Non-fungible tokens have hit the Hip Hop industry with full force, and almost everyone in the space is getting a piece of the action. Now, the J Dilla Estate is hopping into the NFT space.
On Wednesday (April 6), Burble — a music-driven platform for NFTs -— announced it’s joining forces with VIBE to launch a special NFT collection that highlights artwork inspired by the iconic work of two of Detroit’s proudest sons, J Dilla and the legendary Motown singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson.
According to a press release, the NFT series is called Detroit Rising and focuses on the stories of both Dilla and Robinson, told through various video and art pieces created by award-winning visual artists and fellow Detroit natives, Tyree Guyton and Desiree Kelly. The exclusive collection is out now and fans looking to get their hands on it may head over to Burble’s official website for details.
“I am thrilled to have my son’s legacy live on through this new NFT technology,” J Dilla’s mother, Ma Dukes, said in a statement. “Using this platform to introduce his [J Dilla’s] music and story to a diverse, new audience, truly allows him to live forever.”
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Smokey Robinson couldn’t be any more excited to get this new innovative project done, adding, “I have been blessed to play a pivotal role not only as a musician, but as an ambassador for this amazing city, so I was excited to tell this story in a new way and be a part of the NFT movement, for the culture.”
Eric Spence, CEO of Burble, said, “The campaigns we are creating help expand the NFT community and allow audiences to be a part of history. We are excited to provide a platform, in partnership with VIBE, to help break those barriers so that everyone can fully engage in a project that uplifts multicultural artists’ voices.”
Smokey Robinson is a legend in his own right, and J Dilla is well-deserving of this NFT project, given his outstanding contributions to Hip Hop and music in general. The former Slum Village and Soulquarians member is considered one of the most influential producers in music history. He prematurely passed away in 2006 at the age of 32 from a combination of the blood disorder thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and lupus.