SINGAPORE — In an unprecedented move, Russell Simmons, aptly named the ‘Godfather of Hip Hop’ is collaborating with Tokau to exclusively launch an NFT (non-fungible token) collection, ‘Masterminds of Hip Hop’. The joint venture aims to bring honor, credit, and compensation back to the original musicians who helped create the multi-billion dollar industry that it is today.
In the next few weeks, they will be releasing the names of the original pioneers who have joined the program, with the first group being DJ Hollywood, Grandmaster Caz, MC Lyte, and Busy Bee.
Such names are considered among the most important and influential pioneers of old school rap, with Hollywood being the first rapper in the hip-hop style, Grandmaster Caz being the first simultaneous DJ and MC in hip-hop history, MC Lyte being the first female rapper to ever be nominated for a Grammy Award, and Busy Bee having gained a large following through MC rap battles.
This collection series brings an insight to the history and roots of Hip Hop, giving exclusive behind the scene stories and memories from the early years of hip-hop that helped form the foundation of the culture, in the form of digital art collectibles.
Commenting on joining the program, DJ Hollywood said, “It’s an honor to have our story retold and to be given the opportunity to have the fans old and new to connect with and learn about what we’ve done to get here”.
“Not enough people know that the first records would not have been made without the success and raw talents of these artists. The most amazing part is seeing a piece of history and the future of technology come together; NFTs are truly a game-changer and I can’t wait to pay homage to my fellow pioneers of the movement known as Hip Hop, so stay tuned to Tokau for the announcement of many more names which will be a part of the collection,” added Simmons.
“TOKAU is super excited to be part of this joint venture and create the Masterminds of Hip Hop NFT,” says Miranda Tan, the spokesperson for TOKAU. “These exclusive and limited NFTs are available only on TOKAU and Hip Hop fans globally can access and buy an NFT of these original creators that helped build Hip Hop to what it is today.”
“Gushcloud Philippines is ecstatic for the release of ‘Masterminds of Hip Hop’ NFT Collection. It’s remarkable how technology can create an avenue for people to connect with moments in history that have shaped the industry. There are so many fans of music, more importantly hip hop in this country–we see this as a great opportunity for Filipinos to learn more about the roots of this genre which we have come to love,” said Jamie Paraso, Country Director of Gushcloud Philippines.
The ‘Masterminds of Hip Hop’ NFT collection will be available on Tokau, the world’s leading platform that allows celebrities and influencers to interact with their fans using blockchain NFT technology.
