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April 06, 2022

GM and Aloha Frens,

The entire NFT space feels exhausted to me right now. I’m guessing that tax season has more than a little to do with it. I’ve moved a lot of good projects into my graveyard – not because they have rugged or failed but because they have failed to deliver for me personally and I simply can’t continue to give them energy. I’m exhausted too. What we need is some sort of energizing event or impetus – and maybe – just maybe – the stage is being set for something brand new to hit the scene and create insta-wealth for those who see it – what I mean by that is something like the Wall Street Bets, Defi-Summer, or NFT year we just had – but different from all three of those. A financial disruption as a new reality hits.

What I would love to see in the short term is some positive movement from Huxley, Pixel Vault, 10KTF, and Jenkins. I’d also love to see Rug Radio deliver on all the promises. Personally, I don’t give a shit about Wolf Game, Axie Infinity, or any of the many profitable things I’ve missed over the past 12 months – except in how they affect my bags. With any luck the April land drop rumored from Yuga Labs and the launch of the Coinbase and Gamestop NFT platforms will bring some new energy around the time of the next full moon. It would also be nice to see Bald Jesus rise from the dead – because let’s face it – the first metaverse religion just hasn’t caught on. I’m still living it and sharing it and the project isn’t going anywhere – but it needs more than just me to make it work. BJ is your bro – but apparently no one else is their brother’s keeper.

If all of this feels negative – well, I guess that speaks to the exhaustion I feel and the exhaustion the space also seems to be engulfed in right now (and all markets for that matter). Good luck out there and be safe, try not to mint any stupid shit and I’ll do the same. Namaste motherfuckers.

~CD

Vagobond’s Recent NFT Acquisitions

I’m not minting anything these days unless it’s either free and gasless or an essential part of a collection I already hold. I feel like pfps and generative 10k collections have come as far as they can and now it’s the established winners in this space that will give us something new. Possibly like what BAYC is doing with $APE or BYO is doing with their universe. I don’t know – but I’m watching for it and looking for opportunities to either take profits or increase my stake in projects that I think might bring about the next wave of innovation.

At this point, it’s safe to assume that every new project is either a rug or a future failure. There are just too many unknowns and too many scams. Blue chip projects and solid teams are the safest bet – but even something like BAYC has an uncertain future in a space that has only developed over the past year. All of that being said – I did mint several new things over the past week.

The free ‘bonus’ or so called ‘utility’ drops from projects appear to have tapered off to close to nothing – at least for the projects I’ve bought into. Lots of projects that were ‘hanging on’ but not really working seem to be pulling the final rug. It feels to me like a sort of exhaustion is kicking in. I know I feel it. Everything feels tired – and the realization that all the buying and selling in Degen style last year leading to huge taxable events has been sobering for many. The drops I’m getting in my wallet these days are almost 100% scam projects with 10-20 ETH floors and 0 volume – which, by the way is how you can spot a scam project – that zero or super low volume.
I bought a low end Gutter Cat Gang Juice (Rat) and will probably buy a VeeFriends V2 in a few days, but other than that – there is nothing on my must mint list.

News & Alpha

* ALPHA * – The Vagobond Discord is one of the best free alpha servers around. You might see it in this briefing, but you’ll definitely see it in the Alpha channel of our discord first.

Adidas appears to be creating their own metaverse ‘land’ – their Into the Metaverse NFT is the key to it: https://ozworld.adidas.com/
$LIT has implemented one sided staking with a 10% APY – which people are almost offended by because the space has so gotten used to 5000% APY https://holdlit.getlit.wtf/ – Staking will not affect user status or ability to claim or receive drops
Google has issued a warning for billions of Chrome users: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2022/04/05/google-chrome-warning-new-hack-attack-vulnerability-upgrade-chrome-now/
Grayscale has rebalanced to AVAX, DOT, ATOM
New SEC definition of ‘Exchanges’ has huge crypto implications
Shiba Inu’s Metaverse will have more than 100k land plots
Starbucks goes big on NFTs and Union Busting
Here’s some serious Alpha for you. I’m going to be tokenizing and distributing my startup corporation to holders of Bald Jesus and Vagobond NFTs. Iwahai, Inc. is a Delaware C Corporation and the owner of Voic Musk Takes Nearly $3B Stake in Twitter; DOGE Spikes eMarkr which can be found in the the Apple and Android app stores. VoiceMarkr is a voice centered social media and communications platform which will be owned and developed further by the community – so if you want to be a part of it – you should join the Vagobond Discord ASAP.

Here are the app store versions that exist now – soon to be updated: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iwahai/id1441200141?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iwahai and finally here is the progressive web app that lets you listen to markers but doesn’t give you the ability to make them like the apps do. https://www.voicemarkr.com/

Music NFT Beat

Updated Wednesdays by Angel Blue – See latest at https://vagobond.com/nft-101/the-music-nft-beat-updated-wednesdays/

GM frens, hope you are having an amazing Wednesday.

