Emphasizing the symbolic relationship between success and a cigar, Adams makes the work come to life through animated glowing red embers and a stream of smoke that rises from the end of Jay’s iconic cigar, and transforms into the number 25 in honor of the album’s anniversary.īidding for Heir to the Throne: Celebration of JAY-Z’s Reasonable Doubt 25th Anniversary by Derrick Adams, an NFT starts at $1,000 and is now open online through July 2nd at 10 am ET.
The work is inspired by the two men’s shared engagement with life in the urban streets, including the dreams and challenges associated with it. Featuring his singular aesthetic style of bright colors, geometric forms, multi-layered textures, and flat surface dimensions, Adams has made a cinematic visual experience that channels not just the spirit and impact of the music, but also the aspirational impulses of a young musician at the dawn of his career. The one-of-one NFT titled Heir to the Throne, which was the original title of the album, is composed of a single animated digital image in which Adams creates a fresh and contemporary visual representation of Reasonable Doubt. The auction is also the only official event authorized by Jay-Z to commemorate Reasonable Doubt‘s historic 25th anniversary. Having met several years ago, the rapper and Adams established an immediate artistic dialogue between them, and this collaboration marks the first NFT either has created and offered for sale. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt, his pioneering and landmark debut album that was originally released on Jand forever changed hip hop, the legendary artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist has commissioned critically admired multi-disciplinary artist Derrick Adams to create a one-of-one animated digital artwork that comments on and recontextualizes the album’s iconic cover, which will be sold by Sotheby’s as an NFT in a special single-lot auction. Sotheby’s offering NFT of original digital art by Derrick Adams