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NFTs are are NFTs Taking over over Taking

Cannabis and Coronavirus Exclusive interview with the legendary

Nipsey Hussle 3 years after his death

Strain�of�the� Month: Bruce�Banner� #3

Spliff Star

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Cannabis compounds prevent coronavirus from entering human cells. By: Ken Haddad

founder of Pocono Organics farm, holds hemp buds at the farm adjacent to Pocono Raceway, Friday, June 25, 2021, in Long Pond, 0 acre farm is the title sponsor for Saturday's NASCAR auto race, The Pocono Organics CBD 325, the ﬁrst Cup race with a CBD sponsorship. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

new study published by researchers at Oregon State University found hemp compounds have the ability to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human cells

the findings of the study led by Richard van Breemen, a researcher with Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center, College of Pharmacy and Linus Pauling Institute, were published this week in the Journal of Natural Products. Van Breemen explained hemp -- known scientifically as cannabis sativa -- is a source of fiber, food and animal feed, and multiple hemp extracts and compounds are added to cosmetics, body lotions, dietary supplements and food. According to a news release from OSU and reported by WDIV, Van Breemen and collaborators, including scientists at Oregon Health & Science University, found that a pair of cannabinoid acids bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, blocking a critical step in the process the virus uses to infect people. The compounds are cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, CBDA, and the spike protein is the same drug target used in COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapy. A drug target is any molecule critical to the process a disease follows, meaning its disruption can thwart infection or disease progression. “These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts,” van Breemen said. “They are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans. And our research showed the hemp compounds were equally effective against variants of SARS-CoV-2, including variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, and variant B.1.351, first detected in South Africa.” Those two variants are also known the alpha and beta variant, respectively.

So what’s the difference between CBD, something you can buy off the shelf in any dispensary, and CBDA? According to Montkush, “the main difference between CBDA and CBD is that CBDA is a precursor chemical to Cannabidiol (CBD), similar but not acidic. What that means is that it’s a natural compound found in the raw plant. As with many other cannabinoids, CBDA undergoes a transformation when cannabis is processed. When the plant is heated, cured, or dried, acidic compounds break down into new chemicals. This is the process that produces large amounts of CBD from CBDA.” “Any part of the infection and replication cycle is a potential target for antiviral intervention, and the connection of the spike protein’s receptor binding domain to the human cell surface receptor ACE2 is a critical step in that cycle,” he said. “That means cell entry inhibitors, like the acids from hemp, could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and also to shorten infections by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells. They bind to the spike proteins so those proteins can’t bind to the ACE2 enzyme, which is abundant on the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organs.”

Using compounds that block virus-receptor interaction has been helpful for patients with other viral infections, he notes, including HIV-1 and hepatitis. “We identified several cannabinoid ligands and ranked them by affinity to the spike protein,” van Breemen said. “The two cannabinoids with the highest affinities for the spike protein were CBDA and CGBA, and they were confirmed to block infection. “One of the primary concerns in the pandemic is the spread of variants, of which there are many, and B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 are among the most widespread and concerning,” he added. “These variants are well known for evading antibodies against early lineage SARS-CoV-2, which is obviously concerning given that current vaccination strategies rely on the early lineage spike protein as an antigen. Our data show CBDA and CBGA are effective against the two variants we looked at, and we hope that trend will extend to other existing and future variants.” Van Breemen said resistant variants could still arise amid widespread use of cannabinoids but that the combination of vaccination and CBDA/CBGA treatment should make for a much more challenging environment for SARS-CoV-2. “Our earlier research reported on the discovery of another compound, one from licorice, that binds to the spike protein too,” he said. “However, we did not test that compound, licochalcone A, for activity against the live virus yet. We need new funding for that.” Timothy Bates, Jules Weinstein, Hans Leier, Scotland Farley and Fikadu Tafesse of OHSU also contributed to the cannabinoid study.