This weeks main project I had the pleasure to speak to was 3Q collectibles

https://twitter.com/3qCollectibles

As I said this is a new weekly thing of having a main focus on a certain project I like or have invested in and chat to the team behind the project. 3Q is made up of Patty a musician and entrepreneur who created an ep during the pandemic and Joe who is an amazing artist and his brain is phenomenal. More later about his brain. Patty was introduced to music NFTs by a web 3 record label known as DAO Records. He then met Joe who is the co creator of 3Q and the 3D artist. The idea was to build this sculpture of a 3D equaliser that moves around and plays music. The principle was inspired by pfp projects at the time the layers on each image, but instead a transparent video with layers of Audio. The concept was to reach out to unknown producers to create 15 second loops with 6 layers such as kick,snare etc to increase complexity and created 46,000 possible versions of sounds. Joe was inspired by Drill music so the contacted upcoming drill artist Nick French who created the loops.

Their vision was to find a way to onboard art collectors to Music, as last year when they were coming up with this concept, the Music NFT space was small. The innovative and complex core design was to bridge the gap between art and music. To create objects which were reliant on each other so the art couldn’t work without the music and vice versa. Nick created 36 stems, which Joe then listened to and this is the fascinating part. Joes idea was what does the sound look like. For example they did an equaliser that had mushrooms stemming from it and that is what was creating the sounds. Visuals that were nostalgic and unique.

Amazing runs through the heart of our genesis collection, ser. Stay a while, take a look around. Let the smooth sounds of mr @nfrenchos & artistic whimsy of the genius @JoeJConway transport you. The question is, where would you like to go? https://t.co/gpbPOKliSH pic.twitter.com/n2DRQN8lsz

— 3Q (@3qCollectibles) April 2, 2022

This is just beautiful as I said to Patty, it’s something unique and outstanding to try and visualise what sound looks like. When I was taught music in school it was always an audio thing. Truly remarkable. Their idea for merchandise is unbelievable too. To create and airdrop 3D Files sculptures if you have a 3D printer. I personally would love to see that. I asked how 3Q could integrate into the metaverse and Patty gave an honest answer. There is no platform as of yet that could withstand what they want to achieve. Gaming engines could be a way forward. They have one idea which is to have an equaliser in a game as a little robot music pet which is adorable. It’s a very early idea but as of yet the platforms just aren’t there.

The complex material setup shown controlled the alternating colour of the decorative lights, the emission power of these lights was controlled directly by the WAV data from the kick-drum.'#NFTCommunity #Dekotora pic.twitter.com/5EWsC5gHUb

— 3Q (@3qCollectibles) April 1, 2022

We both discussed community and both agreeing that traditional marketing we are used to just won’t work in web 3. How they built their community was doing Twitter spaces, getting ideas for what people wanted to see with the project. 3Q want to reward their community with the roadmap because it is what makes any project. The final concept they have which I think is mind blowing and I would love to see is a virtual recording studio. That would be incredible.

As I close off this main feature I want to give thanks to Patty at 3Q for a wonderful and insightful behind the scenes look at what makes 3Q.

So a new project I found through Mike Shinoda was Secret Garden. A new music nft project by Seerlight and the capsule house team.

https://twitter.com/SecretGarden_FM

You can make tracks directly from the sequencer on the NFT, in the NFT viewer window.

https://www.secretgarden.fm

The Bouquet is an interactive music player. It’s the first music NFT that allows holders to generate their own mix using unique sounds produced by their resident artists.You a,so receive a non- exclusive license to sample and commercialise every bouquet sound. Another remarkable and innovative new project, that I’m excited to see where it goes.

This week also marks the start of season 2 of Warpsound Live Genesis Tour. On tour I 9 different web 3 communities such as Bitlectro Labs, Adam Bomb Squad, smilesss and many more. Kicks off today and I’m super stoked.

WHO'S GETTING EXCITED!?

WarpSoud Live Season 2.
On tour in 9 different web3 communities.
Live interactive AI-powered sets.

