Streetlab Genesis, Keepers of the Inn, CyberBrokers and more
Traversing the world of non-fungible substances is a daunting task. With so many new NFT projects, artists and large collections emerging weekly, it has become almost impossible to keep up with each successive development.
In the past, a simple browse through OpenSea was enough to find the latest NFT craze. But things have changed drastically since the NFT boom of 2021. Now NFT enthusiasts have to be very careful about what and where they collect.
To help uncover awe-inspiring NFT work, both new and old, nft now presents Undervalued: a weekly column highlighting innovative projects, collections and artists pushing the NFT space forward.
Streetlab Genesis (originally called Free Muertos Tribute) is a 4,444-piece Day of the Dead-inspired PFP NFT collection. The collection was launched in June 2022 and was created by decentralized street art NFT platform Streetlab and is the largest collection ever released on the platform. The Genesis collection is designed and hand drawn by Mexican street artist Yescka who has been painting graffiti since he was just 15.
The Free Muertos are said to be freedom fighters who have returned from the dead to lead street artists against the NFT scene and fight against censorship. Each of the NFTs in the Genesis collection provides its owner with a unique utility, allowing them to vote for initiatives on the Streetlab platform.
Launching in December 2021, Keepers of the Inn is a large-scale collection created by pioneers photographer and filmmaker Julie Pacino. With 3,356 photographs, the collection is a time capsule of sorts, with each image taken during the rehearsal process for Pacino’s upcoming feature film I live here now.
Pacino’s Keepers of the Inn is a unique effort, even by NFT standards, and makes possibly the best use case for financing a film via NFTs. The collection likely also led to prominent independent film distribution company Utopia joining Pacino to produce the feature film.
Launched in March 2022, CyberBrokers is a large-scale PFP project created by crypto-art OG Josie Bellini. A unique player in the PFP market, each piece in the collection lives fully in the chain.
Like other blue-chip collections, each NFT in the CyberBrokers collection serves as a membership and access card to an exclusive community of collectors, as well as different types of metaverse experiences. Considering that only a select few crypto-art OGs have launched their own PFP collections (or iterations thereof), Bellini’s project is honored to be tied to her artistic legacy.
Launched in July 2022, Bored & Dangerous is a literature-based NFT project created by a fictional Bored Ape character named Jenkins The Valet. Jenkins, a prominent collector and writer in the NFT space, teamed up with his 3,000-member community to create the NFT experience.
Almost a year in the making, the project was led by Jenkins, but includes a novel written by 10x New York Times bestseller Neil Strauss. The novel features prominent characters, illustrations, and more created and/or owned either by Jenkins or members of his community.
Launched in July 2021, Pudgy Penguins is a collection of 8,888 penguin-themed NFTs said to be a beacon of positivity in the NFT space. At just over a year old, the collection has seen its share of ups and downs, but has remained an integral part of the NFT ecosystem – complete with own series of toys.
About the project’s controversy: In December 2021, a moderator for the Pudgy Penguins community left the team, accusing the leaders of the project of being shady and ineffective. He even revealed that one of the project’s leaders had tried to buy his silence with a bribe. In the aftermath, the project was handed over to new management and has slowly reorganized, even reversing the value of other prominent PFP collection Cool Cats.
