Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam, and rapper Snoop Dogg have curated an NFT to benefit the pioneers of Hip-Hop.

Speaking to HipHopDX about the project, Masterminds of Hip-Hop: An Exclusive NFT Collection, Simmons said;

The idea is something I’ve had for the last couple years. Then over the last two months, this feeling that we should do something to compensate and to give credit to the original founding fathers of Hip Hop intensified. I felt more and more increasingly compelled to do something.

He went on to state that the project’s goal is to “make sure I draw attention to the founding fathers. So now that I’ve started, I have to do a documentary, a book and start to really make sure these NFTs sell and these guys make the money. Some don’t even have bank accounts and we wouldn’t even be here without them. We’re standing on the shoulders of people who are struggling in many cases. This is why I wanted to do it.”

Talking about Snoop Dogg’s involvement in the project, Simmons said:

He’s helping to curate. So I got him involved early because I’m in business with Snoop on a number of things. And also, he cares about those guys. When he hears a story about a founding father of Hip Hop, he gets quiet and listens. He’s a heartfelt person who cares.

A lot of artists when they’re really young, sometimes they don’t care, and when they get older, most of the time they still don’t care. But Snoop was very, very in tune with giving back and that’s why he got involved.

He’s going to do an NFT and everything, but it’s not about what he does, it’s his curation of it and his adding credibility to it that I’m incredibly grateful for.