RIAA Gold Maxi Single Award for 3rd Bass track "Pop Goes The Weasel". Released on May 1, 1991 it was certified Gold by the RIAA on Aug. 13, 1991 for 500,000 copies sold.

"Pop Goes the Weasel" was a track that aimed to make fun of Vanilla Ice for his "sell out" approach to rap and hip hop. It hit #1 on Billboard's Top Rap Singles chart and also reached #29 on the Hot 100. The track propelled the group's Derelicts Of Dialect album to #19 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and #46 in the UK. Trivia: Black Flag's Henry Rollins portrayed Vanilla Ice in their spoof video for the track.

Item Highlights:

• RIAA Gold Single award
• In VG condition
• First presentation award from 1991
• Presented to record label executive
• All original with manufacturer sticker
  
• Letter of provenance included
• Known as a RIAA "R hologram" award they were made from 1990-97
• Award measures 17" x 21"
• Great collectors item for any 3rd Bass fan

Detailed Item Description: This RIAA Gold award is a first presentation award that would have been manufactured in 1991 making it 31 years old. The award is presented to Jerry Blair, who was a record executive at Columbia Records.

Blair played a key role in the success of artists including 3rd Bass, Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, Ricky Martin, George Michael, Will Smith and many others. The award is accompanied by a letter of provenance from Blair's son, who later took possession of his father's awards and memorabilia (see image of letter, son's name is redacted on image, buyer will receive unredacted copy).

The award is in VG condition with only very minor frame wear, minor finish degradation on the gold disc around the label, and a few mars on the plexiglass. This award is all original with Ill Eagle Enterprises manufacturer sticker.

Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA awards like this one: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 20 to 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have "good' wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.

As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager's offices, radio stations, private collector's homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist's or songwriter's home. Typically, we don't know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we've stated in the description.