PHOENIX PHOENIX

3155 E. McDowell Rd

AHWATUKEE 10826 S. 51st St

Cannabis Based recipies Canna Cup Cakes Smoky Mac N Cheese Ramen Carbonara

Cake with Pomegranate3-Poached Quince

Smoky Mac N Cheese

Canna Cup Cakes

Considered the ultimate in comfort food, mac n cheese is a household favorite across America. Carb city, covered in delicious cheese, what’s not to love? If you thought you couldn’t possibly top this already well-established classic, then think again! This cannabis-infused mac ‘n’ cheese is next level, and packs a serious punch!

Who doesn’t love a cupcake? You don’t need to be below the age of 10 to enjoy an icing-topped cupcake, especially one freshly out the oven, cooked with your finest cannabis!

What You’ll Need: ½ Cup cold cannabutter plus 1 tablespoon melted cannabutter ½ Unsalted butter

What You’ll Need:

1 Cup flour

¼ Yogurt

4 Cups milk

¼ Milk

2 Teaspoons salt

1 Tablespoon hemp oil

¼ Teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ Cup Agave

1 Teaspoon black pepper

1 Teaspoon Vanilla extract

1 Pound penne pasta

¾ Cup all purpose flour

1 Cup shredded smoked mozzarella

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 Teaspoon baking powder

1 Cup shredded American or Swiss cheese

¼ Teaspoon baking powder

¾ Cup grated parmesan cheese

¼ Baking soda

¼ Cup breadcrumbs

Salt

What to Do: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees to get started!

For the Frosting:

Combine and melt both the cannabutter and regular butter over a medium heat in a large pan.

2 Tablespoon cannabutter

Once melted, whisk in the flour and keep whisking and mixing until cooked, usually around 4-5 minutes.

2 ½ Cups sugar 2 Tablespoons strawberry jam

In a separate, medium-sized pan boil the milk over a high heat

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

Once boiled, add the hot milk to the butter and flour mixture, whisking in to ensure properly combined.

What to Do:

Add in salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper and continue to cook until the entire mixture is boiling.

This is a pretty easy recipe to follow that starts with turning on the oven to preheat at 350 degrees.

Once it has reached boiling point, remove from heat and stir in the already cooked penne pasta and all the cheeses, holding back around ¼ cup of Parmesan to sprinkle on the top.

In a medium to large size bowl, whisk together the yogurt and vanilla extract

Pour the pasta mixture into a greased baking dish, and combine the breadcrumbs with remaining cheese, adding in 1 tablespoon of melted cannabutter to combine. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the pasta and bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Voila! The following recipe loosely translates into 30 mg of THC per tablespoon of oil or butter. Your perfect dose will vary, but 10 mg is standard. Start by testing ¼ teaspoon of the weed butter you make and wait for about an hour. Take note of how you feel and let your body tell you whether this is a good amount, if you need more, or if you need less. Erring on the side of caution will ensure that you actually enjoy yourself and have a positive experience. Step 1: Decarboxylation The first thing you’ll have to do is decarboxylate your cannabis. Also known as “decarbing,” this requires you to bake your weed, allowing the THC, CBD and other cannabinoids to activate. Also, it allows for lipids in butter and oil to easily bind to your weed for the ultimate cannabis infusion. What you’ll need:½ ounce of weedHand grinder or scissorsGlass baking dish or sheet panOvenWhat to do:Preheat the oven to 220° F.Gently break apart the desired amount of weed using a hand-grinder, scissors, or with hands until it’s the perfect consistency for rolling a joint— fine, but not too fine. Anything too fine will slip through cheesecloth (or a joint, for that matter). You want your cannabutter and oil to be clean and as clear as possible.Evenly spread your plant material onto the glass baking dish or sheet pan. Pop in the oven on the center rack for 20 minutes if using old or lower quality weed; 45 minutes for cured, high-grade weed; or 1 hour or more for anything that has been recently harvested and is still wet.Check on the weed frequently while it’s in the oven, gently mixing it every 10 minutes so as to not burn it. You will notice that the color of your herb will change from bright green to a deep brownish green. That’s when you know it has decarboxylated.

This recipe takes a little more know-how, but it is still pretty easy and is super delicious, not to mention will 100% get you high!

