On 12th July, a tweet from American photographer and cinematographer, Barron Claiborne revealed that A famous photo of the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. is currently being auctioned off as part of a series of NFTs, with the physical photo tied to an Ethereum NFT as well.
The photo is very special because this image is of the famous rapper, born Christopher Wallace. It was originally taken in 1997 by the photographer Barron Claiborne and this photo is known as “The King Of New York.” The photo was taken three days before the rapper was killed in a drive-by shooting.
According to culture journalist and author, Vikki Tobak the picture, “The King Of New York”(KONY) is one of the most instantly recognizable images in hip-hop history, serving as a “symbol of greatness.”
A 6 x 7 centimeter cutting from the original contact sheet will be auctioned off, coupled with a one-of-one Ethereum NFT or “digital twin” that establishes provenance and ownership on the blockchain.
The auction, which began earlier today on the Kairos platform, will run for 30 days. Bidding begins at 50 ETH ($93,500), with the victorious bidder receiving a phone conversation with Claiborne to discuss the renowned photograph.
The King Of New York (KONY) series, featuring a Biggie portrait, introduces limited edition NFTs and a digital collectible inspired by his iconic crown. Fans can purchase 9 editions of the animated artwork for 1 ETH each. An open edition drop offers the crown NFT for 0.03 ETH.
Additionally, a digital bust of Notorious B.I.G. is up for auction. Claiborne plans to sell 100 editions of a digital still photo paired with a physical print and auction a limited edition NYC MetroCard signed by Biggie.
The rapper’s autographed original physical crown sold for approximately $595,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in 2020.
Finally, 35% of the earnings from the KONY collection will be donated to the Keiyo Art Association, an organization devoted to providing the public with art experiences. Another 5% will be donated to Charity ”Water”, a non-profit organization that provides safe water to people in need.
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