Jay-Z & Kanye West Auctioning Off "Otis" Maybach

Grammy-winning rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z are reportedly gearing up to auction off one of the Maybach luxury vehicles from their "Otis" summer 2011 music video.

According to reports, the auction will kick-off in early March.

Writing curses in cursive wasn't the only sophisticated ignorance Jay-Z and Kanye West were on in their "Otis" music video. They also took a $350,000 Maybach to the chop shop, completely destroying the luxury vehicle just for the h*ll of it. Now, over half a year later, news has come out that Hov and West will be auctioning the vehicle for charity at a Phillips de Pury auction. Although the car isn't expected to get anywhere near the retail price, the organization is still hoping to pull in around $100,000. The auction will take place in New York on March 8. (Complex)

Save the Children CEO Carolyn Miles has confirmed the forthcoming charity-based auction.

"The funds raised from auctioning off the 'Otis' car are greatly needed to help sustain families over the next several months," said Save the Children CEO Carolyn Miles. "We are grateful to Jay-Z and Kanye West for offering up pop culture history to do good for children in Africa." (Statement)

In the music video, the rap duo also destroyed a $380,000 Maybach.

Unlike his previous collaborations with West -- the maudlin short film "We Were Once a Fairytale" or the deceptively simple "Flashing Lights" -- with "Otis," Spike Jonze plays it relatively straight. There are the same tracking shots he's used in old Beastie Boys videos, and the blown-out color palette recalls even earlier work like R.E.M.'s "Crush With Eyeliner" or "Electrolite." He's staying true to his roots, which, given the caliber of everyone involved, is an accomplishment in its own right. So while "Otis" might not be what you were expecting, in a lot of ways, it's even more. There's an unabashed joy to it, and there's no denying the power of its singular image, either: slicing and dicing a Maybach (average sticker price: $380,000) is a bold, ballsy declaration, indeed. One that speaks louder than a million boasts. (MTV)

The auctioned item could be worth big bucks as the luxury line is expected to be discontinued within two years.

Mercedes-Benz's ultra-luxury Maybach brand will be no more starting in 2013, according to the Detroit News. While having a century's worth of history, the Maybach marquee was revived in the U.S. market in 2003 to compete against Rolls-Royce and Bentley. During that time, the brand essentially sold only one model in two lengths: the Type 57 and Type 62. Amenities included a fully reclining rear seat, electrotransparent sunroof, rear refrigerator and standard champagne flutes. (Kicking Tires)