Once combined, sift all the dry ingredients into the wet, ensuring to mix the two thoroughly Line a cupcake pan with liners and fill each two thirds full with the mixture, pop into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. If unsure, use a cake tester and ensure that it comes out completely clean, meaning the cakes are cooked inside. For the frosting, simply mix together the butter and sugar on a low speed, then add in the strawberry jam a spoonful at a time. Finally, add in the vanilla and use a piping bag to decorate your cakes when cooled. Enjoy!

Ramen Carbonara

Cake with Pomegranate- Pouched Quince 2 cups pomegranate juice 2 cups red wine ¼ cup maple syrup 10 black or pink peppercorns 5 green cardamom pods, crushed to split open 5 allspice berries 5 cloves 2 bay leaves 1 star anise 6 firm, ripe quinces, peeled, halved, cored ⅓ cup, plus ½ cup turbinado or demerara sugar ⅓ cup, plus ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon, divided use 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided use 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 2¾ cups all-purpose flour, divided use ½ cup unsalted butter, melted plus extra for greasing

Three 3-ounce packages ramen noodles, flavor packets reserved for other use 4 egg yolks 2 whole eggs ⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided use 1 tablespoon cannabutter, melted, cooled ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, more to taste 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 ounces diced pancetta Salt to taste ¼ cup minced fresh Italian parsley Heat 5 to 6 cups water to boil in medium pan. Add noodles and cook, stirring, just until noodles separate, about 30 seconds. Drain, reserving cooking liquid; set aside. Whisk together egg yolks, eggs, ½ cup Parmesan, cannabutter and ½ teaspoon pepper. Set aside. Heat oil in a heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; cook, stirring, until browned. Stir in ½ cup reserved cooking liquid then add drained noodles. In slow steady stream, whisk ¼ cup cooking liquid into egg mixture. Add this back into Dutch oven; toss to coat. Continue cooking until sauce thickens and coats noodles, 2 to 3 minutes, adding more cooking liquid if sauce is too thick. Season with salt and additional pepper; sprinkle with parsley and serve at once. Makes 4 servings, each about 30 mg THC based on a 15% strain.

½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ cup sour cream, labneh or full-fat Greek yogurt 1 egg 1 egg yolk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 tablespoons unsalted cannabutter, softened* 3 tablespoons butter, softened In a medium saucepan, combine pomegranate juice, wine, maple syrup, peppercorns, cardamom pods, allspice, cloves, bay leaves and star anise; add quince. Cut circle of parchment to fit pan. Fold into eighths like a wedge of pizza and snip off tip to make a vent. Unfold and place directly onto quinces. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer gently 12 to 15 minutes. Turn quinces, replace parchment and continue cooking just until easily pierced; cool in the poaching liquid. Remove quinces, quarter lengthwise and set aside. Return pan to high heat; reduce poaching liquid to a thick, syrupy consistency; strain and discard spices. In a small bowl, combine ⅓ cup turbinado sugar, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt and ground cardamom. Add 1⅓ cups flour and melted butter; mix until evenly moistened; set aside. Combine remaining ½ cup turbinado sugar, remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon and ½ teaspoon salt; set aside. Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter 9-inch springform pan. Whisk together remaining flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder and remaining ½ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. In another bowl, whisk together sour cream, eggs and vanilla. To flour mixture, add 3 tablespoons cannabutter, 3 tablespoons butter and a spoonful of sour cream mixture. Mix well, using an electric mixer or stand mixer. Spoon in remaining sour cream in two more additions; mix just until combined. Reserve ½ cup cake batter. Transfer the rest to prepared pan; smooth top with rubber spatula. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Arrange half of sliced quinces on top; drizzle lightly with poaching liquid. Dollop reserved cake batter over quinces. Carefully spread with a spatula, covering quinces as much as possible. Break cardamom crumb into ½- to ¾-inch pieces; scatter over cake. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen from sides with a small knife then remove sides of pan. Serve warm or at room temperature with remaining quince slices as desired. Makes 8 servings, each about 12.9 mg THC based on 15 percent strain.

