Congo was once a Bored Ape, but now he is Timbaland’s latest star on the rise. We’re talking about an NFT, not a wildlife foundation surprise.
Music producers today have tech that yesterday’s stars might consider science-fiction. What if you could create a voice, create an avatar, and in so doing, create a lead? That seems to be what Timbaland has done.
Who is Timbaland?
Timbaland is a music producer from the US whose work has spanned decades. He has worked with some of the most popular stars across different genres. It is no wonder that he has moved into Web3.
In an interview that covered his thoughts on the future of music, Timbaland noted the opportunities creators have today due to the sheer number of platforms available that focus on digital creation, whether in art and music or a collaboration of the two.
Ever on the frontline of music production, Timbaland has invested in NFTs and brought one to the music industry.
Is Congo an Alter Ego or a New Star?
When Congo released his first song, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a new star with an animated video. Digging a little deeper, you might have found that this star was an NFT, but he is either an alter ego or an NFT star.
You could argue Congo is the former if Timbaland says so, but what if Timbaland decides to buy more Bored Ape NFTs and release a new boy group to rival Simon Cowell? In that case, would the whole NFT group be their alter egos or a group made up of Avatars?
Currently, Congo is available on the Open Sea, with its value climbing past $100 000.
Timbaland voices him, but the Bored Ape #590 existed before Timbaland purchased his key, so you could argue that Congo is a collaboration.
Where Music and NFTs Connect
An NFT can cross the borders of art, music, and film and be the point where they intersect. It is not hard to see Congo as an avatar music star on the rise.
NFTs can be formed to make films and contain music, so if the artist can release music through an NFT, why can’t the face of the music be an NFT too?
Timbaland used a 3D tool called Unreal Engine to create a realistic yet animated video for the song, Has a Meaning. In the Bored Ape Gazette, Timbaland is reported on not just for his musical prowess but because he is a Bored Ape Yacht Club Member as he owns one of the Bored Apes, who, you guessed it, has been renamed Congo.
Are Avatars and NFTs the same?
If we were to believe Congo is not entirely an alter ego but an avatar instead, how has an NFT become an avatar?
Well, the Bored Ape, which was an NFT to start with, became animated for a music video and, in so doing, became an avatar. Congo is his name, and he has a distinct manner, image, and sound.
Avatar functions to represent you, or somebody, in the metaverse. An NFT is blockchain code, which makes it part of Web3. An avatar can be made using artificial intelligence (AI) without the blockchain or NFTs. If an NFT becomes animated, and the face of a person, brand, or song becomes an avatar.
Congo and Pinky Keeping Busy
Congo is a busy Bored Ape. He is now the first ever NFT-born star of an animated music video. He is not alone in this, as Timbaland has another Bored Ape join Congo in the music video. The second is Pinky, Congo’s girlfriend. It will seem that avatars are on the rise in the music industry if Congo and Pinky are now on the scene.
Avatars can do for music producers what human beings can’t – never tire or burn out. It might be revolutionary, but it is not that new a concept. Gorillaz, for example. However, what is new is the NFT origin of Congo, and Timbaland is now a Web3 music pioneer.
