In brief

  • Jay-Z plans to auction off an NFT tied to a digital artwork inspired by “Reasonable Doubt,” his debut album.
  • The album turns 25 this year.
  • Earlier this week, Roc-A-Fella Records sued Damon Dash for attempting a similar NFT sale.

Sotheby’s will auction an NFT inspired by Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt, just days after Roc-A-Fella Records sued to stop Damon Dash from doing the same.

The NFT is tied to a digital animation from Derrick Adams, which features a reinterpretation of the album’s cover art. Titled “Heir to the Throne,” it’s meant to commemorate the album’s 25th anniversary.

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“‘Heir to the Throne’ is the only official event authorized by JAY-Z to commemorate ‘Reasonable Doubt’s historic 25th anniversary and is being presented as a standalone online auction,” reads a press release from Sotheby’s—a clear dig at what Roc-A-Fella alleges was an attempt by Dash to sell the copyright to the album, along with an NFT, on a platform called SuperFarm. The Dash sale was halted, but the label claims its co-founder is still “frantically scouting for another venue to make the sale.”

Sotheby’s has also said that the Adams animation was commissioned by Jay himself (whatever that means), and that a portion of the proceeds from the auction will go to the Shawn Carter Foundation.

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