Strai� Of th� Mont� Strai� Bruce Banner #3 Classiﬁed as a hybrid, with a slight sativa dominance at a 60% sativa and 40% indica ratio, Bruce Banner #3 is mentally stimulating while becoming physically relaxing – a wonderful combination for those who hope to stay mindful, sharp, focused and alert, all while dissipating any physical body pains and stresses they might have. The parents of this mighty cannabis are the famous OG Kush hybrid and Strawberry Diesel hybrid, the two blended together generating a rather tasty combo that is equally as enjoyable for the body. The Bruce Banner strain is known to have three prominent phenotypes, and all of them pack a hard punch with hefty THC contents.

Named for the Incredible Hulk's alter ego, Bruce Banner #3 is one of five phenotypes bred by Dark Horse Genetics to be one of the most potent strains on the market. ... It was also the third most potent strain of all time tested at the High Times Cannabis Cup, clocking in at a whopping 25-to-29% THC per weight. Breeders can expect the plant to fully mature in 9-10 weeks when grown indoors. This tall plant produces long, fluffy Buds that actually shine with the density of trichomes. Bruce Banner # 3 is resistant to most pests and diseases, adapts well to SOG cultivation methods and can produce large yields. The effects gradually fade into a full-on relaxation and euphoric feeling that envelops your entire body. The brain will be stimulated by the sativa elements, while the body will be soothed and pain relieved. 1 factor that this bud and the Hulk have in common is their bold and dynamic shade of green, as well as the fact that they are both loved by anyone who lay their eyes on them. 14

It has a THC content that typically ranges in the 25-29% mark, making it probably one of the strongest cannabis strains that's out there. Although believe it or not, this version of Bruce Banner does have an even more potent relative, with Bruce Banner #3 often presenting THC levels at 30% – which is pretty damn mind-blowing when you think about it. All three of these phenotypes make amazing concentrates, shatter, live resin, hash, and edibles, because these methods of extraction only amplify the already heavily present high inducing component, making some insanely powerful treats for those who need an immense dose of medicine, or have developed a high tolerance to your average cannabis reefer. Bruce Banner cannabis is definitely a one-hit quitter because just a puff of this good green stuff can create some serious damage. Bruce Banner cannabis is a hybrid strain with a mild sativa dominance, with a 60 percent sativa and 40 percent indica ratio - a fantastic combination for individuals who want to be conscious, smart, focused, and alert while also dispersing any physical body problems and stressors. The famed OG Kush hybrid and Strawberry Diesel hybrid are the parents of this magnificent bud, and the two have indeed been blended together to create a quite flavorful combination that is just as stimulating for the body. The Bruce Banner strain is known to have three distinct phenotypes, all of which pack a powerful punch because to high THC levels.

Spliff Star

Interview By: Hector Richardson

pliff Star, a Flatbush Brooklyn native has been entertaining crowds with his electrifying energy and swagger, since he first got on the scene in 1996 alongside Busta Rhymes. After lots of success as a member of the Flipmode Squad and hyping crowds alongside Busta, Spliff Star dropped his first solo project "Contraband" under his own imprint of Paper Rock Records in January of 2008 followed by "One Shot Willy" in 2009.

Creating his own buzz as a solo independent artist with Paper Rock Records. Mr Lewis as he is also known, has gained access to lots of opportunities. Unfortunately in 2018 Spliff's momentum was forced to shift as he was diagnosed with a life threatening condition that required heart surgery. After fully recovering from surgery. The man of Trinidadian descent has come back better than ever. Besides new bangers for the streets, Mr Lewis has a Fonto leaf brand and his own Cannabis brand as well as his own Podcast. High Intelligence Magazine caught up with the very busy Spliff Star for an exclusive interview. After the surgery what was the number one motivating factor to get you up and back going again? Loving myself a little bit more, I've got kids to live for. I can't be selfish with my life anymore. As a Weed smoker we all dream of having our own strain. How did the StarStrain come about? And what can we expect from it? One I was tired of spending money on other people's weed and shit. 2 I'm a man that loves flavors, I didn't want to grow just one specific strain that's why I call it Star Strains. There's gonna be different strains, I'm gonna be the first one with 38 to 40% THC levels. I wanna make you feel like you're in space lol. Is it all Indicas or are there going to be Hybrids? Definitely a strong Indica. I'm really into Indicas, I'm gonna have a few Sativas for those that like Sativas. I wanna give people something clean to smoke some real strong Buds because I be buying weed nowadays you gotta smoke like 3 to 4 or even 6 blunts to feel right! I know I thought I was the only one that felt that way lol. . Plus I rather a Muthafoka grab like 2 of my Buds and roll up a spliff and out that shit you know what I'm saying? Lol take 2 or 3 pulls and they gotta out it, you know what I'm saying that 8th probably lasts like 2 or days. Where can we find it? It's close is growing as we speak. It's growing and marinating as we speak bro! When this hits the market I'm telling you it's going to be big like 50 Cent's first album.

