Over the past year, it’s become clear that philanthropy is one of the most popular use cases of NFTs. For example, we’ve seen NFT projects raise money to help people suffering in war-affected Ukraine and NFT projects aimed at improving health outcomes for diverse communities. To date, a wide range of artists, brands, DAOs, and more have used NFTs to both help those in need and support causes they believe in.
Now, in her very first endeavor in the crypto world, Salem Ilese has become one of the latest individuals to leverage NFTs for a charitable cause.
In an exclusive interview with nft now, Ilese and Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova disclosed that they are teaming up for a music NFT drop, and 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale will go directly to the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Fighting for what you believe in
The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global legal advocacy organization that seeks to advance reproductive rights by ensuring they are “protected in law as fundamental human rights.” In an exclusive interview with nft now, Tolokonnikova and Ilese noted that they decided to launch the project because of the attack on reproductive rights currently playing out in the United States.
“The fight for abortion rights is something I hold very close to my heart. I’ve been trying to figure out how I can best help the cause, which has been particularly hard, as it’s easy to feel helpless when picking a fight with the Supreme Court,” Ilese said. Tolokonnikova added that she felt she had no choice but to act in light of recent events. “No one can be merely a bystander. If you remain silent during times when reproductive rights are in danger, you’re supporting the evil,” she said.
Ultimately, Ilese has become a sort of antihero of the NFT space. With her latest song “Crypto Boy,” the young artist hit a sweet spot by using the kind of self-deprecating humor that the crypto space thrives on. Her song, which highlights the many “quirks” of the modern-day crypto-bro, paints a hilarious caricature of NFT traders that sits on the line between a satirical inside joke and an all-out roast.
“Despite the fact that it pokes fun at certain ‘crypto bro’ types, it was quickly celebrated by the community! I was immediately flooded with messages about releasing the song as an NFT, so I tried to think of a way to enter into the space while also doing some good,” Ilese said. And the answer, it seems, comes in the form of releasing “Crypto Boy” as an NFT to support women’s reproductive freedom. “Knowing that the proceeds of this drop will go to the org that is on the frontlines of the legal fight to protect our individual liberties makes me overjoyed. One person can’t save the world, but as Nadya has already proven, they can definitely make a large impact,” Ilese said.
Of course, philanthropy via NFTs is nothing new for Tolokonnikova. As the driving force behind a $7 million initiative to aid Ukraine, she has continued to illustrate how Web3 tech can be used for good, again highlighting this use case by adding her name and artistic prowess to “Crypto Boy.”
Drop details
The price of each “Crypto Boy” NFT is set at .1ETH, and the duo notes that there will be a total of 1,973 editions available via public sale on prominent music NFT marketplace Sound.xyz. Ultimately, the number 1,973 was picked because it’s the year that Roe v. Wade — which protects a pregnant person’s right to have an abortion — was ratified in the United States.
The NFT features a full version of the viral song as well as custom art created by Tolokonnikova.
Both Ilese and Tolokonnikova note that they hope this drop will inspire people to do what they can to take action. “If you’re able to, please donate to an abortion fund in your state, and call your Senators and urge them to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. Remind them that Congress has the power to fix this,” Ilese said.
