Bootsy Collins, Cincinnati's favorite master of Funk, is jumping into the digital art world.
Collins has launched a "Funkship Area 51" NFT (a non-fungible token) to raise money for the nonprofit MusiCares. A cause near and dear to Collins' heart, MusiCares provides "preventative, recovery and emergency assistance to safeguard the well-being of music people in need," per its mission statement.
A collaboration with CryptoStache — a website dedicated to helping people learn more about cryptocurrency, blockchain and NFTs — the Bootsy art depicts a colorfully funkadelic Collins playing his iconic Space Bass and includes a brand new "Bootsy groove," says a release.
The "Funkship Area 51" NFT — named after a song on Collins' latest album, The Power of the One — will be available on digital marketplace OpenSea, with bidding ending at 1:02 p.m. EDT on May 5. Twenty percent of proceeds will go to MusiCares.
This isn't the first time Collins has raised funds and awareness for MusiCares. In 2020, Collins visited The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to talk about the nonprofit. He also donated proceeds from the streams and downloads of his music video "Stars" to MusiCares.
And if you're wondering what the hell an NFT is or why you would pay for it, Wikipedia has a pretty easy-to-understand entry. The Daily Show's Trevor Noah made an explainer video as well.
NFTs are a piece or art or music or other creation that has a special, individual address. And when you buy one, you become the only person that can own that specific work. It's kind of like a one-of-a-kind toy or baseball card or van Gogh painting that lives in the digital realm. And although you can buy and sell them, the "non-fungible" part separates them from cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
NFTs are also the next big thing in pop culture. For example, musician/nymph Grimes made about $6 million selling NFTs of her art; and football player Tom Brady is launching his own NFT company where fans can buy one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia. In March, Pizza Hut released an NFT "pizza slice," which sold for more than $8,000. And local barbecue chain Eli's BBQ made their own as well, with funds benefitting the restaurant industry via the LEE Initiative.
To bid on the Boosty Collins NFT, visit opensea.io.