I know you got some new heat for the streets. What's in store for PaperRock Records for 2022? Shout out to my whole PaperRock Gang! My nigga C.Bass so many guys that I had in my PaperRock camp like Favio Foreigns, swipey, Ether connect, 800 foreignside gang movement once upon a time they all came from PaperRock camp, but right now I have a Mixtape Cd dropping called "Vibing with Mr. Lewis" about to drop an album called "About Time" I got an in-house producer that's serious so I advice people don't sleep on me. Look out for this Single I'm about to drop called "Annihilation" We're going to get rid of all the Cornballs in the game. Push the real and get rid of some of the fake you dig! I haven't tried the Spliffs House Fonto leafs yet. How did that situation come together and is it going to be nationally distributed anytime soon? That definitely came about with my man, one of the founders of Grabba. He put me down with them, got me my own wraps and we called it Spliffs House, some of the best Fonto in America wicked, and I got light and I got dark Fonto. I got small packs, I got big packs, I got that new hemp paper for those people that don't smoke Fonto as well, um I have all kinds of ways for people to enjoy what they wanna enjoy. Tell us more about your Podcast. When and where can we tune in? My Podcast is me and Dj. Cell it was created by me and dj cell my man makes it happen ceo and I also partnered up with Heavy Early Entertainment my partner out there in L.A Bilal one of Cleveland's finest out there. We got the Podcast, in our Podcast we try to keep the athletic talk, the street talk, politic talk you know what I'm saying day by day talk I just don't like capping on my show can't be no capping on my show you gotta keep it a 1000 not even a 100 but 1000. You feel me

That's what we try to do here at High Intelligence: try to give you the real and the raw. There you go cuzzo you know because I'm a parent shout out to all the other parents out there. Single Moms, Single Fathers. This new generation they got no guidance, they ain't got no guidance and they ain't got no morals that's why they are dying before they even reach 25. I used to think that I wasn't gonna see 25 because I was dedicated to the game I was in but at least we were getting money tho. These niggas are dying over nothing that he said she said and all that Gang Gang Gang shit. Gang what? Once upon a time I had Bloods,Crips and Folks together. All together, making records together, doing shows together and even traveling together. Me! The whole Brooklyn Drill once upon a time the whole Brooklyn Drill was around me Spliﬀ no cap if niggas ain't got nothing else to do they better go ask somebody. Watch PaperRock camp on YouTube and you'll see who'll pop up. I had them niggas when they were muthaphuckkin babies it was something that I've seen in each and every one of them for a long time from back then and everything that I've seen came to fruition the whole world seeing it now. I'm deﬁnitely the A&R of the streets don't get it fucked up!

Follow Spliff Star on Instagram @spliffstar_mrlewis Spliff House Fonto @spliff.house StarStrains Cannabis @starstrains_cannabisculture

Take Over

NFTs are taking over and selling for millions

Here is the What are NFTs? The letters NFT stand for Non-Fungible Token. A Non-Fungible Token is a non interchangeable unit of data. Non-Fungible meaning it's unique, one of a kind and it can not exchange for another one. Since NFTs are units of data they can be anything digital from drawings to music ect. NFTs are stored in a Blockchain. What's a Blockchain? A Blockchain is a growing list of records linked together using Cryptography. Most NFTs are part of the Ethereum Blockchain. It's worth mentioning that various blockchains can use NFTs in their own ways. Ethereum is a cryptocurrency like Dogecoin or Bitcoin. The excitement behind NFTs is that they're looked at as an evolution of fine arts like a Moné or Picasso only digital. The problem with digital anything is that you can make as many copies of any digital file you like including art that's in an NFT. The claim is that NFT ledgers provide a public certificate of ownership. The legal rights given by an NFT are sometimes ambiguous. NFTs do not block the production of NFTs with identical related files, nor do they restrict the sharing or copying of the underlying digital information.

