An extraordinary piece of Pop and R&B history tied to Mariah Carey has just changed hands for a jaw-dropping sum.
A long-lost demo cassette from 1988 has ignited major buzz among collectors and fans alike.
Full story below…
The super rare tape sold for $54,050 through Wax Poetics, marking the highest price ever paid for a cassette by a female artist.
Sourced from producer Arthur Baker’s personal archive, the recording dates back to the same period the diva supreme was first discovered at a now-legendary 1989 Christmas party.
The cassette features seven early recordings, including embryonic versions of songs that later appeared on her self-titled debut album, plus two unreleased tracks that have been mythologized for decades.
Speaking on the mimi rarity, Wax Poetics CEO Alex Bruh said:
“It captures the exact moment a generational voice was taking shape.”
The sale cements the demo’s status as a true holy grail artifact and, of course, reminds and reaffirms Carey’s status as one of the most iconic and celebrated artists of all time.
The news comes on the heels
![First Look: Netflix's 'Man on Fire' [Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/first-look-netflixs-man-on-fire-starring-yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-tgj-464x260.webp "First Look: Netflix's 'Man on Fire' [Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II].")
It is worth much more to me.
Now share that demo with the world please.