Shows kick off ⚡️ Wednesday 4/6 ⚡️ w @bitlectro

+ continue weekly w @AdamBombSquad @smilesss @diamondsupplyco @metalinklabs @HeartNFTs + 3 others tba pic.twitter.com/mcnG0RQF10

— WarpSound (@warpsound_ai) April 3, 2022

Also a massive congratulations to Mike Shinoda for winning his first ever solo Grammy Award for best Remixed Recording for Passenger by Deftones the Mike Shinoda remix. Mike is a true inspiration and advocate for not only web 3 but for Music NFTS and to see this is truly incredible.

https://twitter.com/mikeshinoda/status/1510733129287307265?s=20&t=udLvVzwGGPRx0NE4KR3xGA

Events

As above Warpsound every Wednesday Genesis Tour on Twitch

Details on their twitter

https://twitter.com/warpsound_ai

Bitlectro Labs Topical Tuesdays

https://twitter.com/bitlectro

Weekly Audius Spaces

Please check their twitter by turning twitter notifications on.

https://twitter.com/AudiusProject

Until next Wednesday frens have fun and keep vibing to good music.

The First NFT/Metaverse Religion- Bald Jesusism

April Holidays

There are no formal or regular holidays in Bald Jesusism for the month of April beyond the full moon and this year, fasting for Ramadan along with our Muslim frens. The full details of the fast can be found in the Holy Bjble – but essentially it is this – during daylight hours you don’t eat or drink anything – not even water. At night, you can feast and have a blast. Meditate on happiness. Gather with friends and enjoy the feeling of light deprivation – and then consider those who don’t get to make a choice in the matter!

The Full Moon Holiday this month is very special. Not only is it occurring during the month of Ramadan, but it is also a Pink Moon and the Paschal Full Moon aka the first full moon of Spring! April 16th is the day to celebrate this. Take the day off from drudgery and work, get outside, enjoy life with the people you love! The week following the Pascal Full Moon is a special holiday for our Christian Frens – Easter! Now, don’t get confused between Bald Jesus and the Christian Jesus – not the same dude but just like we love the Ramadan fast in BJism, we also love the idea of renewal, rebirth, and saving the entire world – so make sure you celebrate with some chocolate and a few colorful rabbit eggs!

The holidays of Bald Jesusism are meant to be fun and healthy for you and your fam. Enjoy them!

https://www.baldjesus.com | Bald Jesus Twitter | Holy Bjble Twitter

https://www.baldjesusdrinkingclub.com – Minting Now!- for Bald Jesus Drinking Club

.04 ETH limited to 777 total

Holy Bjble – AB version – Readable on OS! Only .001 ETH on Polygon so no gas

Bald Jesus is Your Bro! Don’t Be a Dick

Useful Info

I periodically move all of this to the NFT 101 page on Vagobond.com https://vagobond.com/nft-101/

Watchlist for upcoming projects:

Veefriends 2

Adidas drop

10KTF $NTD drop & BYO $TRYP drop

Gutter Juice ‘Clone’ reveals

Art Heads – I won a free mint of this project, so I’m watching for the mint.

Evmos Punks – The failure of the Evmos Chain the first go around is not promising – but since they learn as they go – this is still a great project to be watching for iteration and innovation.

Great Projects I’m Not In or Following:

aka projects I missed and am salty about. There are too many – see the whole list at:

https://vagobond.com/nft-101/great-nft-projects-ive-missed/

Missed in April: Murakami Flowers, Seeds, whatever

Tokens & Staking

These are the tokens and crypto/defi projects that NFTs have led me to. Bizarre when you think about it. See the full list at here

These are projects that I wanted to believe in that simply seem like they are dead. I bought into many of these instead of the winning projects above. Take that as a warning. I sincerely hope that they resurrect – but when I put them here, it means that I’ve stopped believing and looking. I hope to someday have a section at the top called ‘Resurrections’ for when projects in the Graveyard manage to rise up again. As time goes on, I have no doubt this will be the biggest section of this newsletter and I will let it keep growing so that those who care to look can understand that the majority of projects fail and investors lose money. Pick wisely, my friends, and good luck!

Newly Buried: These aren’t dead projects but projects I’ve lost hope in exiting profitably. I’m not selling any of these but am tired of watching them fail to deliver. I hope they all resurrect and prove me wrong.

Nate Alexanders ‘Secret Project’ and Chain Faces – this really seems to be going nowhere and no one cares

Danny Cole’s Creatures – he just doesn’t seem to care that floors are shit and no one wants to pay the prices that so many on his secondary fell for

Moonlings – Floors are pathetic. The absence of GFunk from the whole Metahero scene is not helping anything associated with Pixel Vault – including this project started by Founders Dao members

Bloot – I love Bloot but after the failure of the Bloot comic from Pixel Vault to get any traction or even be fully claimed – it’s time to admit that at least one foot is in the grave

Look Labs 420 game – again, not a dead project but so incredibly slow and only seems to be offering things to buy which is not a good sign

Boonji – fucking Boonji. I worked so hard to get on this whitelist and then paid way too much and got nothing but a falling floor from it so far

Land Dao – this rose right at the peak of ‘land’ NFTs and thus far the $RENT token has no utility

See the huge full list at https://vagobond.com/nft-101/nft-project-graveyard/