Guide to NFTs What's a NFT community? community is a term used within NFT enthusiasts; it refers to holders of an NFT project. It's a big deal in the NFT world, and it's something you should think about if you're considering buying one. NFT communities are a separate deal. They have their own lingo, ﬁlled with inside jokes and references. Members of a NFT community are eager to talk and trade with one another. The majority of projects will have their own chat apps-based community networks. Those who want to buy and sell NFTs gain from being a part of a community that is helpful, communicative, and insightful. These communities acknowledge the value of NFTs in all of their forms. The world frequently showcases NFT-related news from a shallow angle highlighting how much a piece or project sells for. Meanwhile, there's a lively undercurrent of community that isn't necessarily the center of attention. They support a devoted community of collectors and artists who are the main driving forces behind the NFT industry.

Here's How NFTs Could Deﬁne The Future Of Music

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 29: Artist Derrick Adams[+]GETTY IMAGES By: Falon Fatemi

nterest in, and excitement about, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) exploded in 2021 and the ﬁrst few months of 2022. Today, NFTs—digital tokens stored on a blockchain that can record ownership of items—have been developed for a wide swath of items, from digital art to event tickets to real-world luxury goods. The numbers are head-turning: NFT sales volume totaled $25 billion in 2021, compared to just $95 million in 2020. Already in 2022, daily sales on Opensea, the popular peer-to-peer marketplace for NFT, have reached all-time highs.

NFTs have the potential to disrupt a wide array of industries. Many experts expect NFTs to prove especially transformative in shaping the future of music. Songs, albums, music, lyrics, and soundbites can all be NFTs. Last year, Kings of Leon became the ﬁrst band to release an album as an NFT. Music can even be combined with digital art in jpeg or gif formats to create unique pieces of artwork with music incorporated. For example, Lostboy NFT is a popular music collective that combines music and art, along with a focus on mental health. Thanks to smart NFTs that can support multiple formats, music-related NFTs can be displayed differently depending on how they are accessed. For example, an audio NFT can include a PDF resource that contains the lyrics to a song or a message from a musician, which would be displayed when it is opened in text-based format.

When you take a deep dive into what NFTs enable, NFTs seem especially poised to define the future of music. Enabling equitable compensation. For decades, musicians have not been equitably compensated for their music. This has been particularly apparent in the music industry. As reported by Fortune, the typical total revenue split is 50/50—with only 50% of revenue going to the entertainer and the rest shared among agents, lawyers, and distributors. The reality is even grimmer when it comes to musicians who distribute their content via streaming services. Most of Spotify's top 0.8% of artists earn less than $50,000 in streaming revenue. NFTs have the potential to ensure that musicians are more fairly compensated for their work. Consider a personal anecdote by Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, who raised about $11,000 for his first NFT. In a Tweet, Shinoda explained, “With NFTs, we can let the early figures speak for themselves. Even if I upload the full version of the contained song to DSPs worldwide (which I can still do), I would never get even close to $10k, after fees by DSPs, label, marketing, etc.”

One of the biggest opportunities for musicians in terms of being fairly compensated for their content relates to secondary, tertiary, and higher-order markets for NFTs. Right now, creators often relinquish ownership rights to platforms at the initial contract and have difﬁculty tracking where their content is subsequently distributed. As reported by The Verge, after being signed to a major indie label, one musician was owed up to $40,000 in song royalties that they never expected to collect. Yet, with NFTs, musicians and other creators don’t need to relinquish ownership of their content to platforms from the get-go. Although they can choose to relinquish the rights of a song or album when they mint an NFT, they can also retain that ownership by baking it the NFT. So, when musicians sell content, they can be compensated directly and more fairly. If an NFT owner then decides to resell the NFT, the original creator can automatically receive royalties—and this process can continue each time the NFT is sold. This is all thanks to the fact that there’s a record of ownership built into the NFT’s metadata. Enabling greater potential for collaborations and remixes. Over the past decade, collaborations have become increasingly common in the music and entertainment industries. Today, entertainer collaborations are a deﬁning feature of modern pop culture. There’s an undeniable appeal in seeing two or more entertainers come together in new and creative ways.

