Timbaland is continuing to thrive in the intersection of music and technology with his latest venture.
AfroTech previously shared that the legendary producer launched his first music non-fungible token (NFT) collection in November 2021. Now, he has partnered with the owners of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), an NFT collection with celebrity collectors such as Stephen Curry, Lil Baby, Snoop Dogg and more.
Timbaland and BAYC have teamed up to launch Ape-In Productions (AIP) — a metaverse-based entertainment company that aims to discover and amplify artists that are Bored Ape owners, according to a press release provided to AfroTech.
Timbaland, his company Beatclub — a global marketplace for music creators — and other creators will develop music for the music company’s first set of releases. According to the press release, the AIP’s roster will feature a select group of Bored Apes who will release original music and animation in the metaverse as NFTs.
AIP aims for its artists to reclaim control of their intellectual property and to explore creative avenues and revenue streams, similar to how Timbaland’s Beatclub pushes creators to the forefront.
“We’ve built a new entertainment platform in the metaverse that puts creative control and long-term ownership back in the hands of artists, a concept that is incredibly important to us,” Timbaland said in the press release.
AIP NFT collectors in the virtual community will have access to exclusive items including merchandise, community-building events, virtual studio sessions and animated concerts performed by AIP’s roster in the BAYC world.
Token holders of the initial AIP NFT will also have access to custom art by LA-based transmedia production studio Myth Division, the AIP community and talent pool, which will allow up-and-coming artists to collaborate with AIP and Bored Ape holders to use their Apes in AIP projects.
The music company’s first signee is TheZoo, a Hip-Hop group of Bored Apes in the BAYC universe. The group’s debut single, ApeSh!t,” is produced by Timbaland and will be released on Nov. 17. The single’s release is in conjunction with the AIP OG Label Token.
To learn more about Ape-In Productions, click here.