LL Cool J spotted arriving at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California - 05.08.08

Hip-Hop's Crown Jewels will mark the first time a collection of jewellery owned by rap's biggest legends will be available for bidding, in the auction benefiting Russell Simmons' Rush Community Affairs - the music mogul's coalition of non-profit organisations.

A spokesperson from auction house Phillips de Pury + Company says: "The artists are very tied into these pieces emotionally. That they consigned them over is a big statement."

The 50-piece collection also includes sparklers from 50 Cent, Missy Elliot, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Pharrell Williams and Lil Jon - whose "Crunk Ain't Dead" necklace holds the Guinness World Record for largest diamond-pendant, weighing in at almost 12 pounds (5.5 kilograms).

The auction gavel is set to drop on 1 October (08).

Source: WENN