MUSIC

We’ve already seen NFTs support new and exciting collabs. Grammy-nominated DJ Steve Aoki recently teamed up with digital artist Maciej Kuciara to release an NFT collection. As Kuciara has reflected, “NFTs represent a new canvas for digital artists, that allow a whole new generation of artists to collaborate with talent from different industries, and leave a lasting emotional impact on the viewer.” With NFTs, collaborations can become more lucrative as musicians can opt to bake a royalty-collection mechanism into the NFT. Closely related to collabs are remixes. NFTs are also able to capitalize on the increasingly popular “remix” culture—which encourages combining or editing content to produce new creative, derivative content. One popular example of remixes are “fan edits,” such as versions of music, films, or artwork that are edited by fans such that content is added to, removed, or augmented to create something new. Musicians and other creators can incentivize remixes in ways that benefit them by leveraging “upgradeable NFTs.” As digital agency Blue Manakin has explained, “Upgradable NFTs open the possibility of more efficient distribution of music, that does not have to go through intermediaries and that facilitates the creation of exclusive material, collaborations, and remixes, without the legal implications that often arise.” Upgradeable NFTs are NFTs that can evolve and mutate over time. For example, a musician might release a soundtrack, a chorus, or a bridge that fans and collaborators can legally build atop of, while bypassing the costly legal processes often involved in legally creating remixes. With upgradeable NFTs, the original creator can retain control of the spin-off creation and even profit from it.

NFTs

Photo design by Hector Richardson

Capitalizing on appeals to scarcity.

Propelling the future of music through NFTs.

Esteemed psychologist Robert Cialdini is one of the leading researchers on influence tactics. Cialdini is famous for his “six principles of influence”—one of which is scarcity. Cialdini’s research demonstrates that products are viewed as more attractive when their availability is limited. Scarcity has a long history of generating lucrative profits in the music industry. The music industry thrives on unique and rare fan experiences, backstage passes, fan clubs, collectibles, and other scarce assets.

NFTs are not just another buzzy acronym. When you closely examine the value propositions of NFTs—the potential for more equitable compensation, more collabs and remixes, and time-tested appeals to scarcity—NFTs seem poised to transform the music industry. The key will be for NFTs to continually reinvent themselves and creatively evolve—as much as the musicians that they are supporting.

NFTs enable musicians to capitalize on appeals to scarcity in new ways—and, on the ﬂip side, enable fans to capitalize on new opportunities to develop deeper connections to their favorite musicians. Consider the following question posed as part of a recent survey by media company Variety: “It’s 2022. An NFT is released by a studio for a clip from a movie you love. There are 1,000 copies of this NFT for sale. What do you expect the price range to be?”

Snoop Dogg wants to make Death Row Records the ﬁrst major record label in the metaverse. The legendary Long Beach-born rapper announced this week that Death Row “will be an NFT label,” just days after acquiring the Los Angeles record label that launched his career and put West Coast hip-hop on the worldwide map.

Albums available as NFTs

A full 20% of respondents thought the price range would exceed $1,000. There’s a certain sense of thrill and appeal from getting access to exclusive, rare content. With NFTs, the opportunities for appeals to scarcity are limitless. Consider the world’s largest music event organizer, Live Nation, which recently announced the launch of Live Stubs—NFTs that fans will receive for free when they purchase a concert ticket. As Michael Rapino, President and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment, explained, “Our Live Stubs product brings back the nostalgia of collecting ticket stubs while also giving artists a new tool to deepen that relationship with their fans and we can’t wait to see what the creativity of this community dreams up as it grows.” Over time, Live Stubs and similar NFTs become rare collectibles that can appreciate over time in value and be resold legally. Other appeals to scarcity within the music industry have also been enabled by NFTs. Canadian singer Shawn Mendes has collaborated with avatar tech company, Genies, to launch his own NFT. Launched on OpenSea, the NFT included rare digital versions of his signature accessories such as his Fender guitar and gold ring. 24

When It's Dark by Tory Lanez When You See Yourself by Kings of Leon

Genies by Shawn Mendes

Ositos by Ozuna

T.V

Films and

What to watch!!!

