Life imitates digital art as Eminem and Snoop Dogg perform as their NFT avatars at the VMAs

One of the hippest and highest-profile nights in the industry, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) is known for memorable moments. This year’s event, which took place on Sunday, August 28, was no different. Hip-hop icons Eminem and Snoop Dogg took the stage as their NFT Ape avatars from the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) collection.

It is no surprise that these performers each own their own Bored Apes, being avid NFT enthusiasts. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the Bored Apes are the most famous and coveted of NFTs. A Bored Ape cost just $200 each in April of 2021. Today, the least expensive one has a price tag of around $150,000.

Eminem and Snoop transformed themselves into their virtual avatars for the event with a bit of help from Otherside. This is the upcoming metaverse game developed by Yuga Labs, which lets BAYC holders play as their Ape avatars. Yuga Labs is the parent company and creator of BAYC. On Sunday, the game engine served as a digital stage where the duo performed their VMA-nominated track, “From the D 2 the LBC.”

The song was released in late June and accompanied by a buzz-worthy video. The cover art of the single and the video portray Eminem and Snoop as their BAYC avatars. The video switches between the Bored Ape depiction and live-action footage of the rappers.

Eminem’s Bored Ape avatar sports a grey military-style cap paired with a gold chain and jacket. Snoop’s distinctive avatar is a cheetah-print ape decked out in pink fur with a screaming eagles helmet. The look is accessorized with a cigar.

Unsurprisingly, NFT memorabilia of this ground-breaking performance are being sold by the rappers. Items include bobbleheads, prints, skate decks, and concept art for a proposed comic with the working title Dynamic Return of Eminem & Snoop Dogg. By selling this merchandise under the name Ape Editions, Eminem and Snoop are capitalizing on the IP rights that are one of the many benefits of being a holder of a Bored Ape.