Notorious B.I.G. NFTs Released 25 Years After His Passing Sell Out In 10 Minutes
Biggie Smalls would have been 49 years old today, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’d join the ranks of fellow musicians and dabble in the wild, wild realm of non-fungible tokens.
The rapper, unfortunately, died 25 years ago. But the memory of Notorious B.I.G.—whose real was name Christopher Wallace—will live on in digital wallets as 3,000 3D collectibles in his likeness, released by his estate and mother, were rolled out on Tuesday.
The NFTs were launched by Wayne Barrow, an old friend of the musician and head of the Christopher Wallace estate; along with Smalls’ mother Voletta Wallace; entrepreneur Elliot Osagie; and NFT platform OneOf.
As Bitcoin.com reports, the tokens were snapped up within the first 10 minutes of their drop on Tuesday afternoon, attesting to the rapper’s influence even 25 years on. According to the sale page, the sold NFTs are worth anywhere between US$113 (the floor price) and US$5,000.
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Called Sky’s The Limit, the series consists of generative artworks depicting the rapper in accessories drawn from his personal style. The collection is coined after Wallace’s posthumous track of the same name.
A preview of more @thenotoriousbig Collection items your generative Biggie NFT can wear! Can you guess their rarities?
— OneOf (@OneOfNFT) July 25, 2022
1. Back of the Club Leather
2. Gold Gorgo
3. Throwback Mic
4. Frankie Homburg #Tezos pic.twitter.com/U87ianFjk5
Holders aren’t just owning a visible piece of music history, but they also collectively possess 80% voting rights on an unreleased Biggie freestyle, entitled Fulton Street Freestyle, which was recorded on a street corner in Brooklyn when the rapper was just 17. This privilege enables them to decide who gets to remix or sample the audio.
When the track is licensed by another artist or musician, owners of the NFTs will share licensing, sales, and streaming revenue.
The rapper’s mother has been supportive of the venture, describing it as an opportunity “to memorialize my son,” according to The Washington Post.
Biggie Smalls may have died over 25 years ago, but his legacy is now continuing into crypto
— Jacquelyn Melinek is OOO (@jacqmelinek) July 26, 2022
3,000 NFTs inspired by Biggie sold out on @OneOfNFT in just 10 minutes earlier today...wild! pic.twitter.com/JJbJld2Z5x
[via Washington Post and Bitcoin.com, images via OneOf]