New fresh prince Jabari Banks is ready to conquer ‘Bel-Air’

By ALICIA RANCILIO

abari Banks knew he was close to getting the starring role of Will in “ Bel-Air,” the dramatic take of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” but his conﬁdence started to wane when he was asked to do one more Zoom audition with show director Morgan Cooper. “I’m like, ‘I don’t know what he wants to see, but I’m gonna give him everything I got,’ recalled the 23-year-old in a recent interview. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna put everything into this audition.’” Banks found a quiet place — a friend’s closet — and logged in, only to see a very familiar face staring back at him, Will Smith. “I didn’t think it was real,” Banks said. “He’s like, ’I want to congratulate you. You got the part of Will in ‘Bel-Air.’” And then in true Smith exuberance, the superstar directed Banks to invite those with him to join the Zoom. “He was like, ‘Where is everybody? Go get them,’ said Banks. So a lot of my friends met Will.”

And that’s how Banks became the (new) prince of Bel-Air. The series is streaming on Peacock with a new episode

“I’ve been following that motto and going about my day to day like that,” he said.

“Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of auditions poured in. We needed a guy who had the swagger, the charisma, but also the pure acting chops, who uses his eyes,” he said. “Jabari Banks is such a star and he shines so bright.”

“Bel-Air” was conceived by Cooper, a filmmaker in Kansas City who taught himself to shoot film on a camera bought at Best Buy. He grew up loving “The Fresh Prince” and believed the premise of the show could still work today — but also reflect the times.

The parallels between Smith and Banks seem tailor-made for Hollywood. Like Smith, Banks is from west Philadelphia. He’s also a musician working on his own EP, which he says is a mix of R&B, hip-hop and alternative genres, and plans to release it later this year. He also loves fashion and “The Fresh Prince” was a trend-setting show. Banks says he’s taking this huge opportunity “one day at a time,” and cites an anecdote from Smith’s autobiography, “Will,” about his father assigning him and his brother to build a wall brick by brick.

“If you remove the laugh track from the sitcom and really look at the scenario from a bird’s eye view, the story really lends itself to drama. A young Black man from west Philadelphia gets into a scufﬂe and is forced to relocate across the country. What does that look like in modern day life? It lends itself to some really interesting dramatic moments that are rooted in very real conversations.”

Cooper famously made a trailer for this idea using local actors and uploaded it to YouTube. Not even 24 hours later, Smith’s production company, Westbrook, reached out for a meeting. Two weeks later, Cooper flew to Miami to meet Smith where he was filming “Bad Boys for Life.” Things took off, and the first three episodes dropped Sunday after the Super Bowl. The show has been given a two-season order. In “Bel-Air,” a 16-year-old high school basketball star named Will is playing at a local court when he gets into a scuffle with a gang. The situation escalates quickly, and Will is arrested. Once he’s released, his mother takes him directly to the airport to catch a flight to Los Angeles. She’s sending him to stay with his aunt and uncle and their children, where it’s safer. He’ll enroll in school there until things calm down. In real life, Banks found himself at a crossroads his junior year of high school. He loved basketball but low grades made him ineligible to play. Banks’ mom told him, “You have to find something to do after school,” so he joined a theater group. That’s where he says he fell in love with performing. The acting newcomer says he’s looking forward to meeting more Black artists who can help him navigate showbiz. “I’d love to work with LaKeith Stanfield. I'm a big fan of his. Huge fan of Denzel (Washington.). Daniel Kaluuya, I’d love to work with him and Sterling K. Brown. Damson Idris. These are all artists that I look up to.”

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