 5:50PM on Apr 6th 2008 by a real mommy

12. not cool reporting tmz

Posted at 6:13PM on Apr 6th 2008 by +DJ Miss Jen+

13. Dear "wasn't a fan"(comment #3),
you said among other things..."Not putting down the man or his accomplishments, but truly, was he really a hero?"

Then, what the hell were saying with your rant...you called him an uncle tom, sexual deviant, beat women and just a plain bad guy. I surprised you didn't say he molested kids and spied for the Chinese. I would love to know your definition of "not putting down".....who the hell said he was a hero?

Posted at 6:15PM on Apr 6th 2008 by TBA

14. 11. I'M SURE SOME SKID MARKED UNDERWEAR WILL GET A LOT OF SCRATCH!!!!
Posted at 4:40PM on Apr 6th 2008 by NUMbnuts

That's how they got skidmarked in the first place....by scratching!...I FEEL GOOD...!!!

Posted at 7:47PM on Apr 6th 2008 by I call Shotgun

15. This is in response to "wasn't a fan". Quoting you as saying "he was a pathetic creature of a man" and "a flat out abuser of people" is completely inaccurate and bordering on deframation of his true character. Personally being from and living in Augusta, GA - JB always gave back to his community. Turkeys at Thanksgiving, bicycles and coats at Christmas along with concerts to benefit certain charities in our area. This didn't seem like an anger or resentful man to me or many from this community. Yeah, a few of his bones should have been kept in the closet and better choices could have been made in his life, not just with the women he choose but the attorneys he hired! They all seem to have become quite comfortable with the retainage fees he payed them for doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING but take advantage of a man who continued to give to those less fortunate. He remembered his roots.
The bottom line here, know all of your facts before you so quickly jump to judgement.

Posted at 9:55PM on Apr 6th 2008 by somewhere in augusta

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