Dirt: WIYW w/ Sam King
Our new series asks NFT collectors, “What’s In Your Wallet?”
Dirt is a daily email about entertainment.
🖼️ Yesterday, Twitter announced that users can now verify their NFTs as profile pictures. The pictures are hexagons rather than circles, leading some people to venture “are hexagons the new blue checks?” and others to hold up their newly created block lists like garlic to a vampire. It does feel like something has turned in the acceptance of NFTs. We’re not at the point that everyone has to buy in, and probably never will be, but they are solidly inside the fence of digital culture, and that’s worth talking about. Case in point: Crypto Coven, a project we highlighted when it was minting around $200 is now worth a minimum of $4,000. All this is to say we have a new series called “What’s In Your Wallet?” in which we give NFT collectors a DESERT ISLAND style questionnaire about their collection. Not into it? Skip Fridays! We have a lot more streaming and entertainment content in the pipeline. —Daisy 🖼️
Sam King is the Global Director, Digital Growth at Adidas.
What was your first blockchain purchase?
Funnily enough it was the ‘under the radar’ adidas NFT to commemorate the signing of NFL #1 draft pick Trevor Lawrence at the beginning of 2021. I’m actually surprised this didn’t get more press after the major launch with BAYC x G-Money x Punks Comics.
Most recent blockchain purchase?
Pixelvault Founders DAO, Deadfellaz, and Gutter Cat Gang—it was an expensive evening
Is there a theme to your collection?
There’s a few themes. Coming from a career focused on building and growing businesses I’ve diversified my collection and portfolio across a few key themes:
I started out simply buying art that I wanted for my apartment walls. It made more sense in my mind to purchase NFT art than to spend the same in fiat at a gallery. This is how I ended up in projects like World of Women
Women focused/led projects. The NFT space is rife with misogyny and ‘bro culture’, which holds back the entire NFT space. I’m very focused on investment into projects like Boss Beauties, Crypto Chicks, World of Women, and my wife’s personal 1/1 pop-art project ‘The Baddie Babes.’
Long-term strategic plays like Pixelvault Founders DAO, Punks Comics & Metahero Universe. I’m a big fan of projects that add long-term HODL value and reward holders consistently long-term. I’m also a big believer in the team behind Pixelvault
Play 2 Earn gaming projects like Rumble Kong League. This is one of the best and most underrated teams/projects I’ve seen in the space
Passion projects like Adam Bomb Squad. As a lifelong skateboarder I’ve been fan of the work Bobby and Ben from The Hundreds have been doing for roughly 20yrs. They’ve innovated across all iterations of digital from web1.0 through to web3.0 and always done it through a culturally focused lense and a great clothing line. Skateboarding has always been a ‘fuck you’ to the corporate world, so I love to see that the community has been an early adopter of web3.0
If you could narrow your collection down to 3 NFTs which ones would they be?
Wow. Tough question.
The adidas originals BAYC x Punks x Gmoney NFT. Purely because our internal team that worked on it are true OG’s of the NFT space and I love to see such a brilliant authentic entry into web3.0 come to life. True innovators. Shout out to the adi-NFT crew (YDKNFTs)
I’m going to batch my Rumble Kongs into one. That’s my primary focus for long-term growth
Pixelvault Founders DAO. This is another long-term play but the innovation behind the project and the brilliant minds of Pixelvault make it a clear winner. Super undervalued.
What is your grail?
My Mike Fogg Space Hoops Astro Spin. Mike’s an unbelievable up and coming artist I truly believe will make major waves in the NFT and art space over the next few years. Very fortunate to own some of his work and work closely with him on building his future plans. Keep an eye out for him. He recently sold pieces to Odell Beckham Jr. and LaLa Anthony.
Have you ever been rugged?
I most certainly have. Twice actually. The main one was Queenship, which is part of the reason I’m so bullish on women lead projects. It was so disappointing to see something that could’ve been an incredible opportunity for women of color crash and burn.
The second was part of a Discord hack. Fortunately I had my settings set to polygon mainnet so they only got the equivalent of about $5 from me
Which artist (of any medium) do you most want to see embrace web3?
For me the music industry is the clear winner. It was actually the first application I thought of when I started reading about the emergence of NFT and blockchain tech. As a long time DJ it’s a space that’s quite close to me. Having seen artists get screwed by their labels for decades there’s an enormous opportunity for artists to take back ownership and get paid adequately for their work. Widespread adoption of smart contracts is a start, but the evolution of blockchain tech as a viable everyday consumer product will fix countless issues with DMCA, licensing, and payment.
Are you a member of any DAOs?
Right now Pixelvault Founders DAO and Metahero Planetory DAO, but overall DAOs are the direction I’m looking to take most of my portfolio as we go into 2022
Top 3 Discord communities?
Rumble Kong League – Those Kongs have been WILD from day one of minting
10ktf – Super nice people in there, and incredibly intelligent problem solvers. The perfect community for this project
Deadfellaz – The horde is wild and Betty is an absolute boss